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1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 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 @c man begin INCLUDE
10 @include gdb-cfg.texi
11 @c man end
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27 @syncodeindex ky fn
28 @syncodeindex tp fn
29
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32 @syncodeindex vr fn
33
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
36 @set EDITION Tenth
37
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
46 @direntry
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 @end direntry
49
50 @copying
51 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
52 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
53
54 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
60
61 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
64 @c man end
65 @end copying
66
67 @ifnottex
68 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
69
70 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
74 @end ifset
75 Version @value{GDBVN}.
76
77 @insertcopying
78 @end ifnottex
79
80 @titlepage
81 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
86 @sp 1
87 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
88 @end ifset
89 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90 @page
91 @tex
92 {\parskip=0pt
93 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96 }
97 @end tex
98
99 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
101 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
104
105 @insertcopying
106 @end titlepage
107 @page
108
109 @ifnottex
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
111
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
113
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
115
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
119 @end ifset
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
121
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
123
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
127
128 @menu
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
131
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138 * Stack:: Examining the stack
139 * Source:: Examining source files
140 * Data:: Examining data
141 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
145
146 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
147
148 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149 * Altering:: Altering execution
150 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
169 @end ifset
170 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
173 @end ifclear
174 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
181 @value{GDBN}
182 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
183 the operating system
184 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
187 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
193 @end menu
194
195 @end ifnottex
196
197 @contents
198
199 @node Summary
200 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
201
202 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
205
206 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
208
209 @itemize @bullet
210 @item
211 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
212
213 @item
214 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
215
216 @item
217 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
218
219 @item
220 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
222 @end itemize
223
224 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
227
228 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
229 @ref{D,,D}.
230
231 @cindex Modula-2
232 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
234
235 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
237
238 @cindex Pascal
239 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
242 syntax.
243
244 @cindex Fortran
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
247 underscore.
248
249 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
251
252 @menu
253 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
256 @end menu
257
258 @node Free Software
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software
260
261 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262 General Public License
263 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
269
270 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
272 from anyone else.
273
274 @node Free Documentation
275 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
276
277 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279 include with the free software. Many of our most important
280 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282 when an important free software package does not come with a free
283 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
284 gaps today.
285
286 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290 them from the free software world.
291
292 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296 contract to make it non-free.
297
298 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
305
306 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
310
311 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
317 community.
318
319 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
327 of the manual.
328
329 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333 manual to replace it.
334
335 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340 the free software community.
341
342 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
351
352 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
360
361 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362 published by other publishers, at
363 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
364
365 @node Contributors
366 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
367
368 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374 blow-by-blow account.
375
376 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
377
378 @quotation
379 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
382 @end quotation
383
384 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
386 releases:
387 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
396
397 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
399
400 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
405
406 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
409
410 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
412
413 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
414
415 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
417 support.
418 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
434
435 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
436
437 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
438 libraries.
439
440 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441 about several machine instruction sets.
442
443 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446 and RDI targets, respectively.
447
448 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449 command-line editing and command history.
450
451 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
453
454 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
456 symbols.
457
458 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
460
461 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
462
463 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
464 processors.
465
466 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
467
468 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
469
470 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
471
472 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
473 watchpoints.
474
475 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
476
477 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
478
479 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
481
482 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
489
490 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
492
493 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
508
509 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
511
512 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
513 Hat.
514
515 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
521
522 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
533 Weigand.
534
535 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
539
540 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
542
543 @node Sample Session
544 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
545
546 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
549
550 @iftex
551 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
553 @end iftex
554
555 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
557
558 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
567
568 @smallexample
569 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
570 $ @b{./m4}
571 @b{define(foo,0000)}
572
573 @b{foo}
574 0000
575 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
576
577 @b{bar}
578 0000
579 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
580
581 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
582 @b{baz}
583 @b{Ctrl-d}
584 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
585 @end smallexample
586
587 @noindent
588 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
589
590 @smallexample
591 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
594 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
596 the conditions.
597 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
598 for details.
599
600 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
601 (@value{GDBP})
602 @end smallexample
603
604 @noindent
605 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608 that examples fit in this manual.
609
610 @smallexample
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618 @code{break} command.
619
620 @smallexample
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
623 @end smallexample
624
625 @noindent
626 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
629
630 @smallexample
631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
633 @b{define(foo,0000)}
634
635 @b{foo}
636 0000
637 @end smallexample
638
639 @noindent
640 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642 context where it stops.
643
644 @smallexample
645 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
646
647 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
648 at builtin.c:879
649 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
650 @end smallexample
651
652 @noindent
653 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654 the next line of the current function.
655
656 @smallexample
657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
658 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
659 : nil,
660 @end smallexample
661
662 @noindent
663 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
667
668 @smallexample
669 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
670 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
671 at input.c:530
672 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
673 @end smallexample
674
675 @noindent
676 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681 stack frame for each active subroutine.
682
683 @smallexample
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
686 at input.c:530
687 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
688 at builtin.c:882
689 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
691 at macro.c:71
692 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
694 @end smallexample
695
696 @noindent
697 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
700
701 @smallexample
702 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
703 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
705 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
709 : xstrdup(rq);
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
712 @end smallexample
713
714 @noindent
715 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718 (@code{print}) to see their values.
719
720 @smallexample
721 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
725 @end smallexample
726
727 @noindent
728 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
731
732 @smallexample
733 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
734 533 xfree(rquote);
735 534
736 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
737 : xstrdup (lq);
738 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
739 : xstrdup (rq);
740 537
741 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
743 540 @}
744 541
745 542 void
746 @end smallexample
747
748 @noindent
749 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
751
752 @smallexample
753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
754 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
755 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
756 540 @}
757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
758 $3 = 9
759 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
760 $4 = 7
761 @end smallexample
762
763 @noindent
764 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
769 assignments.
770
771 @smallexample
772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
773 $5 = 7
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
775 $6 = 9
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782 example that caused trouble initially:
783
784 @smallexample
785 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
786 Continuing.
787
788 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
789
790 baz
791 0000
792 @end smallexample
793
794 @noindent
795 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
798
799 @smallexample
800 @b{Ctrl-d}
801 Program exited normally.
802 @end smallexample
803
804 @noindent
805 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
808
809 @smallexample
810 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
811 @end smallexample
812
813 @node Invocation
814 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
815
816 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
817 The essentials are:
818 @itemize @bullet
819 @item
820 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
821 @item
822 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
823 @end itemize
824
825 @menu
826 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
830 @end menu
831
832 @node Invoking GDB
833 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
834
835 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
837
838 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
840
841 The command-line options described here are designed
842 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843 options may effectively be unavailable.
844
845 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846 specifying an executable program:
847
848 @smallexample
849 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
850 @end smallexample
851
852 @noindent
853 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
854 specified:
855
856 @smallexample
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
858 @end smallexample
859
860 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861 to debug a running process:
862
863 @smallexample
864 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
865 @end smallexample
866
867 @noindent
868 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
870
871 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
876
877 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
879 option processing.
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
882 @end smallexample
883 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
885
886 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -silent
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
896
897 @noindent
898 Type
899
900 @smallexample
901 @value{GDBP} -help
902 @end smallexample
903
904 @noindent
905 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
907
908 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910 @samp{-x} option is used.
911
912
913 @menu
914 * File Options:: Choosing files
915 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
917 @end menu
918
919 @node File Options
920 @subsection Choosing Files
921
922 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
935
936 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938 argument and ignore it.
939
940 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
945
946 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
948 @c it.
949
950 @table @code
951 @item -symbols @var{file}
952 @itemx -s @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--symbols}
954 @cindex @code{-s}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
956
957 @item -exec @var{file}
958 @itemx -e @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--exec}
960 @cindex @code{-e}
961 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
963
964 @item -se @var{file}
965 @cindex @code{--se}
966 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
967 file.
968
969 @item -core @var{file}
970 @itemx -c @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--core}
972 @cindex @code{-c}
973 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
974
975 @item -pid @var{number}
976 @itemx -p @var{number}
977 @cindex @code{--pid}
978 @cindex @code{-p}
979 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
980
981 @item -command @var{file}
982 @itemx -x @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--command}
984 @cindex @code{-x}
985 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
988
989 @item -eval-command @var{command}
990 @itemx -ex @var{command}
991 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
992 @cindex @code{-ex}
993 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
994
995 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
997
998 @smallexample
999 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1001 @end smallexample
1002
1003 @item -init-command @var{file}
1004 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1005 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1006 @cindex @code{-ix}
1007 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008 after loading gdbinit files).
1009 @xref{Startup}.
1010
1011 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1013 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1014 @cindex @code{-iex}
1015 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016 after loading gdbinit files).
1017 @xref{Startup}.
1018
1019 @item -directory @var{directory}
1020 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1021 @cindex @code{--directory}
1022 @cindex @code{-d}
1023 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1024
1025 @item -r
1026 @itemx -readnow
1027 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1028 @cindex @code{-r}
1029 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1032
1033 @end table
1034
1035 @node Mode Options
1036 @subsection Choosing Modes
1037
1038 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039 batch mode or quiet mode.
1040
1041 @table @code
1042 @anchor{-nx}
1043 @item -nx
1044 @itemx -n
1045 @cindex @code{--nx}
1046 @cindex @code{-n}
1047 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1049
1050 @table @code
1051 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052 This is the system-wide init file.
1053 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056 have been processed.
1057 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058 This is the init file in your home directory.
1059 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060 command options have been processed.
1061 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062 This is the init file in the current directory.
1063 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1066 @end table
1067
1068 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069 For documentation on how to write command files,
1070 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1071
1072 @anchor{-nh}
1073 @item -nh
1074 @cindex @code{--nh}
1075 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076 in your home directory.
1077 @xref{Startup}.
1078
1079 @item -quiet
1080 @itemx -silent
1081 @itemx -q
1082 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1083 @cindex @code{--silent}
1084 @cindex @code{-q}
1085 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1087
1088 @item -batch
1089 @cindex @code{--batch}
1090 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1097
1098 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100 make this more useful, the message
1101
1102 @smallexample
1103 Program exited normally.
1104 @end smallexample
1105
1106 @noindent
1107 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1109 mode.
1110
1111 @item -batch-silent
1112 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116 for an interactive session.
1117
1118 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119 messages, for example.
1120
1121 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1123
1124 @item -return-child-result
1125 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1128
1129 @itemize @bullet
1130 @item
1131 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1134 @item
1135 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1136 @item
1137 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138 the exit code will be -1.
1139 @end itemize
1140
1141 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1143 interface.
1144
1145 @item -nowindows
1146 @itemx -nw
1147 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1148 @cindex @code{-nw}
1149 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1152
1153 @item -windows
1154 @itemx -w
1155 @cindex @code{--windows}
1156 @cindex @code{-w}
1157 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1158 used if possible.
1159
1160 @item -cd @var{directory}
1161 @cindex @code{--cd}
1162 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163 instead of the current directory.
1164
1165 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1170
1171 @item -fullname
1172 @itemx -f
1173 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1174 @cindex @code{-f}
1175 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1183 frame.
1184
1185 @item -annotate @var{level}
1186 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1187 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1195
1196 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1197 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1198
1199 @item --args
1200 @cindex @code{--args}
1201 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203 This option stops option processing.
1204
1205 @item -baud @var{bps}
1206 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1207 @cindex @code{--baud}
1208 @cindex @code{-b}
1209 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1211
1212 @item -l @var{timeout}
1213 @cindex @code{-l}
1214 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215 for remote debugging.
1216
1217 @item -tty @var{device}
1218 @itemx -t @var{device}
1219 @cindex @code{--tty}
1220 @cindex @code{-t}
1221 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1223
1224 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1225 @item -tui
1226 @cindex @code{--tui}
1227 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1233
1234 @c @item -xdb
1235 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1239 @c systems.
1240
1241 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1247
1248 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1254
1255 @item -write
1256 @cindex @code{--write}
1257 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1259 (@pxref{Patching}).
1260
1261 @item -statistics
1262 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1263 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1265
1266 @item -version
1267 @cindex @code{--version}
1268 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1270
1271 @item -configuration
1272 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1273 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1276
1277 @end table
1278
1279 @node Startup
1280 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1282
1283 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1284
1285 @enumerate
1286 @item
1287 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1289
1290 @item
1291 @cindex init file
1292 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1295 that file.
1296
1297 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1298 @item
1299 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1302 that file.
1303
1304 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1305 @item
1306 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1310 gets loaded.
1311
1312 @item
1313 Processes command line options and operands.
1314
1315 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1316 @item
1317 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320 This is only done if the current directory is
1321 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1324 @value{GDBN}.
1325
1326 @item
1327 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1331
1332 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333 you must do something like the following:
1334
1335 @smallexample
1336 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1337 @end smallexample
1338
1339 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1340 off too late.
1341
1342 @item
1343 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1346
1347 @item
1348 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1351 @end enumerate
1352
1353 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1359
1360 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1362
1363 @cindex init file name
1364 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1372
1373
1374 @node Quitting GDB
1375 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1378
1379 @table @code
1380 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1383 @itemx q
1384 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1388 error code.
1389 @end table
1390
1391 @cindex interrupt
1392 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396 until a time when it is safe.
1397
1398 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1401
1402 @node Shell Commands
1403 @section Shell Commands
1404
1405 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407 just use the @code{shell} command.
1408
1409 @table @code
1410 @kindex shell
1411 @kindex !
1412 @cindex shell escape
1413 @item shell @var{command-string}
1414 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1415 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1420 @end table
1421
1422 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1424 @value{GDBN}:
1425
1426 @table @code
1427 @kindex make
1428 @cindex calling make
1429 @item make @var{make-args}
1430 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1432 @end table
1433
1434 @node Logging Output
1435 @section Logging Output
1436 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1438
1439 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1441
1442 @table @code
1443 @kindex set logging
1444 @item set logging on
1445 Enable logging.
1446 @item set logging off
1447 Disable logging.
1448 @cindex logging file name
1449 @item set logging file @var{file}
1450 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457 @kindex show logging
1458 @item show logging
1459 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1460 @end table
1461
1462 @node Commands
1463 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1464
1465 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1470
1471 @menu
1472 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473 * Completion:: Command completion
1474 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1475 @end menu
1476
1477 @node Command Syntax
1478 @section Command Syntax
1479
1480 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1486
1487 @cindex abbreviation
1488 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1495
1496 @cindex repeating commands
1497 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1504
1505 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1508
1509 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1514
1515 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1516 @cindex comment
1517 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519 Files,,Command Files}).
1520
1521 @cindex repeating command sequences
1522 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1526 for editing.
1527
1528 @node Completion
1529 @section Command Completion
1530
1531 @cindex completion
1532 @cindex word completion
1533 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1537
1538 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541 enter it). For example, if you type
1542
1543 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1547 @smallexample
1548 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1549 @end smallexample
1550
1551 @noindent
1552 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1557 @end smallexample
1558
1559 @noindent
1560 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1566
1567 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1575 example:
1576
1577 @smallexample
1578 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581 make_abs_section make_function_type
1582 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588 @noindent
1589 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1591 command.
1592
1593 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1598
1599 @cindex quotes in commands
1600 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1601 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605 @value{GDBN} commands.
1606
1607 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1618
1619 @smallexample
1620 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1623 @end smallexample
1624
1625 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1628 place:
1629
1630 @smallexample
1631 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1634 @end smallexample
1635
1636 @noindent
1637 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1640
1641 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1645
1646 @cindex completion of structure field names
1647 @cindex structure field name completion
1648 @cindex completion of union field names
1649 @cindex union field name completion
1650 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1655 left-hand-side:
1656
1657 @smallexample
1658 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660 to_data to_isatty to_write
1661 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1662 to_flush to_read
1663 @end smallexample
1664
1665 @noindent
1666 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1668 follows:
1669
1670 @smallexample
1671 struct ui_file
1672 @{
1673 int *magic;
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1683 void *to_data;
1684 @}
1685 @end smallexample
1686
1687
1688 @node Help
1689 @section Getting Help
1690 @cindex online documentation
1691 @kindex help
1692
1693 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694 using the command @code{help}.
1695
1696 @table @code
1697 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1698 @item help
1699 @itemx h
1700 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1702
1703 @smallexample
1704 (@value{GDBP}) help
1705 List of classes of commands:
1706
1707 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709 data -- Examining data
1710 files -- Specifying and examining files
1711 internals -- Maintenance commands
1712 obscure -- Obscure features
1713 running -- Running the program
1714 stack -- Examining the stack
1715 status -- Status inquiries
1716 support -- Support facilities
1717 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1720
1721 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722 commands in that class.
1723 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1724 documentation.
1725 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1726 (@value{GDBP})
1727 @end smallexample
1728 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1729
1730 @item help @var{class}
1731 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733 help display for the class @code{status}:
1734
1735 @smallexample
1736 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1737 Status inquiries.
1738
1739 List of commands:
1740
1741 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743 info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745 show -- Generic command for showing things
1746 about the debugger
1747
1748 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1749 documentation.
1750 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1751 (@value{GDBP})
1752 @end smallexample
1753
1754 @item help @var{command}
1755 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1757
1758 @kindex apropos
1759 @item apropos @var{args}
1760 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1763
1764 @smallexample
1765 apropos alias
1766 @end smallexample
1767
1768 @noindent
1769 results in:
1770
1771 @smallexample
1772 @c @group
1773 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778 @c @end group
1779 @end smallexample
1780
1781 @kindex complete
1782 @item complete @var{args}
1783 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785 command you want completed. For example:
1786
1787 @smallexample
1788 complete i
1789 @end smallexample
1790
1791 @noindent results in:
1792
1793 @smallexample
1794 @group
1795 if
1796 ignore
1797 info
1798 inspect
1799 @end group
1800 @end smallexample
1801
1802 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1803 @end table
1804
1805 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1811 Index}.
1812
1813 @c @group
1814 @table @code
1815 @kindex info
1816 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1817 @item info
1818 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823 @w{@code{help info}}.
1824
1825 @kindex set
1826 @item set
1827 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829 @code{set prompt $}.
1830
1831 @kindex show
1832 @item show
1833 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834 @value{GDBN} itself.
1835 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1839
1840 @kindex info set
1841 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1847 @end table
1848 @c @end group
1849
1850 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1852
1853 @table @code
1854 @kindex show version
1855 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1856 @item show version
1857 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1865 @value{GDBN}.
1866
1867 @kindex show copying
1868 @kindex info copying
1869 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1870 @item show copying
1871 @itemx info copying
1872 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1873
1874 @kindex show warranty
1875 @kindex info warranty
1876 @item show warranty
1877 @itemx info warranty
1878 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1880
1881 @kindex show configuration
1882 @item show configuration
1883 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1888 your report.
1889
1890 @end table
1891
1892 @node Running
1893 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1894
1895 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896 debugging information when you compile it.
1897
1898 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901 kill a child process.
1902
1903 @menu
1904 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905 * Starting:: Starting your program
1906 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1908
1909 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1913
1914 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1917 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1918 @end menu
1919
1920 @node Compilation
1921 @section Compiling for Debugging
1922
1923 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927 and addresses in the executable code.
1928
1929 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1930 the compiler.
1931
1932 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936 executables containing debugging information.
1937
1938 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1943
1944 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1947
1948 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1954
1955 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1958
1959 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962 format in @value{GDBN}.
1963
1964 @need 2000
1965 @node Starting
1966 @section Starting your Program
1967 @cindex starting
1968 @cindex running
1969
1970 @table @code
1971 @kindex run
1972 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1973 @item run
1974 @itemx r
1975 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1980
1981 @end table
1982
1983 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988 message like this one:
1989
1990 @smallexample
1991 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992 Try "help target" or "continue".
1993 @end smallexample
1994
1995 @noindent
1996 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997 first (@pxref{load}).
1998
1999 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004 divided into four categories:
2005
2006 @table @asis
2007 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2008 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2012 the arguments.
2013 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
2015 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2016
2017 @item The @emph{environment.}
2018 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2019 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2020 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2021 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2022
2023 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2024 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2025 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2026 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2027
2028 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2029 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2030 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2031 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2032 set a different device for your program.
2033 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2034
2035 @cindex pipes
2036 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2037 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2038 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2039 wrong program.
2040 @end table
2041
2042 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2043 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2044 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2045 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2046 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2047
2048 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2049 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2050 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2051 your current breakpoints.
2052
2053 @table @code
2054 @kindex start
2055 @item start
2056 @cindex run to main procedure
2057 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2058 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2059 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2060 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2061 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2062 procedure, depending on the language used.
2063
2064 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2065 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2066 the @samp{run} command.
2067
2068 @cindex elaboration phase
2069 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2070 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2071 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2072 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2073 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2074 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2075 will remain to halt execution.
2076
2077 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2078 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2079 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2080 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2081 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2082
2083 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2084 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2085 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2086 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2087 elaboration code before running your program.
2088
2089 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2090 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2091 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2092 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2093 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2094 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2095 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2096 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2097 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2098 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2099 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2100
2101 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2102 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2103 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2104 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2105
2106 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2107 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2108 environment:
2109
2110 @smallexample
2111 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2112 (@value{GDBP}) run
2113 @end smallexample
2114
2115 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2116 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2117
2118 @kindex set disable-randomization
2119 @item set disable-randomization
2120 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2121 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2122 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2123 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2124 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2125
2126 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2127 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2128
2129 @smallexample
2130 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2131 @end smallexample
2132
2133 @item set disable-randomization off
2134 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2135 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2136 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2137 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2138 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2139 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2140
2141 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2142 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2143 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2144 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2145 a code at its expected addresses.
2146
2147 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2148 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2149 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2150 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2151 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2152 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2153 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2154 a randomly chosen address.
2155
2156 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2157 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2158 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2159 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2160 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2161
2162 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2163 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2164
2165 @item show disable-randomization
2166 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2167 the virtual address space of the started program.
2168
2169 @end table
2170
2171 @node Arguments
2172 @section Your Program's Arguments
2173
2174 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2175 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2176 @code{run} command.
2177 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2178 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2179 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2180 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2181 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2182
2183 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2184 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2185 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2186 the program, not by the shell.
2187
2188 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2189 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2190
2191 @table @code
2192 @kindex set args
2193 @item set args
2194 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2195 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2196 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2197 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2198 it again without arguments.
2199
2200 @kindex show args
2201 @item show args
2202 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2203 @end table
2204
2205 @node Environment
2206 @section Your Program's Environment
2207
2208 @cindex environment (of your program)
2209 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2210 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2211 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2212 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2213 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2214 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2215 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2216
2217 @table @code
2218 @kindex path
2219 @item path @var{directory}
2220 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2221 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2222 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2223 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2224 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2225 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2226 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2227
2228 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2229 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2230 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2231 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2232 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2233 @var{directory} to the search path.
2234 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2235 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2236
2237 @kindex show paths
2238 @item show paths
2239 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2240 environment variable).
2241
2242 @kindex show environment
2243 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2244 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2245 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2246 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2247 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2248
2249 @kindex set environment
2250 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2251 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2252 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2253 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2254 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2255 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2256 null value.
2257 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2258 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2259
2260 For example, this command:
2261
2262 @smallexample
2263 set env USER = foo
2264 @end smallexample
2265
2266 @noindent
2267 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2268 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2269 are not actually required.)
2270
2271 @kindex unset environment
2272 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2273 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2274 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2275 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2276 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2277 @end table
2278
2279 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2280 the shell indicated
2281 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2282 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2283 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2284 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2285 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2286 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2287 @file{.profile}.
2288
2289 @node Working Directory
2290 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2291
2292 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2293 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2294 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2295 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2296 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2297 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2298
2299 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2300 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2301 Specify Files}.
2302
2303 @table @code
2304 @kindex cd
2305 @cindex change working directory
2306 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2307 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2308 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2309
2310 @kindex pwd
2311 @item pwd
2312 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2313 @end table
2314
2315 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2316 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2317 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2318 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2319 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2320 current working directory of the debuggee.
2321
2322 @node Input/Output
2323 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2324
2325 @cindex redirection
2326 @cindex i/o
2327 @cindex terminal
2328 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2329 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2330 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2331 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2332 running your program.
2333
2334 @table @code
2335 @kindex info terminal
2336 @item info terminal
2337 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2338 program is using.
2339 @end table
2340
2341 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2342 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2343
2344 @smallexample
2345 run > outfile
2346 @end smallexample
2347
2348 @noindent
2349 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2350
2351 @kindex tty
2352 @cindex controlling terminal
2353 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2354 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2355 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2356 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2357 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2358
2359 @smallexample
2360 tty /dev/ttyb
2361 @end smallexample
2362
2363 @noindent
2364 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2365 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2366 that as their controlling terminal.
2367
2368 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2369 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2370 terminal.
2371
2372 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2373 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2374 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2375 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2376
2377 @cindex inferior tty
2378 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2379 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2380 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2381 program.
2382
2383 @table @code
2384 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2385 @kindex set inferior-tty
2386 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2387
2388 @item show inferior-tty
2389 @kindex show inferior-tty
2390 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2391 @end table
2392
2393 @node Attach
2394 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2395 @kindex attach
2396 @cindex attach
2397
2398 @table @code
2399 @item attach @var{process-id}
2400 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2401 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2402 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2403 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2404 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2405
2406 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2407 executing the command.
2408 @end table
2409
2410 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2411 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2412 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2413 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2414
2415 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2416 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2417 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2418 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2419 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2420 Specify Files}.
2421
2422 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2423 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2424 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2425 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2426 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2427 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2428 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2429
2430 @table @code
2431 @kindex detach
2432 @item detach
2433 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2434 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2435 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2436 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2437 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2438 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2439 executing the command.
2440 @end table
2441
2442 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2443 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2444 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2445 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2446 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2447 Messages}).
2448
2449 @node Kill Process
2450 @section Killing the Child Process
2451
2452 @table @code
2453 @kindex kill
2454 @item kill
2455 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2456 @end table
2457
2458 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2459 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2460 is running.
2461
2462 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2463 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2464 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2465 outside the debugger.
2466
2467 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2468 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2469 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2470 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2471 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2472 breakpoint settings).
2473
2474 @node Inferiors and Programs
2475 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2476
2477 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2478 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2479 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2480 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2481 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2482 from multiple executables.
2483
2484 @cindex inferior
2485 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2486 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2487 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2488 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2489 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2490 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2491 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2492 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2493 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2494 threads running in it.
2495
2496 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2497 inferiors}}:
2498
2499 @table @code
2500 @kindex info inferiors
2501 @item info inferiors
2502 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2503
2504 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2505
2506 @enumerate
2507 @item
2508 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2509
2510 @item
2511 the target system's inferior identifier
2512
2513 @item
2514 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2515
2516 @end enumerate
2517
2518 @noindent
2519 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2520 indicates the current inferior.
2521
2522 For example,
2523 @end table
2524 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2525
2526 @smallexample
2527 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2528 Num Description Executable
2529 2 process 2307 hello
2530 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2531 @end smallexample
2532
2533 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2534
2535 @table @code
2536 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2537 @item inferior @var{infno}
2538 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2539 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2540 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2541 @end table
2542
2543
2544 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2545 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2546 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2547 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2548 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2549 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2550
2551 @table @code
2552 @kindex add-inferior
2553 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2554 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2555 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2556 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2557 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2558 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2559
2560 @kindex clone-inferior
2561 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2562 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2563 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2564 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2565 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2566
2567 @smallexample
2568 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2569 Num Description Executable
2570 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2571 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2572 Added inferior 2.
2573 1 inferiors added.
2574 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2575 Num Description Executable
2576 2 <null> helloworld
2577 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2578 @end smallexample
2579
2580 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2581
2582 @kindex remove-inferiors
2583 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2584 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2585 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2586 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2587
2588 @end table
2589
2590 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2591 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2592 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2593 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2594
2595 @table @code
2596 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2597 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2598 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2599 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2600 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2601 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2602
2603 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2604 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2605 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2606 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2607 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2608 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2609 @end table
2610
2611 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2612 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2613 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2614 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2615
2616
2617 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2618 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2619
2620 @table @code
2621 @kindex set print inferior-events
2622 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2623 @item set print inferior-events
2624 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2625 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2626 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2627 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2628 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2629 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2630
2631 @kindex show print inferior-events
2632 @item show print inferior-events
2633 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2634 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2635 @end table
2636
2637 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2638 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2639 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2640
2641
2642 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2643 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2644 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2645 info program-spaces}} command.
2646
2647 @table @code
2648 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2649 @item maint info program-spaces
2650 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2651 @value{GDBN}.
2652
2653 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2654
2655 @enumerate
2656 @item
2657 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2658
2659 @item
2660 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2661 the @code{file} command.
2662
2663 @end enumerate
2664
2665 @noindent
2666 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2667 indicates the current program space.
2668
2669 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2670 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2671 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2672
2673 @smallexample
2674 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2675 Id Executable
2676 2 goodbye
2677 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2678 * 1 hello
2679 @end smallexample
2680
2681 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2682 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2683 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2684 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2685 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2686
2687 @smallexample
2688 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2689 Id Executable
2690 * 1 vfork-test
2691 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2695 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2696 @end table
2697
2698 @node Threads
2699 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2700
2701 @cindex threads of execution
2702 @cindex multiple threads
2703 @cindex switching threads
2704 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2705 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2706 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2707 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2708 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2709 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2710 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2711
2712 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2713 programs:
2714
2715 @itemize @bullet
2716 @item automatic notification of new threads
2717 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2718 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2719 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2720 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2721 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2722 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2723 messages on thread start and exit.
2724 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2725 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2726 isn't compatible with the program.
2727 @end itemize
2728
2729 @quotation
2730 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2731 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2732 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2733 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2734 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2735 like this:
2736
2737 @smallexample
2738 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2739 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2740 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2741 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2742 @end smallexample
2743 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2744 @c doesn't support threads"?
2745 @end quotation
2746
2747 @cindex focus of debugging
2748 @cindex current thread
2749 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2750 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2751 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2752 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2753 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2754
2755 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2756 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2757 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2758 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2759 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2760 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2761 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2762 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2763 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2764 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2765
2766 @smallexample
2767 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2768 @end smallexample
2769
2770 @noindent
2771 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2772 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2773 further qualifier.
2774
2775 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2776 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2777 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2778 @c program?
2779 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2780 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2781 @c threads ab initio?
2782
2783 @cindex thread number
2784 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2785 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2786 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2787
2788 @table @code
2789 @kindex info threads
2790 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2791 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2792 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2793 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2794 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2795
2796 @enumerate
2797 @item
2798 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2799
2800 @item
2801 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2802
2803 @item
2804 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2805 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2806 program itself.
2807
2808 @item
2809 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2810 @end enumerate
2811
2812 @noindent
2813 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2814 indicates the current thread.
2815
2816 For example,
2817 @end table
2818 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2819
2820 @smallexample
2821 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2822 Id Target Id Frame
2823 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2824 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2825 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2826 at threadtest.c:68
2827 @end smallexample
2828
2829 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2830 Solaris-specific command:
2831
2832 @table @code
2833 @item maint info sol-threads
2834 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2835 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2836 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2837 @end table
2838
2839 @table @code
2840 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2841 @item thread @var{threadno}
2842 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2843 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2844 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2845 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2846 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2847
2848 @smallexample
2849 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2850 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2851 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2852 8 printf ("hello\n");
2853 @end smallexample
2854
2855 @noindent
2856 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2857 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2858 threads.
2859
2860 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2861 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2862 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2863 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2864 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2865 information on convenience variables.
2866
2867 @kindex thread apply
2868 @cindex apply command to several threads
2869 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2870 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2871 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2872 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2873 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2874 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2875 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2876 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2877
2878 @kindex thread name
2879 @cindex name a thread
2880 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2881 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2882 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2883 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2884
2885 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2886 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2887 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2888 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2889 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2890
2891 @kindex thread find
2892 @cindex search for a thread
2893 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2894 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2895 matches the supplied regular expression.
2896
2897 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2898 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2899 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2900 is the LWP id.
2901
2902 @smallexample
2903 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2904 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2905 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2906 Id Target Id Frame
2907 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2908 @end smallexample
2909
2910 @kindex set print thread-events
2911 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2912 @item set print thread-events
2913 @itemx set print thread-events on
2914 @itemx set print thread-events off
2915 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2916 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2917 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2918 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2919 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2920
2921 @kindex show print thread-events
2922 @item show print thread-events
2923 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2924 have started and exited.
2925 @end table
2926
2927 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2928 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2929 programs with multiple threads.
2930
2931 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2932 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2933
2934 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2935 @table @code
2936 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2937 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2938 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2939 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2940 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2941 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2942 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2943 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2944 macro.
2945
2946 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2947 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2948 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2949 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2950 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2951 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2952
2953 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2954 refers to the default system directories that are
2955 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2956 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2957 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2958
2959 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2960 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2961 was loaded in the inferior process.
2962
2963 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2964 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2965 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2966 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2967 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2968 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2969 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2970
2971 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2972 only on some platforms.
2973
2974 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2975 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2976 Display current libthread_db search path.
2977
2978 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2979 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2980 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2981 @item set debug libthread-db
2982 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2983 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2984 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2985 @end table
2986
2987 @node Forks
2988 @section Debugging Forks
2989
2990 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2991 @cindex multiple processes
2992 @cindex processes, multiple
2993 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2994 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2995 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2996 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2997 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2998 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2999 will cause it to terminate.
3000
3001 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3002 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3003 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3004 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3005 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3006 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3007 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3008 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3009 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3010 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3011
3012 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3013 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3014 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3015 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3016
3017 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3018 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3019
3020 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3021 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3022
3023 @table @code
3024 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3025 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3026 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3027 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3028 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3029
3030 @table @code
3031 @item parent
3032 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3033 unimpeded. This is the default.
3034
3035 @item child
3036 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3037 unimpeded.
3038
3039 @end table
3040
3041 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3042 @item show follow-fork-mode
3043 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3044 @end table
3045
3046 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3047 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3048 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3049
3050 @table @code
3051 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3052 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3053 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3054 retain debugger control over them both.
3055
3056 @table @code
3057 @item on
3058 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3059 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3060 independently. This is the default.
3061
3062 @item off
3063 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3064 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3065 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3066 is held suspended.
3067
3068 @end table
3069
3070 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3071 @item show detach-on-fork
3072 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3073 @end table
3074
3075 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3076 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3077 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3078 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3079 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3080 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3081
3082 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3083 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3084 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3085 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3086 and Programs}.
3087
3088 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3089 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3090 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3091 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3092 the child process's @code{main}.
3093
3094 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3095 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3096
3097 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3098 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3099 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3100 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3101 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3102 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3103 command.
3104
3105 @table @code
3106 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3107 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3108
3109 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3110 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3111
3112 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3113
3114 @table @code
3115 @item new
3116 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3117 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3118 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3119 original inferior.
3120
3121 For example:
3122
3123 @smallexample
3124 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3125 (gdb) info inferior
3126 Id Description Executable
3127 * 1 <null> prog1
3128 (@value{GDBP}) run
3129 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3130 Program exited normally.
3131 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3132 Id Description Executable
3133 * 2 <null> prog2
3134 1 <null> prog1
3135 @end smallexample
3136
3137 @item same
3138 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3139 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3140 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3141 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3142 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3143
3144 For example:
3145
3146 @smallexample
3147 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3148 Id Description Executable
3149 * 1 <null> prog1
3150 (@value{GDBP}) run
3151 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3152 Program exited normally.
3153 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3154 Id Description Executable
3155 * 1 <null> prog2
3156 @end smallexample
3157
3158 @end table
3159 @end table
3160
3161 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3162 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3163 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3164
3165 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3166 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3167
3168 @cindex checkpoint
3169 @cindex restart
3170 @cindex bookmark
3171 @cindex snapshot of a process
3172 @cindex rewind program state
3173
3174 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3175 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3176 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3177 later.
3178
3179 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3180 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3181 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3182 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3183 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3184
3185 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3186 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3187 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3188 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3189 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3190 start again from there.
3191
3192 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3193 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3194
3195 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3196
3197 @table @code
3198 @kindex checkpoint
3199 @item checkpoint
3200 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3201 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3202 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3203
3204 @kindex info checkpoints
3205 @item info checkpoints
3206 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3207 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3208 listed:
3209
3210 @table @code
3211 @item Checkpoint ID
3212 @item Process ID
3213 @item Code Address
3214 @item Source line, or label
3215 @end table
3216
3217 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3218 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3219 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3220 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3221 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3222 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3223 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3224
3225 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3226 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3227 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3228 the debugger.
3229
3230 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3231 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3232 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3233
3234 @end table
3235
3236 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3237 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3238 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3239 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3240 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3241 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3242 previously read data can be read again.
3243
3244 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3245 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3246 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3247 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3248 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3249 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3250
3251 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3252 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3253 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3254 different execution path this time.
3255
3256 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3257 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3258 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3259 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3260 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3261 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3262 potentially pose a problem.
3263
3264 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3265
3266 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3267 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3268 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3269 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3270 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3271 next.
3272
3273 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3274 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3275 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3276 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3277 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3278
3279 @node Stopping
3280 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3281
3282 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3283 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3284 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3285
3286 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3287 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3288 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3289 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3290 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3291 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3292 explicitly request this information at any time.
3293
3294 @table @code
3295 @kindex info program
3296 @item info program
3297 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3298 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3299 @end table
3300
3301 @menu
3302 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3303 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3304 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3305 Skipping over functions and files
3306 * Signals:: Signals
3307 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3308 @end menu
3309
3310 @node Breakpoints
3311 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3312
3313 @cindex breakpoints
3314 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3315 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3316 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3317 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3318 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3319 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3320 program.
3321
3322 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3323 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3324 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3325 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3326 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3327 call).
3328
3329 @cindex watchpoints
3330 @cindex data breakpoints
3331 @cindex memory tracing
3332 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3333 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3334 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3335 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3336 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3337 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3338 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3339 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3340 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3341 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3342 same commands.
3343
3344 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3345 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3346 Automatic Display}.
3347
3348 @cindex catchpoints
3349 @cindex breakpoint on events
3350 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3351 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3352 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3353 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3354 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3355 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3356 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3357
3358 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3359 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3360 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3361 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3362 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3363 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3364 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3365 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3366 enable it again.
3367
3368 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3369 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3370 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3371 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3372 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3373 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3374 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3375
3376 @menu
3377 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3378 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3379 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3380 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3381 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3382 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3383 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3384 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3385 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3386 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3387 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3388 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3389 @end menu
3390
3391 @node Set Breaks
3392 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3393
3394 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3395 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3396 @c
3397 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3398
3399 @kindex break
3400 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3401 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3402 @cindex latest breakpoint
3403 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3404 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3405 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3406 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3407 convenience variables.
3408
3409 @table @code
3410 @item break @var{location}
3411 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3412 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3413 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3414 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3415 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3416
3417 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3418 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3419 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3420 that situation.
3421
3422 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3423 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3424 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3425
3426 @item break
3427 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3428 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3429 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3430 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3431 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3432 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3433 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3434 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3435 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3436 inside loops.
3437
3438 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3439 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3440 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3441 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3442 existed when your program stopped.
3443
3444 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3445 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3446 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3447 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3448 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3449 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3450 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3451
3452 @kindex tbreak
3453 @item tbreak @var{args}
3454 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3455 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3456 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3457 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3458
3459 @kindex hbreak
3460 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3461 @item hbreak @var{args}
3462 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3463 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3464 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3465 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3466 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3467 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3468 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3469 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3470 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3471 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3472 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3473 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3474 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3475 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3476 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3477 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3478 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3479 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3480
3481 @kindex thbreak
3482 @item thbreak @var{args}
3483 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3484 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3485 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3486 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3487 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3488 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3489 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3490 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3491
3492 @kindex rbreak
3493 @cindex regular expression
3494 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3495 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3496 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3497 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3498 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3499 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3500 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3501 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3502 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3503
3504 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3505 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3506 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3507 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3508 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3509 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3510
3511 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3512 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3513 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3514 classes.
3515
3516 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3517 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3518 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3519
3520 @smallexample
3521 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3522 @end smallexample
3523
3524 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3525 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3526 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3527 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3528 every function in a given file:
3529
3530 @smallexample
3531 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3532 @end smallexample
3533
3534 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3535 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3536
3537 @kindex info breakpoints
3538 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3539 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3540 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3541 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3542 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3543 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3544 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3545
3546 @table @emph
3547 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3548 @item Type
3549 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3550 @item Disposition
3551 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3552 @item Enabled or Disabled
3553 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3554 that are not enabled.
3555 @item Address
3556 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3557 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3558 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3559 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3560 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3561 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3562 @item What
3563 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3564 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3565 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3566 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3567 @end table
3568
3569 @noindent
3570 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3571 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3572 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3573 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3574 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3575 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3576
3577 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3578 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3579 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3580 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3581
3582 @noindent
3583 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3584 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3585 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3586 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3587 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3588
3589 @noindent
3590 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3591 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3592 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3593 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3594 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3595 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3596
3597 @noindent
3598 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3599 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3600
3601 @end table
3602
3603 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3604 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3605 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3606 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3607
3608 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3609 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3610 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3611 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3612
3613 @itemize @bullet
3614 @item
3615 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3616
3617 @item
3618 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3619 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3620
3621 @item
3622 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3623 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3624
3625 @item
3626 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3627 several places where that function is inlined.
3628 @end itemize
3629
3630 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3631 the relevant locations.
3632
3633 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3634 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3635 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3636 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3637 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3638 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3639 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3640
3641 For example:
3642
3643 @smallexample
3644 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3645 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3646 stop only if i==1
3647 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3648 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3649 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3650 @end smallexample
3651
3652 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3653 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3654 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3655 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3656 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3657 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3658 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3659 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3660 that belong to that breakpoint.
3661
3662 @cindex pending breakpoints
3663 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3664 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3665 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3666 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3667 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3668 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3669 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3670 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3671 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3672 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3673 is not yet resolved.
3674
3675 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3676 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3677 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3678 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3679 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3680 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3681
3682 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3683 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3684 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3685 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3686
3687 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3688 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3689 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3690
3691 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3692 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3693 address specification to an address:
3694
3695 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3696 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3697 @table @code
3698 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3699 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3700 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3701
3702 @item set breakpoint pending on
3703 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3704 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3705
3706 @item set breakpoint pending off
3707 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3708 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3709 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3710
3711 @item show breakpoint pending
3712 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3713 @end table
3714
3715 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3716 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3717 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3718
3719 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3720 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3721 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3722 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3723 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3724 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3725 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3726 breakpoints.
3727
3728 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3729
3730 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3731 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3732 @table @code
3733 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3734 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3735 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3736 breakpoint must be used.
3737
3738 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3739 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3740 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3741 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3742 @end table
3743
3744 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3745 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3746 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3747 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3748 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3749 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3750 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3751 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3752 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3753
3754 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3755 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3756 @table @code
3757 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3758 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3759 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3760 removed from the target when it stops.
3761
3762 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3763 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3764 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3765 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3766 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3767
3768 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3769 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3770 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3771 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3772 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3773 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3774 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3775 @end table
3776
3777 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3778 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3779 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3780
3781 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3782 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3783
3784 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3785
3786 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3787 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3788 @table @code
3789 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3790 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3791 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3792 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3793 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3794
3795 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3796 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3797 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3798 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3799 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3800 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3801 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3802 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3803 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3804 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3805 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3806 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3807 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3808
3809 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3810 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3811 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3812 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3813 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3814 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3815 @end table
3816
3817
3818 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3819 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3820 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3821 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3822 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3823 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3824 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3825 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3826
3827
3828 @node Set Watchpoints
3829 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3830
3831 @cindex setting watchpoints
3832 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3833 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3834 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3835 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3836 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3837
3838 @itemize @bullet
3839 @item
3840 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3841
3842 @item
3843 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3844 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3845 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3846
3847 @item
3848 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3849 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3850 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3851 @end itemize
3852
3853 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3854 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3855 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3856 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3857 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3858 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3859 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3860 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3861 the expression changes.
3862
3863 @cindex software watchpoints
3864 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3865 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3866 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3867 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3868 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3869 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3870 culprit.)
3871
3872 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3873 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3874 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3875
3876 @table @code
3877 @kindex watch
3878 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3879 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3880 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3881 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3882 to watch the value of a single variable:
3883
3884 @smallexample
3885 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3886 @end smallexample
3887
3888 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3889 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3890 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3891 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3892 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3893 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3894
3895 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3896 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3897 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3898 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3899 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3900 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3901 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3902 error.
3903
3904 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3905 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3906 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3907 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3908 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3909 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3910 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3911 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3912 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3913 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3914 Examples:
3915
3916 @smallexample
3917 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3918 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3919 @end smallexample
3920
3921 @kindex rwatch
3922 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3923 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3924 by the program.
3925
3926 @kindex awatch
3927 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3928 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3929 or written into by the program.
3930
3931 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3932 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3933 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3934 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3935 @end table
3936
3937 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3938 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3939 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3940 a never-changing value:
3941
3942 @smallexample
3943 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3944 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3945 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3946 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3947 @end smallexample
3948
3949 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3950 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3951 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3952 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3953 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3954 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3955
3956 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3957 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3958 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3959 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3960 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3961 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3962 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3963 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3964
3965 @table @code
3966 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3967 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3968 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3969
3970 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3971 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3972 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3973 @end table
3974
3975 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3976 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3977 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3978
3979 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3980
3981 @smallexample
3982 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3983 @end smallexample
3984
3985 @noindent
3986 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3987
3988 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3989 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3990 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3991 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3992 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3993 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3994 will print a message like this:
3995
3996 @smallexample
3997 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3998 @end smallexample
3999
4000 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4001 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4002 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4003 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4004 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4005 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4006 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4007 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4008
4009 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4010 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4011 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4012 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4013 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4014 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4015
4016 @smallexample
4017 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4018 @end smallexample
4019
4020 @noindent
4021 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4022
4023 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4024 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4025 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4026 expression with separately allocated resources.
4027
4028 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4029 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4030 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4031
4032 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4033 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4034 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4035 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4036 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4037 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4038 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4039 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4040 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4041
4042 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4043 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4044 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4045 watched expression from every thread.
4046
4047 @quotation
4048 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4049 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4050 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4051 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4052 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4053 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4054 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4055 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4056 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4057 @end quotation
4058
4059 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4060
4061 @node Set Catchpoints
4062 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4063 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4064 @cindex exception handlers
4065 @cindex event handling
4066
4067 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4068 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4069 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4070
4071 @table @code
4072 @kindex catch
4073 @item catch @var{event}
4074 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4075
4076 @table @code
4077 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4078 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4079 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4080 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4081 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4082
4083 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4084 regular expression will be caught.
4085
4086 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4087 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4088 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4089 exception being thrown.
4090
4091 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4092 @value{GDBN}:
4093
4094 @itemize @bullet
4095 @item
4096 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4097 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4098 supported.
4099
4100 @item
4101 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4102 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4103 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4104 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4105 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4106 built.
4107
4108 @item
4109 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4110 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4111
4112 @item
4113 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4114 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4115 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4116 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4117
4118 @item
4119 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4120 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4121 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4122 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4123 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4124 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4125 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4126 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4127 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4128
4129 @item
4130 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4131
4132 @item
4133 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4134 @end itemize
4135
4136 @item exception
4137 @cindex Ada exception catching
4138 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4139 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4140 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4141 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4142 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4143
4144 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4145 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4146 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4147 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4148 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4149 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4150 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4151 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4152
4153 @item exception unhandled
4154 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4155
4156 @item assert
4157 A failed Ada assertion.
4158
4159 @item exec
4160 @cindex break on fork/exec
4161 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4162 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4163
4164 @item syscall
4165 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4166 @cindex break on a system call.
4167 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4168 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4169 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4170 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4171 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4172 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4173 will be caught.
4174
4175 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4176 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4177 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4178 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4179
4180 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4181 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4182 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4183 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4184
4185 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4186 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4187 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4188 available choices.
4189
4190 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4191 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4192 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4193 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4194 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4195 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4196 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4197 behind the OS upgrades).
4198
4199 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4200 arguments to it:
4201
4202 @smallexample
4203 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4204 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4205 (@value{GDBP}) r
4206 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4207
4208 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4209 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4210 (@value{GDBP}) c
4211 Continuing.
4212
4213 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4214 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4215 (@value{GDBP})
4216 @end smallexample
4217
4218 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4219
4220 @smallexample
4221 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4222 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4223 (@value{GDBP}) r
4224 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4225
4226 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4227 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4228 (@value{GDBP}) c
4229 Continuing.
4230
4231 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4232 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4233 (@value{GDBP})
4234 @end smallexample
4235
4236 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4237 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4238 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4239
4240 @smallexample
4241 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4242 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4243 (@value{GDBP}) r
4244 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4245
4246 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4247 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4248 (@value{GDBP}) c
4249 Continuing.
4250
4251 Program exited normally.
4252 (@value{GDBP})
4253 @end smallexample
4254
4255 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4256 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4257 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4258 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4259
4260 @smallexample
4261 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4262 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4263 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4264 (@value{GDBP})
4265 @end smallexample
4266
4267 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4268 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4269 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4270 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4271 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4272 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4273
4274 @smallexample
4275 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4276 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4277 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4278 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4279 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4280 (@value{GDBP})
4281 @end smallexample
4282
4283 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4284
4285 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4286 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4287
4288 @smallexample
4289 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4290 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4291 @end smallexample
4292
4293 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4294
4295 @item fork
4296 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4297 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4298
4299 @item vfork
4300 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4301 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4302
4303 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4304 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4305 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4306 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4307 matches one of the affected libraries.
4308
4309 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4310 The delivery of a signal.
4311
4312 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4313 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4314 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4315
4316 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4317 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4318 signal names.
4319
4320 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4321 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4322 will be caught.
4323
4324 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4325 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4326 catchpoint.
4327
4328 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4329 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4330 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4331 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4332 commands.
4333
4334 @end table
4335
4336 @item tcatch @var{event}
4337 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4338 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4339
4340 @end table
4341
4342 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4343
4344
4345 @node Delete Breaks
4346 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4347
4348 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4349 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4350 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4351 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4352 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4353 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4354
4355 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4356 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4357 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4358 their breakpoint numbers.
4359
4360 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4361 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4362 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4363
4364 @table @code
4365 @kindex clear
4366 @item clear
4367 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4368 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4369 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4370 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4371
4372 @item clear @var{location}
4373 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4374 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4375 most useful ones are listed below:
4376
4377 @table @code
4378 @item clear @var{function}
4379 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4380 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4381
4382 @item clear @var{linenum}
4383 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4384 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4385 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4386 @end table
4387
4388 @cindex delete breakpoints
4389 @kindex delete
4390 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4391 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4392 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4393 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4394 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4395 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4396 @end table
4397
4398 @node Disabling
4399 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4400
4401 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4402 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4403 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4404 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4405 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4406
4407 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4408 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4409 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4410 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4411 do not know which numbers to use.
4412
4413 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4414 affects all of its locations.
4415
4416 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4417 different states of enablement:
4418
4419 @itemize @bullet
4420 @item
4421 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4422 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4423 @item
4424 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4425 @item
4426 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4427 disabled.
4428 @item
4429 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4430 N times, then becomes disabled.
4431 @item
4432 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4433 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4434 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4435 @end itemize
4436
4437 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4438 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4439
4440 @table @code
4441 @kindex disable
4442 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4443 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4444 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4445 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4446 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4447 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4448 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4449
4450 @kindex enable
4451 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4452 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4453 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4454
4455 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4456 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4457 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4458
4459 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4460 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4461 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4462 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4463 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4464 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4465 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4466
4467 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4468 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4469 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4470 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4471 @end table
4472
4473 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4474 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4475 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4476 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4477 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4478 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4479 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4480 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4481 Stepping}.)
4482
4483 @node Conditions
4484 @subsection Break Conditions
4485 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4486 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4487
4488 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4489 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4490 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4491 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4492 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4493 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4494 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4495 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4496
4497 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4498 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4499 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4500 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4501 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4502
4503 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4504 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4505 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4506 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4507 one.
4508
4509 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4510 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4511 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4512 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4513 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4514 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4515 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4516 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4517 conditions for the
4518 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4519 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4520
4521 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4522 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4523 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4524 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4525 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4526 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4527
4528 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4529 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4530 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4531 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4532 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4533
4534 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4535 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4536 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4537 with the @code{condition} command.
4538
4539 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4540 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4541 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4542 catchpoint.
4543
4544 @table @code
4545 @kindex condition
4546 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4547 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4548 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4549 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4550 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4551 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4552 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4553 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4554 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4555 prints an error message:
4556
4557 @smallexample
4558 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4559 @end smallexample
4560
4561 @noindent
4562 @value{GDBN} does
4563 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4564 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4565 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4566
4567 @item condition @var{bnum}
4568 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4569 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4570 @end table
4571
4572 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4573 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4574 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4575 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4576 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4577 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4578 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4579 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4580 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4581 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4582 your program reaches it.
4583
4584 @table @code
4585 @kindex ignore
4586 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4587 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4588 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4589 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4590 takes no action.
4591
4592 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4593 a count of zero.
4594
4595 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4596 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4597 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4598 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4599
4600 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4601 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4602 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4603
4604 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4605 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4606 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4607 Variables}.
4608 @end table
4609
4610 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4611
4612
4613 @node Break Commands
4614 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4615
4616 @cindex breakpoint commands
4617 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4618 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4619 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4620 enable other breakpoints.
4621
4622 @table @code
4623 @kindex commands
4624 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4625 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4626 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4627 @itemx end
4628 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4629 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4630 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4631
4632 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4633 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4634
4635 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4636 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4637 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4638 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4639 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4640 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4641 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4642 Expressions}).
4643 @end table
4644
4645 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4646 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4647
4648 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4649 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4650 that resumes execution.
4651
4652 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4653 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4654 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4655 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4656 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4657
4658 @kindex silent
4659 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4660 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4661 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4662 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4663 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4664 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4665
4666 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4667 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4668 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4669
4670 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4671 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4672
4673 @smallexample
4674 break foo if x>0
4675 commands
4676 silent
4677 printf "x is %d\n",x
4678 cont
4679 end
4680 @end smallexample
4681
4682 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4683 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4684 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4685 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4686 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4687 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4688 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4689
4690 @smallexample
4691 break 403
4692 commands
4693 silent
4694 set x = y + 4
4695 cont
4696 end
4697 @end smallexample
4698
4699 @node Dynamic Printf
4700 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4701
4702 @cindex dynamic printf
4703 @cindex dprintf
4704 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4705 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4706 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4707 having to recompile it.
4708
4709 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4710 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4711 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4712 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4713 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4714 redirects to files and so forth.
4715
4716 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4717 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4718 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4719 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4720 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4721 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4722 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4723
4724 @table @code
4725 @kindex dprintf
4726 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4727 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4728 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4729 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4730
4731 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4732 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4733 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4734 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4735 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4736 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4737
4738 @item gdb
4739 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4740 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4741
4742 @item call
4743 @kindex dprintf-style call
4744 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4745 @code{printf}).
4746
4747 @item agent
4748 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4749 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4750 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4751 support running commands on the target.
4752
4753 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4754 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4755 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4756 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4757 command.
4758
4759 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4760 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4761 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4762 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4763 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4764 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4765
4766 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4767 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4768 you could do the following:
4769
4770 @example
4771 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4772 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4773 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4774 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4775 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4776 (gdb) info break
4777 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4778 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4779 continue
4780 (gdb)
4781 @end example
4782
4783 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4784 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4785 the variable settings.
4786
4787 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4788 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4789 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4790 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4791 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4792 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4793
4794 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4795 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4796 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4797
4798 @end table
4799
4800 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4801 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4802 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4803 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4804 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4805 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4806
4807 @node Save Breakpoints
4808 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4809
4810 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4811 breakpoints}} command.
4812
4813 @table @code
4814 @kindex save breakpoints
4815 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4816 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4817 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4818 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4819 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4820 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4821 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4822 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4823 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4824 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4825 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4826 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4827 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4828 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4829 that can no longer be recreated.
4830 @end table
4831
4832 @node Static Probe Points
4833 @subsection Static Probe Points
4834
4835 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4836 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4837 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4838 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4839 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4840 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4841 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4842
4843 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4844 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4845 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4846 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4847 in your applications.
4848
4849 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4850 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4851 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4852 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4853 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4854 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4855 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4856 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4857
4858 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4859 probes}, with optional arguments:
4860
4861 @table @code
4862 @kindex info probes
4863 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4864 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4865 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4866 probes from all providers are listed.
4867
4868 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4869 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4870 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4871
4872 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4873 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4874 given, all object files are considered.
4875
4876 @item info probes all
4877 List the available static probes, from all types.
4878 @end table
4879
4880 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4881 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4882 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4883 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4884 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4885 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4886 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4887 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4888 at the current probe point.
4889
4890 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4891 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4892 an error message.
4893
4894
4895 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4896 @node Error in Breakpoints
4897 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4898
4899 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4900 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4901
4902 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4903 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4904 @smallexample
4905 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4906 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4907 @end smallexample
4908
4909 @noindent
4910 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4911 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4912 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4913
4914 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4915 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4916
4917 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4918 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4919 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4920
4921 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4922 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4923 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4924 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4925
4926 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4927 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4928 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4929 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4930 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4931 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4932 first in the bundle.
4933
4934 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4935 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4936 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4937 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4938 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4939 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4940 is hit.
4941
4942 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4943 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4944
4945 @smallexample
4946 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4947 @end smallexample
4948
4949 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4950 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4951 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4952 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4953 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4954 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4955 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4956 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4957
4958 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4959 adjusted breakpoints:
4960
4961 @smallexample
4962 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4963 to 0x00010410.
4964 @end smallexample
4965
4966 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4967 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4968 frequently than expected.
4969
4970 @node Continuing and Stepping
4971 @section Continuing and Stepping
4972
4973 @cindex stepping
4974 @cindex continuing
4975 @cindex resuming execution
4976 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4977 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4978 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4979 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4980 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4981 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4982 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4983 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4984
4985 @table @code
4986 @kindex continue
4987 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4988 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4989 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4990 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4991 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4992 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4993 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4994 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4995 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4996 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4997
4998 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4999 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5000 @code{continue} is ignored.
5001
5002 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5003 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5004 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5005 @code{continue}.
5006 @end table
5007
5008 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5009 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5010 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5011 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5012
5013 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5014 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5015 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5016 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5017 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5018 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5019
5020 @table @code
5021 @kindex step
5022 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5023 @item step
5024 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5025 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5026 abbreviated @code{s}.
5027
5028 @quotation
5029 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5030 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5031 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5032 @c distinction here.
5033 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5034 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5035 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5036 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5037 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5038 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5039 below.
5040 @end quotation
5041
5042 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5043 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5044 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5045 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5046 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5047 called within the line.
5048
5049 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5050 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5051 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5052 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5053 was any debugging information about the routine.
5054
5055 @item step @var{count}
5056 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5057 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5058 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5059
5060 @kindex next
5061 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5062 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5063 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5064 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5065 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5066 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5067 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5068 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5069
5070 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5071
5072
5073 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5074 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5075 @c
5076 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5077 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5078 @c function are executed without stopping.
5079
5080 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5081 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5082 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5083
5084 @kindex set step-mode
5085 @item set step-mode
5086 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5087 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5088 @itemx set step-mode on
5089 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5090 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5091 information rather than stepping over it.
5092
5093 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5094 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5095 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5096
5097 @item set step-mode off
5098 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5099 debug information. This is the default.
5100
5101 @item show step-mode
5102 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5103 source line debug information.
5104
5105 @kindex finish
5106 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5107 @item finish
5108 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5109 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5110 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5111
5112 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5113 ,Returning from a Function}).
5114
5115 @kindex until
5116 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5117 @cindex run until specified location
5118 @item until
5119 @itemx u
5120 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5121 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5122 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5123 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5124 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5125 than the address of the jump.
5126
5127 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5128 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5129 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5130 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5131 through the next iteration.
5132
5133 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5134 stack frame.
5135
5136 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5137 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5138 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5139 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5140 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5141
5142 @smallexample
5143 (@value{GDBP}) f
5144 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5145 206 expand_input();
5146 (@value{GDBP}) until
5147 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5148 @end smallexample
5149
5150 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5151 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5152 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5153 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5154 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5155 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5156 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5157
5158 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5159 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5160 argument.
5161
5162 @item until @var{location}
5163 @itemx u @var{location}
5164 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5165 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5166 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5167 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5168 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5169 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5170 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5171 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5172 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5173 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5174 invocations have returned.
5175
5176 @smallexample
5177 94 int factorial (int value)
5178 95 @{
5179 96 if (value > 1) @{
5180 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5181 98 @}
5182 99 return (value);
5183 100 @}
5184 @end smallexample
5185
5186
5187 @kindex advance @var{location}
5188 @item advance @var{location}
5189 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5190 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5191 @ref{Specify Location}.
5192 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5193 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5194 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5195 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5196
5197
5198 @kindex stepi
5199 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5200 @item stepi
5201 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5202 @itemx si
5203 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5204
5205 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5206 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5207 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5208 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5209
5210 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5211
5212 @need 750
5213 @kindex nexti
5214 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5215 @item nexti
5216 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5217 @itemx ni
5218 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5219 proceed until the function returns.
5220
5221 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5222
5223 @end table
5224
5225 @anchor{range stepping}
5226 @cindex range stepping
5227 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5228 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5229 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5230 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5231 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5232 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5233 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5234 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5235 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5236 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5237 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5238 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5239 if necessary:
5240
5241 @table @code
5242 @kindex set range-stepping
5243 @kindex show range-stepping
5244 @item set range-stepping
5245 @itemx show range-stepping
5246 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5247
5248 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5249 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5250 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5251 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5252 default is @code{on}.
5253
5254 @end table
5255
5256 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5257 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5258 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5259
5260 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5261 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5262 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5263
5264 For example, consider the following C function:
5265
5266 @smallexample
5267 101 int func()
5268 102 @{
5269 103 foo(boring());
5270 104 bar(boring());
5271 105 @}
5272 @end smallexample
5273
5274 @noindent
5275 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5276 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5277 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5278 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5279
5280 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5281 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5282 is called from many places.
5283
5284 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5285 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5286 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5287 @code{foo}.
5288
5289 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5290 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5291
5292 @table @code
5293 @kindex skip function
5294 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5295 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5296 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5297 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5298 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5299
5300 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5301 will be skipped.
5302
5303 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5304 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5305
5306 @kindex skip file
5307 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5308 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5309 will be skipped over when stepping.
5310
5311 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5312 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5313 @end table
5314
5315 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5316 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5317
5318 @table @code
5319 @kindex info skip
5320 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5321 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5322 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5323 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5324
5325 @table @emph
5326 @item Identifier
5327 A number identifying this skip.
5328 @item Type
5329 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5330 @item Enabled or Disabled
5331 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5332 @item Address
5333 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5334 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5335 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5336 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5337 address here.
5338 @item What
5339 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5340 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5341 where it is defined.
5342 @end table
5343
5344 @kindex skip delete
5345 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5346 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5347 skips.
5348
5349 @kindex skip enable
5350 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5351 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5352 skips.
5353
5354 @kindex skip disable
5355 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5356 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5357 skips.
5358
5359 @end table
5360
5361 @node Signals
5362 @section Signals
5363 @cindex signals
5364
5365 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5366 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5367 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5368 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5369 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5370 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5371 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5372 requested an alarm).
5373
5374 @cindex fatal signals
5375 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5376 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5377 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5378 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5379 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5380 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5381
5382 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5383 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5384 signal.
5385
5386 @cindex handling signals
5387 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5388 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5389 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5390 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5391 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5392
5393 @table @code
5394 @kindex info signals
5395 @kindex info handle
5396 @item info signals
5397 @itemx info handle
5398 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5399 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5400 the defined types of signals.
5401
5402 @item info signals @var{sig}
5403 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5404
5405 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5406
5407 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5408 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5409 for details about this command.
5410
5411 @kindex handle
5412 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5413 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5414 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5415 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5416 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5417 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5418 say what change to make.
5419 @end table
5420
5421 @c @group
5422 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5423 Their full names are:
5424
5425 @table @code
5426 @item nostop
5427 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5428 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5429
5430 @item stop
5431 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5432 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5433
5434 @item print
5435 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5436
5437 @item noprint
5438 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5439 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5440
5441 @item pass
5442 @itemx noignore
5443 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5444 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5445 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5446
5447 @item nopass
5448 @itemx ignore
5449 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5450 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5451 @end table
5452 @c @end group
5453
5454 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5455 program until you
5456 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5457 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5458 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5459 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5460 program sees that signal when you continue.
5461
5462 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5463 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5464 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5465 erroneous signals.
5466
5467 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5468 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5469 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5470 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5471 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5472 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5473 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5474 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5475 Program a Signal}.
5476
5477 @cindex extra signal information
5478 @anchor{extra signal information}
5479
5480 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5481 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5482 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5483 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5484 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5485 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5486 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5487 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5488 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5489 system header.
5490
5491 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5492 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5493
5494 @smallexample
5495 @group
5496 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5497 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5498 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5499 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5500 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5501 type = struct @{
5502 int si_signo;
5503 int si_errno;
5504 int si_code;
5505 union @{
5506 int _pad[28];
5507 struct @{...@} _kill;
5508 struct @{...@} _timer;
5509 struct @{...@} _rt;
5510 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5511 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5512 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5513 @} _sifields;
5514 @}
5515 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5516 type = struct @{
5517 void *si_addr;
5518 @}
5519 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5520 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5521 @end group
5522 @end smallexample
5523
5524 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5525
5526 @node Thread Stops
5527 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5528
5529 @cindex stopped threads
5530 @cindex threads, stopped
5531
5532 @cindex continuing threads
5533 @cindex threads, continuing
5534
5535 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5536 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5537 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5538 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5539 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5540 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5541 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5542 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5543 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5544
5545 @menu
5546 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5547 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5548 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5549 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5550 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5551 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5552 @end menu
5553
5554 @node All-Stop Mode
5555 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5556
5557 @cindex all-stop mode
5558
5559 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5560 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5561 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5562 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5563 underfoot.
5564
5565 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5566 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5567 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5568
5569 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5570 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5571 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5572 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5573 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5574 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5575 stops.
5576
5577 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5578 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5579 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5580 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5581
5582 @cindex automatic thread selection
5583 @cindex switching threads automatically
5584 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5585 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5586 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5587 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5588 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5589 thread.
5590
5591 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5592 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5593
5594 @table @code
5595 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5596 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5597 @cindex lock scheduler
5598 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5599 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5600 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5601 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5602 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5603 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5604 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5605 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5606 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5607 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5608 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5609 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5610
5611 @item show scheduler-locking
5612 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5613 @end table
5614
5615 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5616 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5617 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5618 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5619 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5620 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5621 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5622 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5623 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5624 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5625 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5626 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5627 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5628 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5629
5630 @table @code
5631 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5632 @item set schedule-multiple
5633 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5634 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5635 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5636 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5637 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5638 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5639
5640 @item show schedule-multiple
5641 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5642 multiple processes.
5643 @end table
5644
5645 @node Non-Stop Mode
5646 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5647
5648 @cindex non-stop mode
5649
5650 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5651 @c with more details.
5652
5653 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5654 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5655 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5656 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5657 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5658 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5659
5660 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5661 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5662 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5663 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5664 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5665 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5666 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5667 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5668 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5669 independently and simultaneously.
5670
5671 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5672 or attach to your program:
5673
5674 @smallexample
5675 # Enable the async interface.
5676 set target-async 1
5677
5678 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5679 set pagination off
5680
5681 # Finally, turn it on!
5682 set non-stop on
5683 @end smallexample
5684
5685 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5686
5687 @table @code
5688 @kindex set non-stop
5689 @item set non-stop on
5690 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5691 @item set non-stop off
5692 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5693 @kindex show non-stop
5694 @item show non-stop
5695 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5696 @end table
5697
5698 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5699 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5700 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5701 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5702 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5703 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5704 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5705 default.
5706
5707 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5708 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5709 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5710
5711 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5712 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5713 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5714 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5715 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5716
5717 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5718 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5719 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5720 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5721 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5722
5723 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5724
5725 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5726 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5727 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5728 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5729 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5730 previously current thread.
5731
5732 @node Background Execution
5733 @subsection Background Execution
5734
5735 @cindex foreground execution
5736 @cindex background execution
5737 @cindex asynchronous execution
5738 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5739
5740 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5741 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5742 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5743 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5744 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5745 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5746
5747 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5748 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5749 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5750
5751 @table @code
5752 @kindex set target-async
5753 @item set target-async on
5754 Enable asynchronous mode.
5755 @item set target-async off
5756 Disable asynchronous mode.
5757 @kindex show target-async
5758 @item show target-async
5759 Show the current target-async setting.
5760 @end table
5761
5762 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5763 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5764
5765 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5766 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5767 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5768 are:
5769
5770 @table @code
5771 @kindex run&
5772 @item run
5773 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5774
5775 @item attach
5776 @kindex attach&
5777 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5778
5779 @item step
5780 @kindex step&
5781 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5782
5783 @item stepi
5784 @kindex stepi&
5785 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5786
5787 @item next
5788 @kindex next&
5789 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5790
5791 @item nexti
5792 @kindex nexti&
5793 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5794
5795 @item continue
5796 @kindex continue&
5797 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5798
5799 @item finish
5800 @kindex finish&
5801 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5802
5803 @item until
5804 @kindex until&
5805 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5806
5807 @end table
5808
5809 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5810 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5811 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5812 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5813 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5814 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5815
5816 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5817 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5818
5819 @table @code
5820 @kindex interrupt
5821 @item interrupt
5822 @itemx interrupt -a
5823
5824 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5825 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5826 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5827 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5828 @end table
5829
5830 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5831 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5832
5833 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5834 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5835 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5836
5837 @table @code
5838 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5839 @cindex thread breakpoints
5840 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5841 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5842 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5843 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5844 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5845 specify some source line.
5846
5847 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5848 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5849 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5850 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5851 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5852
5853 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5854 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5855 program.
5856
5857 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5858 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5859 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5860
5861 @smallexample
5862 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5863 @end smallexample
5864
5865 @end table
5866
5867 @node Interrupted System Calls
5868 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5869
5870 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5871 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5872 @cindex premature return from system calls
5873 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5874 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5875 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5876 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5877 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5878 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5879 stop execution.
5880
5881 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5882 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5883 style anyways.
5884
5885 For example, do not write code like this:
5886
5887 @smallexample
5888 sleep (10);
5889 @end smallexample
5890
5891 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5892 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5893
5894 Instead, write this:
5895
5896 @smallexample
5897 int unslept = 10;
5898 while (unslept > 0)
5899 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5900 @end smallexample
5901
5902 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5903 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5904 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5905 @value{GDBN}.
5906
5907 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5908 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5909 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5910 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5911
5912 @node Observer Mode
5913 @subsection Observer Mode
5914
5915 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5916 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5917 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5918 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5919 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5920
5921 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5922 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5923 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5924 mode.
5925
5926 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5927 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5928 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5929 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5930 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5931
5932 @table @code
5933
5934 @kindex observer
5935 @item set observer on
5936 @itemx set observer off
5937 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5938 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5939 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5940 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5941
5942 @item show observer
5943 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5944
5945 @kindex may-write-registers
5946 @item set may-write-registers on
5947 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5948 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5949 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5950 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5951
5952 @item show may-write-registers
5953 Show the current permission to write registers.
5954
5955 @kindex may-write-memory
5956 @item set may-write-memory on
5957 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5958 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5959 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5960 defaults to @code{on}.
5961
5962 @item show may-write-memory
5963 Show the current permission to write memory.
5964
5965 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5966 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5967 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5968 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5969 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5970 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5971
5972 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5973 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5974
5975 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5976 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5977 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5978 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5979 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5980 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5981 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5982
5983 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5984 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5985
5986 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5987 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5988 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5989 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5990 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5991 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5992 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5993
5994 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5995 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5996
5997 @kindex may-interrupt
5998 @item set may-interrupt on
5999 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6000 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6001 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6002 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6003 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6004
6005 @item show may-interrupt
6006 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6007
6008 @end table
6009
6010 @node Reverse Execution
6011 @chapter Running programs backward
6012 @cindex reverse execution
6013 @cindex running programs backward
6014
6015 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6016 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6017 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6018 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6019
6020 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6021 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6022 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6023 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6024 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6025 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6026
6027 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6028 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6029 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6030 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6031 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6032 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6033 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6034 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6035 prior values@footnote{
6036 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6037 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6038 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6039
6040 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6041 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6042 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6043 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6044 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6045 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6046 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6047 }.
6048
6049 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6050 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6051
6052 @table @code
6053 @kindex reverse-continue
6054 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6055 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6056 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6057 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6058 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6059 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6060 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6061
6062 @kindex reverse-step
6063 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6064 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6065 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6066 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6067
6068 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6069 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6070 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6071 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6072 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6073 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6074
6075 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6076 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6077
6078 @kindex reverse-stepi
6079 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6080 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6081 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6082 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6083 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6084 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6085 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6086
6087 @kindex reverse-next
6088 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6089 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6090 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6091 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6092 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6093 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6094 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6095 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6096 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6097 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6098
6099 @kindex reverse-nexti
6100 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6101 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6102 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6103 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6104 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6105 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6106 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6107 frame) is reached.
6108
6109 @kindex reverse-finish
6110 @item reverse-finish
6111 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6112 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6113 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6114 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6115
6116 @kindex set exec-direction
6117 @item set exec-direction
6118 Set the direction of target execution.
6119 @item set exec-direction reverse
6120 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6121 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6122 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6123 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6124 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6125 @item set exec-direction forward
6126 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6127 This is the default.
6128 @end table
6129
6130
6131 @node Process Record and Replay
6132 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6133 @cindex process record and replay
6134 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6135
6136 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6137 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6138 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6139
6140 @cindex replay mode
6141 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6142 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6143 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6144 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6145 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6146 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6147 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6148 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6149 execution log.
6150
6151 @cindex record mode
6152 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6153 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6154 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6155 for future replay.
6156
6157 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6158 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6159 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6160 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6161 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6162 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6163
6164 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6165 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6166 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6167 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6168
6169 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6170 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6171
6172 @table @code
6173 @kindex target record
6174 @kindex target record-full
6175 @kindex target record-btrace
6176 @kindex record
6177 @kindex record full
6178 @kindex record btrace
6179 @kindex rec
6180 @kindex rec full
6181 @kindex rec btrace
6182 @item record @var{method}
6183 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6184 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6185 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6186 recording methods are available:
6187
6188 @table @code
6189 @item full
6190 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6191 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6192 execution.
6193
6194 @item btrace
6195 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6196 replaying and reverse execution.
6197
6198 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6199 @end table
6200
6201 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6202 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6203 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6204 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6205
6206 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6207 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6208
6209 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6210 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6211 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6212 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6213 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6214
6215 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6216 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6217 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6218 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6219 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6220 does not support these two modes.
6221
6222 @kindex record stop
6223 @kindex rec s
6224 @item record stop
6225 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6226 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6227 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6228
6229 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6230 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6231 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6232 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6233 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6234
6235 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6236 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6237 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6238 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6239 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6240
6241 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6242 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6243
6244 @kindex record goto
6245 @item record goto
6246 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6247 ways to specify the location to go to:
6248
6249 @table @code
6250 @item record goto begin
6251 @itemx record goto start
6252 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6253
6254 @item record goto end
6255 Go to the end of the execution log.
6256
6257 @item record goto @var{n}
6258 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6259 @end table
6260
6261 @kindex record save
6262 @item record save @var{filename}
6263 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6264 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6265 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6266
6267 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6268
6269 @kindex record restore
6270 @item record restore @var{filename}
6271 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6272 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6273
6274 @kindex set record full
6275 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6276 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6277 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6278 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6279
6280 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6281 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6282 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6283 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6284 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6285 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6286 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6287 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6288
6289 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6290 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6291 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6292
6293 @kindex show record full
6294 @item show record full insn-number-max
6295 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6296 recording method.
6297
6298 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6299 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6300 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6301 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6302 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6303 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6304 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6305 oldest one to be deleted.
6306
6307 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6308 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6309
6310 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6311 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6312
6313 @item set record full memory-query
6314 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6315 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6316 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6317 case.
6318
6319 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6320 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6321 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6322 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6323 results.
6324
6325 @item show record full memory-query
6326 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6327
6328 @kindex info record
6329 @item info record
6330 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6331 method:
6332
6333 @table @code
6334 @item full
6335 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6336 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6337
6338 @itemize @bullet
6339 @item
6340 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6341 @item
6342 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6343 @item
6344 Highest recorded instruction number.
6345 @item
6346 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6347 @item
6348 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6349 @item
6350 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6351 @end itemize
6352
6353 @item btrace
6354 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6355 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6356 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6357 @end table
6358
6359 @kindex record delete
6360 @kindex rec del
6361 @item record delete
6362 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6363 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6364 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6365 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6366
6367 @kindex record instruction-history
6368 @kindex rec instruction-history
6369 @item record instruction-history
6370 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6371 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6372 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6373 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6374 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6375
6376 @table @code
6377 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6378 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6379 @var{insn}.
6380
6381 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6382 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6383 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6384 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6385 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6386 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6387
6388 @item record instruction-history
6389 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6390
6391 @item record instruction-history -
6392 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6393
6394 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6395 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6396 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6397 number @var{end} is not included.
6398 @end table
6399
6400 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6401
6402 @kindex set record
6403 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6404 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6405 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6406 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6407 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6408
6409 @kindex show record
6410 @item show record instruction-history-size
6411 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6412 instruction-history} command.
6413
6414 @kindex record function-call-history
6415 @kindex rec function-call-history
6416 @item record function-call-history
6417 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6418 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6419 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6420 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6421 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6422 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6423
6424 @smallexample
6425 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6426 1 void foo (void)
6427 2 @{
6428 3 @}
6429 4
6430 5 void bar (void)
6431 6 @{
6432 7 ...
6433 8 foo ();
6434 9 ...
6435 10 @}
6436 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6437 1 foo.c:6-8 bar
6438 2 foo.c:2-3 foo
6439 3 foo.c:9-10 bar
6440 @end smallexample
6441
6442 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6443 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6444 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6445 to print:
6446
6447 @table @code
6448 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6449 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6450
6451 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6452 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6453 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6454 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6455 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6456
6457 @item record function-call-history
6458 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6459
6460 @item record function-call-history -
6461 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6462
6463 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6464 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6465 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6466 included.
6467 @end table
6468
6469 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6470
6471 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6472 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6473 Define how many lines to print in the
6474 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6475 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6476
6477 @item show record function-call-history-size
6478 Show how many lines to print in the
6479 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6480 @end table
6481
6482
6483 @node Stack
6484 @chapter Examining the Stack
6485
6486 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6487 stopped and how it got there.
6488
6489 @cindex call stack
6490 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6491 is generated.
6492 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6493 the arguments of the call,
6494 and the local variables of the function being called.
6495 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6496 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6497 stack}.
6498
6499 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6500 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6501
6502 @cindex selected frame
6503 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6504 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6505 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6506 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6507 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6508 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6509
6510 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6511 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6512 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6513
6514 @menu
6515 * Frames:: Stack frames
6516 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6517 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6518 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6519 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6520
6521 @end menu
6522
6523 @node Frames
6524 @section Stack Frames
6525
6526 @cindex frame, definition
6527 @cindex stack frame
6528 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6529 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6530 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6531 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6532 which the function is executing.
6533
6534 @cindex initial frame
6535 @cindex outermost frame
6536 @cindex innermost frame
6537 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6538 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6539 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6540 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6541 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6542 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6543 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6544 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6545
6546 @cindex frame pointer
6547 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6548 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6549 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6550 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6551 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6552 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6553
6554 @cindex frame number
6555 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6556 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6557 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6558 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6559 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6560
6561 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6562 @c underflow problems.
6563 @cindex frameless execution
6564 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6565 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6566 @smallexample
6567 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6568 @end smallexample
6569 generates functions without a frame.)
6570 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6571 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6572 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6573 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6574 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6575 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6576 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6577
6578 @table @code
6579 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6580 @cindex current stack frame
6581 @item frame @var{args}
6582 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6583 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6584 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6585 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6586
6587 @kindex select-frame
6588 @cindex selecting frame silently
6589 @item select-frame
6590 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6591 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6592 @code{frame}.
6593 @end table
6594
6595 @node Backtrace
6596 @section Backtraces
6597
6598 @cindex traceback
6599 @cindex call stack traces
6600 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6601 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6602 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6603 stack.
6604
6605 @anchor{backtrace-command}
6606 @table @code
6607 @kindex backtrace
6608 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6609 @item backtrace
6610 @itemx bt
6611 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6612 frames in the stack.
6613
6614 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6615 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6616
6617 @item backtrace @var{n}
6618 @itemx bt @var{n}
6619 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6620
6621 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6622 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6623 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6624
6625 @item backtrace full
6626 @itemx bt full
6627 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6628 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6629 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6630 number of frames to print, as described above.
6631
6632 @item backtrace no-filters
6633 @itemx bt no-filters
6634 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6635 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6636 @itemx bt no-filters full
6637 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6638 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6639 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6640 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6641 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6642 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6643 support.
6644 @end table
6645
6646 @kindex where
6647 @kindex info stack
6648 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6649 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6650
6651 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6652 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6653 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6654 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6655 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6656 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6657 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6658 multi-threaded program.
6659
6660 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6661 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6662 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6663 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6664 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6665 line number.
6666
6667 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6668 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6669
6670 @smallexample
6671 @group
6672 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6673 at builtin.c:993
6674 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6675 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6676 at macro.c:71
6677 (More stack frames follow...)
6678 @end group
6679 @end smallexample
6680
6681 @noindent
6682 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6683 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6684 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6685
6686 @noindent
6687 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6688 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6689 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6690 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6691 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6692
6693 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6694 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6695 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6696 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6697 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6698 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6699 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6700 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6701 such a backtrace might look like:
6702
6703 @smallexample
6704 @group
6705 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6706 at builtin.c:993
6707 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6708 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6709 at macro.c:71
6710 (More stack frames follow...)
6711 @end group
6712 @end smallexample
6713
6714 @noindent
6715 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6716 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6717
6718 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6719 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6720 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6721
6722 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6723 @cindex program entry point
6724 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6725 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6726 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6727 @code{main}@footnote{
6728 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6729 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6730 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6731 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6732 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6733 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6734
6735 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6736 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6737
6738 @table @code
6739 @item set backtrace past-main
6740 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6741 @kindex set backtrace
6742 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6743
6744 @item set backtrace past-main off
6745 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6746 default.
6747
6748 @item show backtrace past-main
6749 @kindex show backtrace
6750 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6751
6752 @item set backtrace past-entry
6753 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6754 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6755 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6756 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6757
6758 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6759 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6760 application. This is the default.
6761
6762 @item show backtrace past-entry
6763 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6764
6765 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6766 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6767 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6768 @cindex backtrace limit
6769 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6770 or zero means unlimited levels.
6771
6772 @item show backtrace limit
6773 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6774 @end table
6775
6776 You can control how file names are displayed.
6777
6778 @table @code
6779 @item set filename-display
6780 @itemx set filename-display relative
6781 @cindex filename-display
6782 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6783
6784 @item set filename-display basename
6785 Display only basename of a filename.
6786
6787 @item set filename-display absolute
6788 Display an absolute filename.
6789
6790 @item show filename-display
6791 Show the current way to display filenames.
6792 @end table
6793
6794 @node Frame Filter Management
6795 @section Management of Frame Filters.
6796 @cindex managing frame filters
6797
6798 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6799 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6800
6801 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6802 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6803
6804 @table @code
6805 @kindex info frame-filter
6806 @item info frame-filter
6807 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6808 their name, priority and enabled status.
6809
6810 @kindex disable frame-filter
6811 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6812 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6813 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6814 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6815 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6816 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6817 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6818 across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6819 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6820 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6821 may be enabled again later.
6822
6823 @kindex enable frame-filter
6824 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6825 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6826 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6827 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6828 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6829 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6830 all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6831 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6832 @var{filter-dictionary}.
6833
6834 Example:
6835
6836 @smallexample
6837 (gdb) info frame-filter
6838
6839 global frame-filters:
6840 Priority Enabled Name
6841 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6842 100 Yes Reverse
6843
6844 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6845 Priority Enabled Name
6846 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6847
6848 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6849 Priority Enabled Name
6850 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6851
6852 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6853 (gdb) info frame-filter
6854
6855 global frame-filters:
6856 Priority Enabled Name
6857 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6858 100 Yes Reverse
6859
6860 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6861 Priority Enabled Name
6862 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6863
6864 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6865 Priority Enabled Name
6866 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6867
6868 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6869 (gdb) info frame-filter
6870
6871 global frame-filters:
6872 Priority Enabled Name
6873 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6874 100 Yes Reverse
6875
6876 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6877 Priority Enabled Name
6878 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6879
6880 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6881 Priority Enabled Name
6882 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6883 @end smallexample
6884
6885 @kindex set frame-filter priority
6886 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6887 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6888 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6889 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6890 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6891 dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6892
6893 @kindex show frame-filter priority
6894 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6895 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6896 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6897 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6898 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6899 dictionary resides.
6900
6901 Example:
6902
6903 @smallexample
6904 (gdb) info frame-filter
6905
6906 global frame-filters:
6907 Priority Enabled Name
6908 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6909 100 Yes Reverse
6910
6911 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6912 Priority Enabled Name
6913 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6914
6915 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6916 Priority Enabled Name
6917 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6918
6919 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6920 (gdb) info frame-filter
6921
6922 global frame-filters:
6923 Priority Enabled Name
6924 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6925 50 Yes Reverse
6926
6927 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6928 Priority Enabled Name
6929 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6930
6931 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6932 Priority Enabled Name
6933 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6934 @end smallexample
6935 @end table
6936
6937 @node Selection
6938 @section Selecting a Frame
6939
6940 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6941 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6942 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6943 of the stack frame just selected.
6944
6945 @table @code
6946 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6947 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6948 @item frame @var{n}
6949 @itemx f @var{n}
6950 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6951 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6952 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6953 @code{main}.
6954
6955 @item frame @var{addr}
6956 @itemx f @var{addr}
6957 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6958 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6959 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6960 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6961 switches between them.
6962
6963 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6964 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6965
6966 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6967 pointer and a program counter.
6968
6969 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6970 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6971
6972 @kindex up
6973 @item up @var{n}
6974 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6975 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6976 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6977
6978 @kindex down
6979 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6980 @item down @var{n}
6981 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6982 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6983 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6984 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6985 @end table
6986
6987 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6988 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6989 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6990 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6991
6992 @need 1000
6993 For example:
6994
6995 @smallexample
6996 @group
6997 (@value{GDBP}) up
6998 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6999 at env.c:10
7000 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7001 @end group
7002 @end smallexample
7003
7004 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7005 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7006 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7007 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7008 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7009 for details.
7010
7011 @table @code
7012 @kindex down-silently
7013 @kindex up-silently
7014 @item up-silently @var{n}
7015 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7016 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7017 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7018 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7019 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7020 distracting.
7021 @end table
7022
7023 @node Frame Info
7024 @section Information About a Frame
7025
7026 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7027 stack frame.
7028
7029 @table @code
7030 @item frame
7031 @itemx f
7032 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7033 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7034 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7035 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7036 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7037
7038 @kindex info frame
7039 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7040 @item info frame
7041 @itemx info f
7042 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7043 including:
7044
7045 @itemize @bullet
7046 @item
7047 the address of the frame
7048 @item
7049 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7050 @item
7051 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7052 @item
7053 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7054 @item
7055 the address of the frame's arguments
7056 @item
7057 the address of the frame's local variables
7058 @item
7059 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7060 @item
7061 which registers were saved in the frame
7062 @end itemize
7063
7064 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7065 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7066 the usual conventions.
7067
7068 @item info frame @var{addr}
7069 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7070 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7071 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7072 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7073 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7074 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7075
7076 @kindex info args
7077 @item info args
7078 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7079
7080 @item info locals
7081 @kindex info locals
7082 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7083 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7084 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7085
7086 @end table
7087
7088
7089 @node Source
7090 @chapter Examining Source Files
7091
7092 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7093 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7094 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7095 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7096 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7097 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7098 source files by explicit command.
7099
7100 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7101 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7102 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7103
7104 @menu
7105 * List:: Printing source lines
7106 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7107 * Edit:: Editing source files
7108 * Search:: Searching source files
7109 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7110 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7111 @end menu
7112
7113 @node List
7114 @section Printing Source Lines
7115
7116 @kindex list
7117 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7118 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7119 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7120 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7121 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7122
7123 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7124
7125 @table @code
7126 @item list @var{linenum}
7127 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7128 current source file.
7129
7130 @item list @var{function}
7131 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7132 @var{function}.
7133
7134 @item list
7135 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7136 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7137 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7138 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7139 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7140
7141 @item list -
7142 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7143 @end table
7144
7145 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7146 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7147 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7148
7149 @table @code
7150 @kindex set listsize
7151 @item set listsize @var{count}
7152 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7153 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7154 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7155 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7156
7157 @kindex show listsize
7158 @item show listsize
7159 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7160 @end table
7161
7162 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7163 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7164 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7165 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7166 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7167
7168 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7169 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7170 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7171 to specify some source line.
7172
7173 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7174
7175 @table @code
7176 @item list @var{linespec}
7177 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7178
7179 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7180 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7181 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7182 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7183 the same source file as the first linespec.
7184
7185 @item list ,@var{last}
7186 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7187
7188 @item list @var{first},
7189 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7190
7191 @item list +
7192 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7193
7194 @item list -
7195 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7196
7197 @item list
7198 As described in the preceding table.
7199 @end table
7200
7201 @node Specify Location
7202 @section Specifying a Location
7203 @cindex specifying location
7204 @cindex linespec
7205
7206 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7207 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7208 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7209 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7210
7211 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7212 @value{GDBN} understands:
7213
7214 @table @code
7215 @item @var{linenum}
7216 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7217
7218 @item -@var{offset}
7219 @itemx +@var{offset}
7220 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7221 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7222 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7223 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7224 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7225 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7226 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7227 linespec.
7228
7229 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7230 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7231 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7232 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7233 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7234 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7235 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7236
7237 @item @var{function}
7238 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7239 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7240
7241 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7242 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7243
7244 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7245 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7246 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7247 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7248 functions in different source files.
7249
7250 @item @var{label}
7251 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7252 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7253 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7254 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7255 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7256
7257 @item *@var{address}
7258 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7259 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7260 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7261 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7262 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7263 source files.
7264
7265 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7266 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7267 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7268 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7269 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7270 of @var{address}:
7271
7272 @table @code
7273 @item @var{expression}
7274 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7275
7276 @item @var{funcaddr}
7277 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7278 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7279 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7280 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7281 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7282 (although the Pascal form also works).
7283
7284 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7285 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7286
7287 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7288 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7289 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7290 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7291 functions with identical names in different source files.
7292 @end table
7293
7294 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7295 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7296 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7297 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7298 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7299 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7300
7301 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7302 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7303 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7304 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7305 each one of those probes.
7306
7307 @end table
7308
7309
7310 @node Edit
7311 @section Editing Source Files
7312 @cindex editing source files
7313
7314 @kindex edit
7315 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7316 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7317 The editing program of your choice
7318 is invoked with the current line set to
7319 the active line in the program.
7320 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7321 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7322
7323 @table @code
7324 @item edit @var{location}
7325 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7326 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7327 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7328 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7329 command most commonly used:
7330
7331 @table @code
7332 @item edit @var{number}
7333 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7334
7335 @item edit @var{function}
7336 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7337 @end table
7338
7339 @end table
7340
7341 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7342 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7343 @footnote{
7344 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7345 following command-line syntax:
7346 @smallexample
7347 ex +@var{number} file
7348 @end smallexample
7349 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7350 the file where to start editing.}.
7351 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7352 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7353 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7354 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7355 @smallexample
7356 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7357 export EDITOR
7358 gdb @dots{}
7359 @end smallexample
7360 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7361 @smallexample
7362 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7363 gdb @dots{}
7364 @end smallexample
7365
7366 @node Search
7367 @section Searching Source Files
7368 @cindex searching source files
7369
7370 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7371 regular expression.
7372
7373 @table @code
7374 @kindex search
7375 @kindex forward-search
7376 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7377 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7378 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7379 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7380 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7381 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7382 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7383 @code{fo}.
7384
7385 @kindex reverse-search
7386 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7387 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7388 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7389 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7390 this command as @code{rev}.
7391 @end table
7392
7393 @node Source Path
7394 @section Specifying Source Directories
7395
7396 @cindex source path
7397 @cindex directories for source files
7398 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7399 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7400 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7401 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7402 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7403 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7404 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7405
7406 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7407 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7408 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7409 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7410 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7411 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7412 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7413 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7414 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7415 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7416 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7417
7418 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7419 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7420 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7421 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7422 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7423 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7424
7425 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7426 source files.
7427
7428 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7429 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7430 each line is in the file.
7431
7432 @kindex directory
7433 @kindex dir
7434 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7435 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7436 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7437
7438 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7439 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7440
7441 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7442 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7443 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7444 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7445 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7446 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7447 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7448 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7449 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7450 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7451 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7452 name to look up the sources.
7453
7454 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7455 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7456 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7457 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7458 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7459 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7460 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7461 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7462
7463 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7464 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7465 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7466 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7467 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7468 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7469 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7470
7471 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7472 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7473 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7474 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7475 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7476 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7477 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7478 command.
7479
7480 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7481 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7482 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7483 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7484 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7485 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7486 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7487
7488 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7489 @cindex default source path substitution
7490 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7491 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7492 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7493 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7494 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7495 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7496 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7497 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7498 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7499 together.
7500
7501 @table @code
7502 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7503 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7504 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7505 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7506 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7507 part of absolute file names) or
7508 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7509 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7510
7511 @kindex cdir
7512 @kindex cwd
7513 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7514 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7515 @cindex compilation directory
7516 @cindex current directory
7517 @cindex working directory
7518 @cindex directory, current
7519 @cindex directory, compilation
7520 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7521 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7522 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7523 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7524 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7525 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7526
7527 @item directory
7528 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7529
7530 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7531 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7532
7533 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7534 @kindex set directories
7535 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7536 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7537
7538 @item show directories
7539 @kindex show directories
7540 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7541
7542 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7543 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7544 @kindex set substitute-path
7545 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7546 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7547 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7548
7549 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7550 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7551
7552 @smallexample
7553 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7554 @end smallexample
7555
7556 @noindent
7557 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7558 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7559 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7560
7561 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7562 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7563 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7564 the substitution.
7565
7566 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7567
7568 @smallexample
7569 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7570 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7571 @end smallexample
7572
7573 @noindent
7574 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7575 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7576 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7577 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7578
7579
7580 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7581 @kindex unset substitute-path
7582 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7583 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7584 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7585
7586 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7587
7588 @item show substitute-path [path]
7589 @kindex show substitute-path
7590 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7591 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7592
7593 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7594 rules.
7595
7596 @end table
7597
7598 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7599 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7600 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7601
7602 @enumerate
7603 @item
7604 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7605
7606 @item
7607 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7608 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7609 directories in one command.
7610 @end enumerate
7611
7612 @node Machine Code
7613 @section Source and Machine Code
7614 @cindex source line and its code address
7615
7616 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7617 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7618 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7619 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7620 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7621 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7622 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7623 well as hex.
7624
7625 @table @code
7626 @kindex info line
7627 @item info line @var{linespec}
7628 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7629 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7630 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7631 @end table
7632
7633 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7634 the object code for the first line of function
7635 @code{m4_changequote}:
7636
7637 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7638 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7639 @smallexample
7640 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7641 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7642 @end smallexample
7643
7644 @noindent
7645 @cindex code address and its source line
7646 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7647 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7648 @smallexample
7649 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7650 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7651 @end smallexample
7652
7653 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7654 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7655 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7656 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7657 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7658 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7659 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7660 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7661 Variables}).
7662
7663 @table @code
7664 @kindex disassemble
7665 @cindex assembly instructions
7666 @cindex instructions, assembly
7667 @cindex machine instructions
7668 @cindex listing machine instructions
7669 @item disassemble
7670 @itemx disassemble /m
7671 @itemx disassemble /r
7672 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7673 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7674 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7675 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7676 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7677 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7678 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7679 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7680 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7681 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7682
7683 @table @code
7684 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7685 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7686 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7687 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7688 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7689 @end table
7690
7691 @noindent
7692 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7693 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7694
7695 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7696 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7697
7698 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7699 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7700 @end table
7701
7702 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7703 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7704
7705 @smallexample
7706 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7707 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7708 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7709 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7710 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7711 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7712 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7713 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7714 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7715 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7716 End of assembler dump.
7717 @end smallexample
7718
7719 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7720 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7721
7722 @smallexample
7723 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7724 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7725 5 @{
7726 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7727 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7728 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7729 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7730 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7731
7732 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7733 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7734 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7735
7736 7 return 0;
7737 8 @}
7738 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7739 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7740 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7741
7742 End of assembler dump.
7743 @end smallexample
7744
7745 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7746
7747 @smallexample
7748 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7749 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7750 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7751 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7752 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7753 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7754 End of assembler dump.
7755 @end smallexample
7756
7757 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7758 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7759 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7760 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7761
7762 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7763 mnemonics or other syntax.
7764
7765 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7766 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7767 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7768 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7769 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7770
7771 @table @code
7772 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7773 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7774 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7775 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7776 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7777 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7778
7779 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7780 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7781 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7782 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7783
7784 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7785 @item show disassembly-flavor
7786 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7787 @end table
7788
7789 @table @code
7790 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7791 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7792 @item set disassemble-next-line
7793 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7794 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7795 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7796 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7797 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7798 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7799 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7800 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7801 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7802 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7803 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7804 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7805 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7806 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7807 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7808 instruction.
7809 @end table
7810
7811
7812 @node Data
7813 @chapter Examining Data
7814
7815 @cindex printing data
7816 @cindex examining data
7817 @kindex print
7818 @kindex inspect
7819 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7820 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7821 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7822 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7823 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7824 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7825
7826 @table @code
7827 @item print @var{expr}
7828 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7829 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7830 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7831 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7832 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7833 Formats}.
7834
7835 @item print
7836 @itemx print /@var{f}
7837 @cindex reprint the last value
7838 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7839 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7840 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7841 @end table
7842
7843 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7844 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7845 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7846
7847 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7848 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7849 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7850 Table}.
7851
7852 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7853 @kindex explore
7854 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7855 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7856 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7857 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7858 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7859 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7860 embedded in the higher level data types.
7861
7862 @table @code
7863 @item explore @var{arg}
7864 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7865 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7866 @end table
7867
7868 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7869 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7870 C program as
7871
7872 @smallexample
7873 struct SimpleStruct
7874 @{
7875 int i;
7876 double d;
7877 @};
7878
7879 struct ComplexStruct
7880 @{
7881 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7882 int arr[10];
7883 @};
7884 @end smallexample
7885
7886 @noindent
7887 followed by variable declarations as
7888
7889 @smallexample
7890 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7891 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7892 @end smallexample
7893
7894 @noindent
7895 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7896 @code{explore} command as follows.
7897
7898 @smallexample
7899 (gdb) explore cs
7900 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7901 the following fields:
7902
7903 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7904 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7905
7906 Enter the field number of choice:
7907 @end smallexample
7908
7909 @noindent
7910 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7911 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7912 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7913 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7914 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7915 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7916 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7917 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7918
7919 @smallexample
7920 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7921 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7922 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7923 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7924
7925 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7926 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7927
7928 Press enter to return to parent value:
7929 @end smallexample
7930
7931 @noindent
7932 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7933 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7934 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7935 to explore.
7936
7937 @smallexample
7938 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7939 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7940
7941 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7942
7943 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7944
7945 Press enter to return to parent value:
7946 @end smallexample
7947
7948 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7949 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7950 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7951 level data structure).
7952
7953 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7954 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7955 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7956 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7957 same example as above, your can explore the type
7958 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7959 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7960
7961 @smallexample
7962 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7963 @end smallexample
7964
7965 @noindent
7966 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7967 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7968 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7969 example.
7970
7971 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7972 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7973 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7974 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7975 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7976
7977 @table @code
7978 @item explore value @var{expr}
7979 @cindex explore value
7980 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7981 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7982 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7983 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7984 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7985
7986 @item explore type @var{arg}
7987 @cindex explore type
7988 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7989 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7990 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7991 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7992 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7993 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7994 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7995 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7996 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7997 @end table
7998
7999 @menu
8000 * Expressions:: Expressions
8001 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8002 * Variables:: Program variables
8003 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8004 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8005 * Memory:: Examining memory
8006 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8007 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8008 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8009 * Value History:: Value history
8010 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8011 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8012 * Registers:: Registers
8013 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8014 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8015 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8016 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8017 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8018 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8019 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8020 character set than GDB does
8021 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
8022 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8023 @end menu
8024
8025 @node Expressions
8026 @section Expressions
8027
8028 @cindex expressions
8029 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8030 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8031 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8032 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8033 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8034 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8035 @ref{Compilation}.
8036
8037 @cindex arrays in expressions
8038 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8039 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8040 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8041 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8042 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8043 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8044
8045 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8046 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8047 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8048 languages.
8049
8050 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8051 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8052
8053 @cindex casts, in expressions
8054 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8055 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8056 at that address in memory.
8057 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8058
8059 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8060 to programming languages:
8061
8062 @table @code
8063 @item @@
8064 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8065 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8066
8067 @item ::
8068 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8069 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8070
8071 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8072 @cindex type casting memory
8073 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8074 @cindex casts, to view memory
8075 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8076 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8077 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8078 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8079 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8080 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8081 @end table
8082
8083 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8084 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8085 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8086
8087 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8088 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8089 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8090 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8091 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8092 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8093 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8094
8095 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8096 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8097 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8098 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8099 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8100 as well.
8101
8102 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8103 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8104 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8105 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8106 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8107 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8108 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8109 choices.
8110
8111 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8112 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8113 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8114
8115 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8116 @smallexample
8117 @group
8118 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8119 [0] cancel
8120 [1] all
8121 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8122 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8123 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8124 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8125 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8126 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8127 > 2 4 6
8128 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8129 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8130 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8131 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8132 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8133 breakpoints.
8134 (@value{GDBP})
8135 @end group
8136 @end smallexample
8137
8138 @table @code
8139 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8140 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8141 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8142
8143 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8144 is ambiguous.
8145
8146 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8147 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8148 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8149 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8150 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8151 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8152 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8153 in the use of the menu.
8154
8155 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8156 when an ambiguity is detected.
8157
8158 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8159 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8160
8161 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8162 @item show multiple-symbols
8163 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8164 @end table
8165
8166 @node Variables
8167 @section Program Variables
8168
8169 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8170 in your program.
8171
8172 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8173 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8174
8175 @itemize @bullet
8176 @item
8177 global (or file-static)
8178 @end itemize
8179
8180 @noindent or
8181
8182 @itemize @bullet
8183 @item
8184 visible according to the scope rules of the
8185 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8186 @end itemize
8187
8188 @noindent This means that in the function
8189
8190 @smallexample
8191 foo (a)
8192 int a;
8193 @{
8194 bar (a);
8195 @{
8196 int b = test ();
8197 bar (b);
8198 @}
8199 @}
8200 @end smallexample
8201
8202 @noindent
8203 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8204 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8205 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8206 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8207
8208 @cindex variable name conflict
8209 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8210 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8211 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8212 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8213 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8214 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8215 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8216
8217 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8218 @ifnotinfo
8219 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8220 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8221 @end ifnotinfo
8222 @smallexample
8223 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8224 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8225 @end smallexample
8226
8227 @noindent
8228 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8229 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8230 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8231 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8232
8233 @smallexample
8234 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8235 @end smallexample
8236
8237 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8238 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8239 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8240 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8241 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8242
8243 @smallexample
8244 void
8245 foo (int a)
8246 @{
8247 if (a < 10)
8248 bar (a);
8249 else
8250 process (a); /* Stop here */
8251 @}
8252
8253 int
8254 bar (int a)
8255 @{
8256 foo (a + 5);
8257 @}
8258 @end smallexample
8259
8260 @noindent
8261 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8262 here is what you might see
8263 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8264
8265 @smallexample
8266 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8267 $1 = 10
8268 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8269 $2 = 5
8270 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
8271 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8272 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8273 $3 = 5
8274 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8275 $4 = 0
8276 @end smallexample
8277
8278 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8279 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8280 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8281 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8282 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8283 @c conflict?? --mew
8284
8285 @cindex wrong values
8286 @cindex variable values, wrong
8287 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8288 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8289 @quotation
8290 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8291 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8292 scope, and just before exit.
8293 @end quotation
8294 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8295 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8296 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8297 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8298 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8299 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8300 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8301 variable definitions may be gone.
8302
8303 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8304 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8305 when compiling.
8306
8307 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8308 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8309 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8310 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8311 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8312 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8313 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8314
8315 @smallexample
8316 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8317 @end smallexample
8318
8319 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8320 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8321 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8322 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8323 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8324
8325 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8326 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8327 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8328 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8329
8330 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8331 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8332 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8333 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8334 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8335
8336 @smallexample
8337 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8338 29 i++;
8339 (gdb) next
8340 30 e (i);
8341 (gdb) print i
8342 $1 = 31
8343 (gdb) print i@@entry
8344 $2 = 30
8345 @end smallexample
8346
8347 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8348 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8349 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8350 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8351 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8352 For program code
8353
8354 @smallexample
8355 char var0[] = "A";
8356 signed char var1[] = "A";
8357 @end smallexample
8358
8359 You get during debugging
8360 @smallexample
8361 (gdb) print var0
8362 $1 = "A"
8363 (gdb) print var1
8364 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8365 @end smallexample
8366
8367 @node Arrays
8368 @section Artificial Arrays
8369
8370 @cindex artificial array
8371 @cindex arrays
8372 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8373 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8374 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8375 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8376 program.
8377
8378 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8379 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8380 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8381 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8382 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8383 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8384 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8385 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8386 example. If a program says
8387
8388 @smallexample
8389 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8390 @end smallexample
8391
8392 @noindent
8393 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8394
8395 @smallexample
8396 p *array@@len
8397 @end smallexample
8398
8399 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8400 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8401 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8402 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8403 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8404
8405 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8406 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8407 The value need not be in memory:
8408 @smallexample
8409 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8410 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8411 @end smallexample
8412
8413 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8414 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8415 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8416 @smallexample
8417 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8418 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8419 @end smallexample
8420
8421 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8422 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8423 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8424 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8425 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8426 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8427 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8428 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8429 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8430 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8431
8432 @smallexample
8433 set $i = 0
8434 p dtab[$i++]->fv
8435 @key{RET}
8436 @key{RET}
8437 @dots{}
8438 @end smallexample
8439
8440 @node Output Formats
8441 @section Output Formats
8442
8443 @cindex formatted output
8444 @cindex output formats
8445 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8446 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8447 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8448 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8449 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8450
8451 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8452 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8453 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8454 letters supported are:
8455
8456 @table @code
8457 @item x
8458 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8459 hexadecimal.
8460
8461 @item d
8462 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8463
8464 @item u
8465 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8466
8467 @item o
8468 Print as integer in octal.
8469
8470 @item t
8471 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8472 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8473 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8474 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8475
8476 @item a
8477 @cindex unknown address, locating
8478 @cindex locate address
8479 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8480 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8481 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8482
8483 @smallexample
8484 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8485 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8486 @end smallexample
8487
8488 @noindent
8489 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8490 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8491
8492 @item c
8493 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8494 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8495 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8496 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8497
8498 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8499 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8500 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8501 data.
8502
8503 @item f
8504 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8505 using typical floating point syntax.
8506
8507 @item s
8508 @cindex printing strings
8509 @cindex printing byte arrays
8510 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8511 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8512 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8513 natural types.
8514
8515 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8516 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8517 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8518 array.
8519
8520 @item z
8521 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8522 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8523 to the size of the integer type.
8524
8525 @item r
8526 @cindex raw printing
8527 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8528 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8529 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8530 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8531 pretty-printer which might exist.
8532 @end table
8533
8534 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8535
8536 @smallexample
8537 p/x $pc
8538 @end smallexample
8539
8540 @noindent
8541 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8542 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8543
8544 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8545 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8546 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8547
8548 @node Memory
8549 @section Examining Memory
8550
8551 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8552 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8553
8554 @cindex examining memory
8555 @table @code
8556 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8557 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8558 @itemx x @var{addr}
8559 @itemx x
8560 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8561 @end table
8562
8563 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8564 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8565 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8566 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8567 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8568
8569 @table @r
8570 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8571 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8572 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8573 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8574 @c 4.1.2.
8575
8576 @item @var{f}, the display format
8577 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8578 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8579 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8580 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8581 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8582
8583 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8584 The unit size is any of
8585
8586 @table @code
8587 @item b
8588 Bytes.
8589 @item h
8590 Halfwords (two bytes).
8591 @item w
8592 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8593 @item g
8594 Giant words (eight bytes).
8595 @end table
8596
8597 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8598 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8599 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8600 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8601 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8602 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8603 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8604 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8605 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8606 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8607 be altered.
8608
8609 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8610 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8611 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8612 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8613 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8614 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8615 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8616 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8617 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8618 a value from memory).
8619 @end table
8620
8621 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8622 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8623 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8624 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8625 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8626
8627 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8628 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8629 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8630 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8631 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8632
8633 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8634 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8635 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8636 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8637 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8638 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8639 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8640 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8641 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8642
8643 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8644 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8645 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8646 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8647 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8648 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8649 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8650
8651 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8652 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8653
8654 @smallexample
8655 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8656 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8657 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8658 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8659 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8660 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8661 @end smallexample
8662
8663 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8664 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8665 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8666 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8667 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8668 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8669 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8670 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8671 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8672
8673 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8674 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8675 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8676
8677 @cindex remote memory comparison
8678 @cindex verify remote memory image
8679 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8680 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8681 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8682 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8683 situations.
8684
8685 @table @code
8686 @kindex compare-sections
8687 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8688 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8689 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8690 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8691 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8692 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8693 remote request.
8694 @end table
8695
8696 @node Auto Display
8697 @section Automatic Display
8698 @cindex automatic display
8699 @cindex display of expressions
8700
8701 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8702 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8703 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8704 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8705 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8706 The automatic display looks like this:
8707
8708 @smallexample
8709 2: foo = 38
8710 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8711 @end smallexample
8712
8713 @noindent
8714 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8715 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8716 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8717 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8718 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8719 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8720
8721 @table @code
8722 @kindex display
8723 @item display @var{expr}
8724 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8725 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8726
8727 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8728
8729 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8730 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8731 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8732 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8733 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8734
8735 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8736 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8737 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8738 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8739 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8740 @end table
8741
8742 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8743 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8744 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8745
8746 @table @code
8747 @kindex delete display
8748 @kindex undisplay
8749 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8750 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8751 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8752 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8753 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8754 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8755 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8756
8757 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8758 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8759
8760 @kindex disable display
8761 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8762 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8763 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8764 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8765 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8766 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8767 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8768 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8769
8770 @kindex enable display
8771 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8772 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8773 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8774 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8775 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8776 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8777 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8778
8779 @item display
8780 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8781 done when your program stops.
8782
8783 @kindex info display
8784 @item info display
8785 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8786 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8787 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8788 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8789 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8790 @end table
8791
8792 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8793 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8794 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8795 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8796 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8797 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8798 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8799 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8800 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8801 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8802 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8803
8804 @node Print Settings
8805 @section Print Settings
8806
8807 @cindex format options
8808 @cindex print settings
8809 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8810 and symbols are printed.
8811
8812 @noindent
8813 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8814
8815 @table @code
8816 @kindex set print
8817 @item set print address
8818 @itemx set print address on
8819 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8820 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8821 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8822 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8823 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8824 @code{set print address on}:
8825
8826 @smallexample
8827 @group
8828 (@value{GDBP}) f
8829 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8830 at input.c:530
8831 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8832 @end group
8833 @end smallexample
8834
8835 @item set print address off
8836 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8837 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8838
8839 @smallexample
8840 @group
8841 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8842 (@value{GDBP}) f
8843 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8844 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8845 @end group
8846 @end smallexample
8847
8848 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8849 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8850 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8851 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8852
8853 @kindex show print
8854 @item show print address
8855 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8856 @end table
8857
8858 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8859 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8860 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8861 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8862 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8863 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8864 it prints a symbolic address:
8865
8866 @table @code
8867 @item set print symbol-filename on
8868 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8869 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8870 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8871 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8872
8873 @item set print symbol-filename off
8874 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8875 default.
8876
8877 @item show print symbol-filename
8878 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8879 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8880 @end table
8881
8882 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8883 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8884 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8885
8886 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8887 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8888
8889 @table @code
8890 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8891 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8892 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8893 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8894 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8895 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8896 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8897 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8898
8899 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8900 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8901 symbolic address.
8902 @end table
8903
8904 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8905 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8906 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8907 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8908 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8909 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8910 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8911 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8912
8913 @smallexample
8914 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8915 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8916 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8917 @end smallexample
8918
8919 @quotation
8920 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8921 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8922 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8923 @end quotation
8924
8925 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8926 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8927
8928 @table @code
8929 @item set print symbol on
8930 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8931 one exists.
8932
8933 @item set print symbol off
8934 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8935 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8936 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8937
8938 @item show print symbol
8939 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8940 address.
8941 @end table
8942
8943 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8944
8945 @table @code
8946 @item set print array
8947 @itemx set print array on
8948 @cindex pretty print arrays
8949 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8950 but uses more space. The default is off.
8951
8952 @item set print array off
8953 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8954
8955 @item show print array
8956 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8957 arrays.
8958
8959 @cindex print array indexes
8960 @item set print array-indexes
8961 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8962 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8963 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8964 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8965
8966 @item set print array-indexes off
8967 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8968
8969 @item show print array-indexes
8970 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8971 arrays.
8972
8973 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8974 @itemx set print elements unlimited
8975 @cindex number of array elements to print
8976 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8977 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8978 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8979 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8980 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8981 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8982 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
8983 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
8984
8985 @item show print elements
8986 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8987 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8988
8989 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8990 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8991 @cindex printing frame argument values
8992 @cindex print all frame argument values
8993 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8994 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8995 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8996 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8997 values are:
8998
8999 @table @code
9000 @item all
9001 The values of all arguments are printed.
9002
9003 @item scalars
9004 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9005 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9006 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9007 only scalar arguments are shown:
9008
9009 @smallexample
9010 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9011 at frame-args.c:23
9012 @end smallexample
9013
9014 @item none
9015 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9016 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9017
9018 @smallexample
9019 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9020 at frame-args.c:23
9021 @end smallexample
9022 @end table
9023
9024 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9025 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9026 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9027 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9028 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9029 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9030 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9031 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9032 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9033 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9034
9035 @item show print frame-arguments
9036 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9037
9038 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9039 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9040
9041 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9042 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9043 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9044 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9045 This is the default.
9046
9047 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9048 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9049
9050 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9051 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9052 @kindex set print entry-values
9053 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9054 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9055 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9056 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9057 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9058
9059 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9060 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9061 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9062 @code{no} setting.
9063
9064 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9065 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9066 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9067 this information.
9068
9069 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9070
9071 @table @code
9072 @item no
9073 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9074 point.
9075 @smallexample
9076 #0 equal (val=5)
9077 #0 different (val=6)
9078 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9079 #0 born (val=10)
9080 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9081 @end smallexample
9082
9083 @item only
9084 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9085 values are never printed.
9086 @smallexample
9087 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9088 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9089 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9090 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9091 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9092 @end smallexample
9093
9094 @item preferred
9095 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9096 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9097 value for such parameter.
9098 @smallexample
9099 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9100 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9101 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9102 #0 born (val=10)
9103 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9104 @end smallexample
9105
9106 @item if-needed
9107 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9108 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9109 parameter.
9110 @smallexample
9111 #0 equal (val=5)
9112 #0 different (val=6)
9113 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9114 #0 born (val=10)
9115 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9116 @end smallexample
9117
9118 @item both
9119 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9120 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9121 optimizations.
9122 @smallexample
9123 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9124 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9125 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9126 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9127 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9128 @end smallexample
9129
9130 @item compact
9131 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9132 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9133 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9134 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9135 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9136 @smallexample
9137 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9138 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9139 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9140 #0 born (val=10)
9141 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9142 @end smallexample
9143
9144 @item default
9145 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9146 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9147 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9148 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9149 @smallexample
9150 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9151 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9152 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9153 #0 born (val=10)
9154 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9155 @end smallexample
9156 @end table
9157
9158 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9159 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9160
9161 @item show print entry-values
9162 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9163 entry.
9164
9165 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9166 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9167 @cindex repeated array elements
9168 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9169 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9170 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9171 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9172 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9173 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9174 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9175 is 10.
9176
9177 @item show print repeats
9178 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9179 elements.
9180
9181 @item set print null-stop
9182 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9183 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9184 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9185 contain only short strings.
9186 The default is off.
9187
9188 @item show print null-stop
9189 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9190 @sc{null} character.
9191
9192 @item set print pretty on
9193 @cindex print structures in indented form
9194 @cindex indentation in structure display
9195 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9196 per line, like this:
9197
9198 @smallexample
9199 @group
9200 $1 = @{
9201 next = 0x0,
9202 flags = @{
9203 sweet = 1,
9204 sour = 1
9205 @},
9206 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9207 @}
9208 @end group
9209 @end smallexample
9210
9211 @item set print pretty off
9212 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9213
9214 @smallexample
9215 @group
9216 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9217 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9218 @end group
9219 @end smallexample
9220
9221 @noindent
9222 This is the default format.
9223
9224 @item show print pretty
9225 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9226
9227 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9228 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9229 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9230 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9231 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9232 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9233 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9234 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9235
9236 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9237 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9238 international character sets, and is the default.
9239
9240 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9241 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9242
9243 @item set print union on
9244 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9245 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9246 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9247
9248 @item set print union off
9249 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9250 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9251 instead.
9252
9253 @item show print union
9254 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9255 structures and other unions.
9256
9257 For example, given the declarations
9258
9259 @smallexample
9260 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9261 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9262 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9263 Bug_forms;
9264
9265 struct thing @{
9266 Species it;
9267 union @{
9268 Tree_forms tree;
9269 Bug_forms bug;
9270 @} form;
9271 @};
9272
9273 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9274 @end smallexample
9275
9276 @noindent
9277 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9278
9279 @smallexample
9280 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9281 @end smallexample
9282
9283 @noindent
9284 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9285
9286 @smallexample
9287 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9288 @end smallexample
9289
9290 @noindent
9291 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9292 and in Pascal.
9293 @end table
9294
9295 @need 1000
9296 @noindent
9297 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9298
9299 @table @code
9300 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9301 @item set print demangle
9302 @itemx set print demangle on
9303 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9304 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9305 linkage. The default is on.
9306
9307 @item show print demangle
9308 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9309
9310 @item set print asm-demangle
9311 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9312 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9313 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9314 The default is off.
9315
9316 @item show print asm-demangle
9317 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9318 or demangled form.
9319
9320 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9321 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9322 @kindex set demangle-style
9323 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9324 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9325 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9326
9327 @table @code
9328 @item auto
9329 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9330 This is the default.
9331
9332 @item gnu
9333 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9334
9335 @item hp
9336 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9337
9338 @item lucid
9339 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9340
9341 @item arm
9342 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9343 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9344 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9345 require further enhancement to permit that.
9346
9347 @end table
9348 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9349
9350 @item show demangle-style
9351 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9352
9353 @item set print object
9354 @itemx set print object on
9355 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9356 @cindex display derived types
9357 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9358 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9359 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9360 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9361 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9362 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9363 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9364
9365 @item set print object off
9366 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9367 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9368
9369 @item show print object
9370 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9371
9372 @item set print static-members
9373 @itemx set print static-members on
9374 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9375 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9376
9377 @item set print static-members off
9378 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9379
9380 @item show print static-members
9381 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9382
9383 @item set print pascal_static-members
9384 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9385 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9386 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9387 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9388
9389 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9390 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9391
9392 @item show print pascal_static-members
9393 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9394
9395 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9396 @item set print vtbl
9397 @itemx set print vtbl on
9398 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9399 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9400 @cindex VTBL display
9401 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9402 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9403 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9404
9405 @item set print vtbl off
9406 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9407
9408 @item show print vtbl
9409 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9410 @end table
9411
9412 @node Pretty Printing
9413 @section Pretty Printing
9414
9415 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9416 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9417 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9418
9419 @menu
9420 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9421 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9422 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9423 @end menu
9424
9425 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9426 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9427
9428 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9429 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9430 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9431
9432 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9433 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9434 pretty-printers with their names.
9435 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9436 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9437 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9438 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9439
9440 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9441 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9442 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9443 do anything special.
9444
9445 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9446
9447 @itemize @bullet
9448 @item
9449 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9450 all inferiors.
9451
9452 @item
9453 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9454 when debugging that program.
9455 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9456
9457 @item
9458 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9459 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9460 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9461 @end itemize
9462
9463 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9464 pretty-printers are selected,
9465
9466 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9467 for new types.
9468
9469 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9470 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9471
9472 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9473
9474 @smallexample
9475 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9476 $1 = @{
9477 static npos = 4294967295,
9478 _M_dataplus = @{
9479 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9480 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9481 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9482 @},
9483 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9484 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9485 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9486 @}
9487 @}
9488 @end smallexample
9489
9490 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9491
9492 @smallexample
9493 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9494 $2 = "abcd"
9495 @end smallexample
9496
9497 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9498 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9499 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9500
9501 @table @code
9502 @kindex info pretty-printer
9503 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9504 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9505 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9506
9507 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9508 whose pretty-printers to list.
9509 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9510 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9511 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9512 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9513 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9514
9515 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9516 to list.
9517
9518 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9519 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9520 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9521 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9522
9523 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9524 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9525 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9526 @end table
9527
9528 Example:
9529
9530 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9531 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9532 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9533 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9534
9535 @smallexample
9536 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9537 library1.so:
9538 foo
9539 library2.so:
9540 bar
9541 bar1
9542 bar2
9543 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9544 library2.so:
9545 bar
9546 bar1
9547 bar2
9548 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9549 1 printer disabled
9550 2 of 3 printers enabled
9551 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9552 library1.so:
9553 foo [disabled]
9554 library2.so:
9555 bar
9556 bar1
9557 bar2
9558 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9559 1 printer disabled
9560 1 of 3 printers enabled
9561 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9562 library1.so:
9563 foo [disabled]
9564 library2.so:
9565 bar
9566 bar1 [disabled]
9567 bar2
9568 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9569 1 printer disabled
9570 0 of 3 printers enabled
9571 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9572 library1.so:
9573 foo [disabled]
9574 library2.so:
9575 bar [disabled]
9576 bar1 [disabled]
9577 bar2
9578 @end smallexample
9579
9580 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9581 as can each individual subprinter.
9582
9583 @node Value History
9584 @section Value History
9585
9586 @cindex value history
9587 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9588 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9589 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9590 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9591 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9592 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9593 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9594 symbol table.
9595
9596 @cindex @code{$}
9597 @cindex @code{$$}
9598 @cindex history number
9599 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9600 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9601 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9602 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9603 history number.
9604
9605 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9606 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9607 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9608 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9609 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9610 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9611 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9612
9613 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9614 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9615
9616 @smallexample
9617 p *$
9618 @end smallexample
9619
9620 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9621 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9622
9623 @smallexample
9624 p *$.next
9625 @end smallexample
9626
9627 @noindent
9628 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9629 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9630
9631 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9632 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9633
9634 @smallexample
9635 print x
9636 set x=5
9637 @end smallexample
9638
9639 @noindent
9640 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9641 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9642
9643 @table @code
9644 @kindex show values
9645 @item show values
9646 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9647 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9648 values} does not change the history.
9649
9650 @item show values @var{n}
9651 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9652
9653 @item show values +
9654 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9655 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9656 @end table
9657
9658 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9659 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9660
9661 @node Convenience Vars
9662 @section Convenience Variables
9663
9664 @cindex convenience variables
9665 @cindex user-defined variables
9666 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9667 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9668 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9669 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9670 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9671
9672 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9673 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9674 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9675 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9676 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9677
9678 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9679 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9680 For example:
9681
9682 @smallexample
9683 set $foo = *object_ptr
9684 @end smallexample
9685
9686 @noindent
9687 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9688 @code{object_ptr}.
9689
9690 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9691 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9692 value with another assignment at any time.
9693
9694 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9695 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9696 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9697 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9698
9699 @table @code
9700 @kindex show convenience
9701 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9702 @item show convenience
9703 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9704 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9705 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9706
9707 @kindex init-if-undefined
9708 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9709 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9710 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9711 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9712 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9713 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9714 override default values used in a command script.
9715
9716 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9717 any side-effects do not occur.
9718 @end table
9719
9720 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9721 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9722 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9723
9724 @smallexample
9725 set $i = 0
9726 print bar[$i++]->contents
9727 @end smallexample
9728
9729 @noindent
9730 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9731
9732 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9733 values likely to be useful.
9734
9735 @table @code
9736 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9737 @item $_
9738 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9739 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9740 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9741 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9742 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9743 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9744 to the type of @code{$__}.
9745
9746 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9747 @item $__
9748 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9749 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9750 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9751
9752 @item $_exitcode
9753 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9754 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9755 the program being debugged terminates.
9756
9757 @item $_exception
9758 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9759 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9760
9761 @item $_probe_argc
9762 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9763 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9764
9765 @item $_sdata
9766 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9767 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9768 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9769 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9770 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9771
9772 @item $_siginfo
9773 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9774 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9775 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9776 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9777 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9778
9779 @item $_tlb
9780 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9781 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9782 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9783 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9784 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9785 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9786
9787 @end table
9788
9789 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9790 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9791 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9792
9793 @node Convenience Funs
9794 @section Convenience Functions
9795
9796 @cindex convenience functions
9797 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9798 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9799 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9800 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9801 @value{GDBN}.
9802
9803 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9804 @code{Python} support.
9805
9806 @table @code
9807
9808 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9809 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9810 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9811 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9812 Otherwise it returns zero.
9813
9814 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9815 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9816 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9817 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9818 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9819 regular expression support.
9820
9821 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9822 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9823 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9824 Otherwise it returns zero.
9825
9826 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9827 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9828 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9829
9830 @end table
9831
9832 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9833 convenience functions.
9834
9835 @table @code
9836 @item help function
9837 @kindex help function
9838 @cindex show all convenience functions
9839 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9840 @end table
9841
9842 @node Registers
9843 @section Registers
9844
9845 @cindex registers
9846 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9847 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9848 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9849 your machine.
9850
9851 @table @code
9852 @kindex info registers
9853 @item info registers
9854 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9855 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9856
9857 @kindex info all-registers
9858 @cindex floating point registers
9859 @item info all-registers
9860 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9861 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9862
9863 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9864 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9865 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9866 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9867 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9868 @end table
9869
9870 @cindex stack pointer register
9871 @cindex program counter register
9872 @cindex process status register
9873 @cindex frame pointer register
9874 @cindex standard registers
9875 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9876 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9877 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9878 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9879 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9880 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9881 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9882 you could print the program counter in hex with
9883
9884 @smallexample
9885 p/x $pc
9886 @end smallexample
9887
9888 @noindent
9889 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9890
9891 @smallexample
9892 x/i $pc
9893 @end smallexample
9894
9895 @noindent
9896 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9897 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9898 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9899 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9900 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9901 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9902 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9903
9904 @smallexample
9905 set $sp += 4
9906 @end smallexample
9907
9908 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9909 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9910 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9911 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9912 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9913 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9914 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9915
9916 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9917 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9918 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9919 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9920 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9921 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9922 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9923
9924 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9925 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9926 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9927 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9928 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9929 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9930 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9931 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9932 prints the data in both formats.
9933
9934 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9935 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9936 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9937 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9938 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9939 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9940 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9941
9942 @smallexample
9943 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9944 $1 = @{
9945 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9946 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9947 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9948 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9949 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9950 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9951 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9952 @}
9953 @end smallexample
9954
9955 @noindent
9956 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9957 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9958 value to a @code{struct} member:
9959
9960 @smallexample
9961 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9962 @end smallexample
9963
9964 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9965 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9966 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9967 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9968 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9969 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9970
9971 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9972 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9973 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9974 frame makes no difference.
9975
9976 @node Floating Point Hardware
9977 @section Floating Point Hardware
9978 @cindex floating point
9979
9980 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9981 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9982
9983 @table @code
9984 @kindex info float
9985 @item info float
9986 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9987 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9988 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9989 the ARM and x86 machines.
9990 @end table
9991
9992 @node Vector Unit
9993 @section Vector Unit
9994 @cindex vector unit
9995
9996 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9997 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9998
9999 @table @code
10000 @kindex info vector
10001 @item info vector
10002 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10003 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10004 @end table
10005
10006 @node OS Information
10007 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10008 @cindex OS information
10009
10010 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10011 you debug your program.
10012
10013 @cindex auxiliary vector
10014 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10015 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10016 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10017 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10018 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10019 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10020 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10021 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10022 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10023 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10024 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10025 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10026
10027 @table @code
10028 @kindex info auxv
10029 @item info auxv
10030 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10031 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10032 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10033 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10034 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10035 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10036 an unrecognized tag.
10037 @end table
10038
10039 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10040 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10041 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10042 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10043 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10044 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10045 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10046
10047 @table @code
10048 @kindex info os
10049 @item info os @var{infotype}
10050
10051 Display OS information of the requested type.
10052
10053 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10054
10055 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10056 @table @code
10057 @kindex info os processes
10058 @item processes
10059 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10060 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10061 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10062 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10063 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10064 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10065
10066 @kindex info os procgroups
10067 @item procgroups
10068 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10069 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10070 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10071 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10072 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10073 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10074 and the process group leader is listed first.
10075
10076 @kindex info os threads
10077 @item threads
10078 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10079 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10080 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10081 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10082 process is not listed.
10083
10084 @kindex info os files
10085 @item files
10086 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10087 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10088 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10089 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10090
10091 @kindex info os sockets
10092 @item sockets
10093 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10094 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10095 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10096 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10097 connection.
10098
10099 @kindex info os shm
10100 @item shm
10101 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10102 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10103 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10104 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10105 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10106 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10107 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10108
10109 @kindex info os semaphores
10110 @item semaphores
10111 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10112 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10113 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10114 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10115 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10116
10117 @kindex info os msg
10118 @item msg
10119 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10120 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10121 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10122 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10123 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10124 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10125 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10126 the message queue was last changed.
10127
10128 @kindex info os modules
10129 @item modules
10130 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10131 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10132 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10133 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10134 in memory.
10135 @end table
10136
10137 @item info os
10138 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10139 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10140 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10141 types, this command will report an error.
10142 @end table
10143
10144 @node Memory Region Attributes
10145 @section Memory Region Attributes
10146 @cindex memory region attributes
10147
10148 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10149 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10150 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10151 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10152 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10153 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10154 user can override the fetched regions.
10155
10156 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10157 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10158 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10159 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10160 all memory.
10161
10162 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10163 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10164
10165 @table @code
10166 @kindex mem
10167 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10168 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10169 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10170 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10171 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10172 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10173
10174 @item mem auto
10175 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10176 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10177
10178 @kindex delete mem
10179 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10180 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10181 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10182
10183 @kindex disable mem
10184 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10185 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10186 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10187 It may be enabled again later.
10188
10189 @kindex enable mem
10190 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10191 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10192
10193 @kindex info mem
10194 @item info mem
10195 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10196 for each region:
10197
10198 @table @emph
10199 @item Memory Region Number
10200 @item Enabled or Disabled.
10201 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10202 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10203
10204 @item Lo Address
10205 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10206
10207 @item Hi Address
10208 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10209
10210 @item Attributes
10211 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10212 @end table
10213 @end table
10214
10215
10216 @subsection Attributes
10217
10218 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10219 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10220 write accesses to a memory region.
10221
10222 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10223 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10224 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10225
10226 @table @code
10227 @item ro
10228 Memory is read only.
10229 @item wo
10230 Memory is write only.
10231 @item rw
10232 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10233 @end table
10234
10235 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10236 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10237 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10238 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10239 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10240
10241 @table @code
10242 @item 8
10243 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10244 @item 16
10245 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10246 @item 32
10247 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10248 @item 64
10249 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10250 @end table
10251
10252 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10253 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10254 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10255 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10256 @c
10257 @c @table @code
10258 @c @item hwbreak
10259 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10260 @c @item swbreak (default)
10261 @c @end table
10262
10263 @subsubsection Data Cache
10264 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10265 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10266 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10267 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10268 registers.
10269
10270 @table @code
10271 @item cache
10272 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10273 @item nocache
10274 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10275 @end table
10276
10277 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10278 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10279 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10280 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10281 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10282
10283 @table @code
10284 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10285 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10286 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10287 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10288 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10289 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10290 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10291 The default value is @code{on}.
10292 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10293 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10294 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10295 @end table
10296
10297
10298 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10299 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10300 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10301 @c
10302 @c @table @code
10303 @c @item verify
10304 @c @item noverify (default)
10305 @c @end table
10306
10307 @node Dump/Restore Files
10308 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10309 @cindex dump/restore files
10310 @cindex append data to a file
10311 @cindex dump data to a file
10312 @cindex restore data from a file
10313
10314 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10315 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10316 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10317 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10318 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10319 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10320 files.
10321
10322 @table @code
10323
10324 @kindex dump
10325 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10326 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10327 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10328 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10329
10330 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10331 @table @code
10332 @item binary
10333 Raw binary form.
10334 @item ihex
10335 Intel hex format.
10336 @item srec
10337 Motorola S-record format.
10338 @item tekhex
10339 Tektronix Hex format.
10340 @end table
10341
10342 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10343 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10344 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10345 form.
10346
10347 @kindex append
10348 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10349 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10350 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10351 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10352 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10353
10354 @kindex restore
10355 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10356 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10357 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10358 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10359 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10360
10361 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10362 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10363 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10364 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10365 from that location.
10366
10367 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10368 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10369 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10370 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10371
10372 @end table
10373
10374 @node Core File Generation
10375 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10376 @cindex dump core from inferior
10377
10378 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10379 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10380 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10381 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10382 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10383 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10384 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10385
10386 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10387 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10388 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10389
10390 @table @code
10391 @kindex gcore
10392 @kindex generate-core-file
10393 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10394 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10395 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10396 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10397 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10398 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10399
10400 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10401 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10402 @end table
10403
10404 @node Character Sets
10405 @section Character Sets
10406 @cindex character sets
10407 @cindex charset
10408 @cindex translating between character sets
10409 @cindex host character set
10410 @cindex target character set
10411
10412 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10413 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10414 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10415 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10416 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10417 @dfn{target character set}.
10418
10419 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10420 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10421 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10422 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10423 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10424 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10425 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10426 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10427 character and string literals in expressions.
10428
10429 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10430 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10431 target-charset} command, described below.
10432
10433 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10434 support:
10435
10436 @table @code
10437 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10438 @kindex set target-charset
10439 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10440 list of supported target character sets, type
10441 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10442
10443 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10444 @kindex set host-charset
10445 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10446
10447 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10448 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10449 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10450 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10451 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10452
10453 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10454 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10455 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10456
10457 @item set charset @var{charset}
10458 @kindex set charset
10459 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10460 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10461 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10462 for both host and target.
10463
10464 @item show charset
10465 @kindex show charset
10466 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10467
10468 @item show host-charset
10469 @kindex show host-charset
10470 Show the name of the current host character set.
10471
10472 @item show target-charset
10473 @kindex show target-charset
10474 Show the name of the current target character set.
10475
10476 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10477 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10478 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10479 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10480 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10481 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10482
10483 @item show target-wide-charset
10484 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10485 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10486 @end table
10487
10488 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10489 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10490 @file{charset-test.c}:
10491
10492 @smallexample
10493 #include <stdio.h>
10494
10495 char ascii_hello[]
10496 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10497 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10498 char ibm1047_hello[]
10499 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10500 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10501
10502 main ()
10503 @{
10504 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10505 @}
10506 @end smallexample
10507
10508 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10509 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10510 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10511
10512 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10513
10514 @smallexample
10515 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10516 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10517 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10518 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10519 @dots{}
10520 (@value{GDBP})
10521 @end smallexample
10522
10523 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10524 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10525 strings:
10526
10527 @smallexample
10528 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10529 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10530 (@value{GDBP})
10531 @end smallexample
10532
10533 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10534 initial character set:
10535 @smallexample
10536 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10537 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10538 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10539 (@value{GDBP})
10540 @end smallexample
10541
10542 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10543 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10544 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10545 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10546 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10547
10548 @smallexample
10549 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10550 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10551 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10552 $2 = 72 'H'
10553 (@value{GDBP})
10554 @end smallexample
10555
10556 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10557 literals you use in expressions:
10558
10559 @smallexample
10560 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10561 $3 = 43 '+'
10562 (@value{GDBP})
10563 @end smallexample
10564
10565 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10566 character.
10567
10568 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10569 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10570 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10571
10572 @smallexample
10573 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10574 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10575 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10576 $5 = 200 '\310'
10577 (@value{GDBP})
10578 @end smallexample
10579
10580 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10581 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10582
10583 @smallexample
10584 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10585 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10586 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10587 @end smallexample
10588
10589 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10590 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10591 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10592 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10593 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10594
10595 @smallexample
10596 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10597 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10598 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10599 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10600 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10601 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10602 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10603 $7 = 72 '\110'
10604 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10605 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10606 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10607 $9 = 200 'H'
10608 (@value{GDBP})
10609 @end smallexample
10610
10611 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10612 string literals you use in expressions:
10613
10614 @smallexample
10615 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10616 $10 = 78 '+'
10617 (@value{GDBP})
10618 @end smallexample
10619
10620 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10621 character.
10622
10623 @node Caching Remote Data
10624 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10625 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10626
10627 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10628 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10629 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10630 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10631 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10632 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10633 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10634 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10635 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10636 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10637 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10638 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10639 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10640 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10641 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10642
10643 @table @code
10644 @kindex set remotecache
10645 @item set remotecache on
10646 @itemx set remotecache off
10647 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10648 with old scripts.
10649
10650 @kindex show remotecache
10651 @item show remotecache
10652 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10653
10654 @kindex set stack-cache
10655 @item set stack-cache on
10656 @itemx set stack-cache off
10657 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10658 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10659
10660 @kindex show stack-cache
10661 @item show stack-cache
10662 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10663
10664 @kindex info dcache
10665 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10666 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10667 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10668 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10669 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10670 operation.
10671
10672 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10673 printed in hex.
10674
10675 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10676 @cindex dcache size
10677 @kindex set dcache size
10678 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10679
10680 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10681 @cindex dcache line-size
10682 @kindex set dcache line-size
10683 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10684 Must be a power of 2.
10685
10686 @item show dcache size
10687 @kindex show dcache size
10688 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10689
10690 @item show dcache line-size
10691 @kindex show dcache line-size
10692 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10693
10694 @end table
10695
10696 @node Searching Memory
10697 @section Search Memory
10698 @cindex searching memory
10699
10700 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10701 @code{find} command.
10702
10703 @table @code
10704 @kindex find
10705 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10706 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10707 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10708 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10709 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10710 @end table
10711
10712 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10713 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10714
10715 @table @r
10716 @item @var{s}, search query size
10717 The size of each search query value.
10718
10719 @table @code
10720 @item b
10721 bytes
10722 @item h
10723 halfwords (two bytes)
10724 @item w
10725 words (four bytes)
10726 @item g
10727 giant words (eight bytes)
10728 @end table
10729
10730 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10731 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10732 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10733
10734 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10735 value's type in the current language.
10736 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10737 pattern as a mixture of types.
10738 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10739 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10740 which is typically four bytes.
10741
10742 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10743 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10744 @end table
10745
10746 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10747 (@code{"}).
10748 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10749 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10750
10751 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10752 number of matches found.
10753
10754 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10755 @samp{$_}.
10756 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10757
10758 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10759
10760 @smallexample
10761 void
10762 hello ()
10763 @{
10764 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10765 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10766 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10767 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10768 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10769 @}
10770 @end smallexample
10771
10772 @noindent
10773 you get during debugging:
10774
10775 @smallexample
10776 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10777 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10778 1 pattern found
10779 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10780 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10781 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10782 2 patterns found
10783 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10784 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10785 1 pattern found
10786 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10787 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10788 1 pattern found
10789 (gdb) print $numfound
10790 $1 = 1
10791 (gdb) print $_
10792 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10793 @end smallexample
10794
10795 @node Optimized Code
10796 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10797 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10798 @cindex debugging optimized code
10799
10800 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10801 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10802 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10803 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10804 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10805 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10806 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10807
10808 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10809 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10810 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10811 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10812
10813 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10814 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10815 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10816 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10817 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10818 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10819
10820 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10821 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10822 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10823 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10824 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10825
10826 @menu
10827 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10828 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10829 @end menu
10830
10831 @node Inline Functions
10832 @section Inline Functions
10833 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10834
10835 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10836 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10837 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10838 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10839 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10840 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10841 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10842 @code{info frame} command.
10843
10844 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10845 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10846 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10847 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10848 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10849 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10850 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10851 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10852 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10853 local variables in the caller.
10854
10855 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10856 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10857 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10858 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10859 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10860 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10861 instructions are executed.
10862
10863 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10864 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10865 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10866 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10867
10868 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10869 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10870
10871 @itemize @bullet
10872 @item
10873 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10874 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10875 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10876 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10877 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10878 or inside the inlined function instead.
10879
10880 @item
10881 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10882 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10883 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10884 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10885
10886 @end itemize
10887
10888 @node Tail Call Frames
10889 @section Tail Call Frames
10890 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10891
10892 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10893 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10894 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10895 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10896 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10897
10898 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10899 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10900 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10901 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10902 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10903 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10904 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10905
10906 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10907 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10908 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10909 this information.
10910
10911 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10912 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10913
10914 @smallexample
10915 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10916 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10917 (gdb) info frame
10918 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10919 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10920 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10921 source language c++.
10922 Arglist at unknown address.
10923 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10924 @end smallexample
10925
10926 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10927 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10928 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10929 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10930 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10931 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10932
10933 @table @code
10934 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10935 @item set debug entry-values
10936 @kindex set debug entry-values
10937 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10938 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10939 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10940 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10941 result.
10942
10943 @item show debug entry-values
10944 @kindex show debug entry-values
10945 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10946 values at function entry and tail calls.
10947 @end table
10948
10949 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10950 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10951 reference by variable @code{x}):
10952
10953 @smallexample
10954 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10955 void (*x) (void) = c;
10956 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10957 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10958 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10959
10960 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10961 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10962 a () at t.c:3
10963 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10964 (gdb) bt
10965 #0 a () at t.c:3
10966 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10967 @end smallexample
10968
10969 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10970
10971 @smallexample
10972 int i;
10973 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10974 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10975 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10976 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10977 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10978 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10979 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10980 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10981
10982 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10983 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10984 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10985 (gdb) bt
10986 #0 f () at t.c:2
10987 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10988 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10989 @end smallexample
10990
10991 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10992 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10993
10994 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10995 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10996 @set ARROW @click{}
10997 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10998 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10999 @end ifset
11000 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11001 @set ARROW ->
11002 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11003 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11004 @end ifclear
11005
11006 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11007 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11008 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11009
11010 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11011 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11012 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11013 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11014 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11015 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11016
11017 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11018 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11019 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11020 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11021 omitted.
11022
11023 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11024 entry may fail:
11025
11026 @smallexample
11027 int v;
11028 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11029 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11030 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11031 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11032 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11033 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11034
11035 (gdb) bt
11036 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11037 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11038 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11039 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11040 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11041 @end smallexample
11042
11043 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11044 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11045 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11046 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11047 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11048
11049 @node Macros
11050 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11051
11052 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11053 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11054 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11055 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11056 where it was defined.
11057
11058 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11059 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11060 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11061 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11062
11063 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11064 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11065 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11066 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11067 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11068 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11069 see @ref{List}.
11070
11071 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11072 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11073 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11074
11075 @table @code
11076
11077 @kindex macro expand
11078 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11079 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11080 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11081 @item macro expand @var{expression}
11082 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11083 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11084 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11085 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11086 it can be any string of tokens.
11087
11088 @kindex macro exp1
11089 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11090 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11091 @cindex expand macro once
11092 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11093 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11094 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11095 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11096 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11097 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11098 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11099 can be any string of tokens.
11100
11101 @kindex info macro
11102 @cindex macro definition, showing
11103 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
11104 @cindex macros, from debug info
11105 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11106 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11107 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11108 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11109 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11110 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11111
11112 @kindex info macros
11113 @item info macros @var{linespec}
11114 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11115 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11116 command-line where those definitions were established.
11117
11118 @kindex macro define
11119 @cindex user-defined macros
11120 @cindex defining macros interactively
11121 @cindex macros, user-defined
11122 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11123 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11124 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11125 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11126 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11127 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11128 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11129 @var{arglist}.
11130
11131 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11132 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11133 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11134 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11135 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11136
11137 @kindex macro undef
11138 @item macro undef @var{macro}
11139 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11140 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11141 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11142 in the program being debugged.
11143
11144 @kindex macro list
11145 @item macro list
11146 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11147 @end table
11148
11149 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
11150 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11151 show our source files:
11152
11153 @smallexample
11154 $ cat sample.c
11155 #include <stdio.h>
11156 #include "sample.h"
11157
11158 #define M 42
11159 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11160
11161 main ()
11162 @{
11163 #define N 28
11164 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11165 #undef N
11166 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11167 #define N 1729
11168 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11169 @}
11170 $ cat sample.h
11171 #define Q <
11172 $
11173 @end smallexample
11174
11175 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11176 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11177 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11178 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11179 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11180 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11181 information.
11182
11183 @smallexample
11184 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11185 $
11186 @end smallexample
11187
11188 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11189
11190 @smallexample
11191 $ gdb -nw sample
11192 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11193 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11194 GDB is free software, @dots{}
11195 (@value{GDBP})
11196 @end smallexample
11197
11198 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11199 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11200 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11201
11202 @smallexample
11203 (@value{GDBP}) list main
11204 3
11205 4 #define M 42
11206 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11207 6
11208 7 main ()
11209 8 @{
11210 9 #define N 28
11211 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11212 11 #undef N
11213 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11214 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11215 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11216 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11217 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11218 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11219 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11220 #define Q <
11221 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11222 expands to: (42 + 1)
11223 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11224 expands to: once (M + 1)
11225 (@value{GDBP})
11226 @end smallexample
11227
11228 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11229 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11230 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11231 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11232
11233 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11234 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11235
11236 @smallexample
11237 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11238 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11239 (@value{GDBP}) run
11240 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11241
11242 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11243 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11244 (@value{GDBP})
11245 @end smallexample
11246
11247 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11248
11249 @smallexample
11250 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11251 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11252 #define N 28
11253 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11254 expands to: 28 < 42
11255 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11256 $1 = 1
11257 (@value{GDBP})
11258 @end smallexample
11259
11260 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11261 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11262 thereof) in force at each point:
11263
11264 @smallexample
11265 (@value{GDBP}) next
11266 Hello, world!
11267 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11268 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11269 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11270 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11271 (@value{GDBP}) next
11272 We're so creative.
11273 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11274 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11275 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11276 #define N 1729
11277 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11278 expands to: 1729 < 42
11279 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11280 $2 = 0
11281 (@value{GDBP})
11282 @end smallexample
11283
11284 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11285 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11286 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11287 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11288
11289 @smallexample
11290 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11291 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11292 -D__STDC__=1
11293 (@value{GDBP})
11294 @end smallexample
11295
11296
11297 @node Tracepoints
11298 @chapter Tracepoints
11299 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11300 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11301
11302 @cindex tracepoints
11303 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11304 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11305 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11306 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11307 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11308 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11309 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11310
11311 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11312 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11313 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11314 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11315 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11316 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11317 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11318 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11319 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11320 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11321 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11322
11323 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11324 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11325 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11326 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11327 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11328 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11329 Packets}.
11330
11331 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11332 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11333 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11334
11335 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11336
11337 @menu
11338 * Set Tracepoints::
11339 * Analyze Collected Data::
11340 * Tracepoint Variables::
11341 * Trace Files::
11342 @end menu
11343
11344 @node Set Tracepoints
11345 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11346
11347 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11348 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11349 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11350 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11351 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11352 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11353 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11354
11355 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11356 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11357 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11358 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11359 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11360 tracepoint was hit.
11361
11362 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11363 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11364 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11365 either.
11366
11367 @cindex fast tracepoints
11368 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11369 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11370 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11371
11372 @cindex static tracepoints
11373 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11374 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11375 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11376 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11377 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11378 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11379 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11380 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11381 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11382 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11383 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11384 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11385 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11386 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11387 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11388 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11389 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11390 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11391 static tracepoint marker.
11392
11393 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11394 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11395
11396 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11397 conditions and actions.
11398
11399 @menu
11400 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11401 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11402 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11403 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11404 * Trace State Variables::
11405 * Tracepoint Actions::
11406 * Listing Tracepoints::
11407 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11408 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11409 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11410 @end menu
11411
11412 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11413 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11414
11415 @table @code
11416 @cindex set tracepoint
11417 @kindex trace
11418 @item trace @var{location}
11419 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11420 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11421 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11422 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11423 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11424 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11425 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11426 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11427 in tracing}).
11428 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11429 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11430 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11431 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11432 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11433 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11434 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11435 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11436 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11437 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11438 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11439 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11440
11441 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11442
11443 @smallexample
11444 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11445
11446 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11447
11448 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11449
11450 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11451
11452 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11453 @end smallexample
11454
11455 @noindent
11456 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11457
11458 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11459 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11460 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11461 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11462 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11463 information on tracepoint conditions.
11464
11465 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11466 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11467 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11468 @kindex ftrace
11469 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11470 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11471 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11472 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11473 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11474 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11475 message.
11476
11477 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11478 @code{trace}.
11479
11480 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11481 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11482 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11483 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11484 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11485 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11486 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11487 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11488
11489 @example
11490 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11491 @end example
11492
11493 @noindent
11494 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11495 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11496
11497 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11498 @cindex set static tracepoint
11499 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11500 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11501 @kindex strace
11502 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11503 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11504 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11505 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11506 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11507
11508 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11509 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11510 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11511 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11512 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11513 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11514 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11515 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11516 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11517 tracing engine:
11518
11519 @smallexample
11520 main ()
11521 @{
11522 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11523 @}
11524 @end smallexample
11525
11526 @noindent
11527 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11528 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11529
11530 @smallexample
11531 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11532 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11533 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11534 Data: "str %s"
11535 [etc...]
11536 @end smallexample
11537
11538 @noindent
11539 so you may probe the marker above with:
11540
11541 @smallexample
11542 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11543 @end smallexample
11544
11545 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11546 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11547 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11548 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11549 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11550 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11551 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11552 the @samp{Data:} field.
11553
11554 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11555 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11556 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11557
11558 @vindex $tpnum
11559 @cindex last tracepoint number
11560 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11561 @cindex tracepoint number
11562 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11563 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11564
11565 @kindex delete tracepoint
11566 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11567 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11568 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11569 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11570 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11571
11572 Examples:
11573
11574 @smallexample
11575 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11576
11577 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11578 @end smallexample
11579
11580 @noindent
11581 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11582 @end table
11583
11584 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11585 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11586
11587 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11588
11589 @table @code
11590 @kindex disable tracepoint
11591 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11592 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11593 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11594 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11595 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11596 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11597 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11598 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11599 next trace experiment.
11600
11601 @kindex enable tracepoint
11602 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11603 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11604 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11605 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11606 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11607 next time a trace experiment is run.
11608 @end table
11609
11610 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11611 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11612
11613 @table @code
11614 @kindex passcount
11615 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11616 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11617 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11618 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11619 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11620 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11621 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11622 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11623 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11624 user.
11625
11626 Examples:
11627
11628 @smallexample
11629 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11630 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11631
11632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11633 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11634 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11635 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11636 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11637 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11638 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11639 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11640 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11641 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11642 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11643 @end smallexample
11644 @end table
11645
11646 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11647 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11648 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11649 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11650
11651 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11652 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11653 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11654 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11655 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11656 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11657 is true.
11658
11659 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11660 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11661 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11662 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11663 just as with breakpoints.
11664
11665 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11666 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11667 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11668 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11669 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11670 accesses, and so forth.
11671
11672 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11673 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11674 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11675 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11676 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11677 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11678 search through.
11679
11680 @smallexample
11681 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11682 @end smallexample
11683
11684 @node Trace State Variables
11685 @subsection Trace State Variables
11686 @cindex trace state variables
11687
11688 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11689 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11690 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11691 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11692 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11693 integers.
11694
11695 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11696 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11697 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11698 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11699
11700 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11701 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11702 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11703 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11704 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11705 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11706 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11707 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11708 variable with the same name.
11709
11710 @table @code
11711
11712 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11713 @kindex tvariable
11714 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11715 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11716 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11717 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11718 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11719 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11720 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11721 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11722 value. The default initial value is 0.
11723
11724 @item info tvariables
11725 @kindex info tvariables
11726 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11727 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11728 currently running.
11729
11730 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11731 @kindex delete tvariable
11732 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11733 are specified.
11734
11735 @end table
11736
11737 @node Tracepoint Actions
11738 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11739
11740 @table @code
11741 @kindex actions
11742 @cindex tracepoint actions
11743 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11744 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11745 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11746 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11747 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11748 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11749 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11750 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11751 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11752 @code{while-stepping}.
11753
11754 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11755 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11756 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11757
11758 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11759 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11760 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11761
11762 @smallexample
11763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11764
11765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11766
11767 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11768 @end smallexample
11769
11770 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11771 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11772 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11773 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11774 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11775 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11776 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11777 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11778
11779 @smallexample
11780 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11781 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11782 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11783 > collect bar,baz
11784 > collect $regs
11785 > while-stepping 12
11786 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11787 > end
11788 end
11789 @end smallexample
11790
11791 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11792 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11793 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11794 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11795 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11796 special arguments are supported:
11797
11798 @table @code
11799 @item $regs
11800 Collect all registers.
11801
11802 @item $args
11803 Collect all function arguments.
11804
11805 @item $locals
11806 Collect all local variables.
11807
11808 @item $_ret
11809 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11810 of a backtrace.
11811
11812 @item $_probe_argc
11813 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11814 tracepoint is located.
11815 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11816
11817 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11818 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11819 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11820 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11821
11822 @item $_sdata
11823 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11824 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11825 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11826 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11827 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11828 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11829 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11830 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11831 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11832
11833 @smallexample
11834 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11835 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11836 @end smallexample
11837
11838 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11839 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11840 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11841 @value{GDBN}.
11842 @end table
11843
11844 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11845 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11846 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11847
11848 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11849 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11850 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11851 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11852 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11853 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11854 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11855 @samp{mystr}.
11856
11857 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11858 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11859
11860 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11861 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11862 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11863 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11864 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11865 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11866 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11867 action were used.
11868
11869 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11870 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11871 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11872 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11873 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11874 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11875
11876 @smallexample
11877 > while-stepping 12
11878 > collect $regs, myglobal
11879 > end
11880 >
11881 @end smallexample
11882
11883 @noindent
11884 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11885 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11886 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11887 @code{stepping}.
11888
11889 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11890 @kindex set default-collect
11891 @cindex default collection action
11892 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11893 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11894 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11895 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11896 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11897 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11898
11899 @item show default-collect
11900 @kindex show default-collect
11901 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11902 tracepoint hit.
11903
11904 @end table
11905
11906 @node Listing Tracepoints
11907 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11908
11909 @table @code
11910 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11911 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11912 @cindex information about tracepoints
11913 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11914 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11915 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11916 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11917 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11918 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11919
11920 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11921 tracing:
11922
11923 @itemize @bullet
11924 @item
11925 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11926
11927 @item
11928 the state about installed on target of each location
11929 @end itemize
11930
11931 @smallexample
11932 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11933 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11934 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11935 while-stepping 20
11936 collect globfoo, $regs
11937 end
11938 collect globfoo2
11939 end
11940 pass count 1200
11941 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
11942 collect $eip
11943 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11944 installed on target
11945 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11946 installed on target
11947 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
11948 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
11949 not installed on target
11950 (@value{GDBP})
11951 @end smallexample
11952
11953 @noindent
11954 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11955 @end table
11956
11957 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11958 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11959
11960 @table @code
11961 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11962 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11963 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11964 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11965 program.
11966
11967 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11968
11969 @table @emph
11970 @item Count
11971 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11972 stable identifier.
11973 @item ID
11974 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11975 @item Enabled or Disabled
11976 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11977 that are not enabled.
11978 @item Address
11979 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11980 @item What
11981 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11982 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11983 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11984 will be left blank.
11985 @end table
11986
11987 @noindent
11988 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11989
11990 @table @emph
11991 @item Data
11992 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11993 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11994 marker call.
11995 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11996 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11997 @end table
11998
11999 @smallexample
12000 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12001 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12002 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12003 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12004 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12005 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12006 Data: str %s
12007 (@value{GDBP})
12008 @end smallexample
12009 @end table
12010
12011 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12012 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12013
12014 @table @code
12015 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12016 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12017 @cindex collected data discarded
12018 @item tstart
12019 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12020 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12021 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12022 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12023 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12024 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12025 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12026 information, and so forth.
12027
12028 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12029 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12030 @item tstop
12031 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12032 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12033 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12034 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12035 needs to be stopped quickly.
12036
12037 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12038 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12039 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12040
12041 @kindex tstatus
12042 @cindex status of trace data collection
12043 @cindex trace experiment, status of
12044 @item tstatus
12045 This command displays the status of the current trace data
12046 collection.
12047 @end table
12048
12049 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12050
12051 @smallexample
12052 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12053 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12054 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12055 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
12056 > while-stepping 11
12057 > collect $regs
12058 > end
12059 > end
12060 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12061 [time passes @dots{}]
12062 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12063 @end smallexample
12064
12065 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
12066 @cindex disconnected tracing
12067 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12068 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12069 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12070 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12071 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12072 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12073 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12074 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12075
12076 @table @code
12077 @item set disconnected-tracing on
12078 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12079 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
12080 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12081 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12082 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12083 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12084 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12085
12086 @item show disconnected-tracing
12087 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
12088 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12089
12090 @end table
12091
12092 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12093 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12094 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12095 it will continue after reconnection.
12096
12097 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12098 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12099 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12100 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12101 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12102 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12103 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12104 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12105 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12106 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12107
12108 @cindex circular trace buffer
12109 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12110 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12111 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12112 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12113 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12114 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12115 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12116 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12117 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12118 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12119 the next run.
12120
12121 @table @code
12122 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
12123 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12124 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12125 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12126 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12127 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12128 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12129
12130 @item show circular-trace-buffer
12131 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12132 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12133 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12134 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12135 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12136
12137 @end table
12138
12139 @table @code
12140 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12141 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12142 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
12143 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12144 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12145 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12146 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12147 likes. This is also the default.
12148
12149 @item show trace-buffer-size
12150 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
12151 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12152 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12153 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12154 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12155 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12156 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12157 @end table
12158
12159 @table @code
12160 @item set trace-user @var{text}
12161 @kindex set trace-user
12162
12163 @item show trace-user
12164 @kindex show trace-user
12165
12166 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
12167 @kindex set trace-notes
12168 Set the trace run's notes.
12169
12170 @item show trace-notes
12171 @kindex show trace-notes
12172 Show the trace run's notes.
12173
12174 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12175 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
12176 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12177 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12178 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12179
12180 @item show trace-stop-notes
12181 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
12182 Show the trace run's stop notes.
12183
12184 @end table
12185
12186 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
12187 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12188
12189 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
12190 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12191 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12192 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12193 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12194 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12195 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12196 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12197 mentioned here.
12198
12199 @itemize @bullet
12200
12201 @item
12202 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12203 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12204 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12205 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12206 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12207 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12208 cannot be collected either.
12209
12210 @item
12211 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12212 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12213 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12214 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12215 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12216 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12217 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12218 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12219 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12220 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12221
12222 @item
12223 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12224 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12225 in a misleading way.
12226
12227 @item
12228 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12229 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12230 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12231 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12232 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12233 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12234 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12235 by @code{ptr}.
12236
12237 @item
12238 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12239 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12240 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12241 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12242 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12243 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12244 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12245 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12246 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12247 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12248 invalid address.
12249
12250 @item
12251 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12252 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12253 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12254 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12255 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12256 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12257 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12258 it to zero.
12259
12260 @end itemize
12261
12262 @node Analyze Collected Data
12263 @section Using the Collected Data
12264
12265 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12266 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12267 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12268 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12269 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12270 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12271 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12272 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12273 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12274 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12275 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12276 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12277 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12278 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12279 the buffer will fail.
12280
12281 @menu
12282 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12283 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12284 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12285 @end menu
12286
12287 @node tfind
12288 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12289
12290 @kindex tfind
12291 @cindex select trace snapshot
12292 @cindex find trace snapshot
12293 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12294 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12295 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12296 snapshot is selected.
12297
12298 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12299
12300 @table @code
12301 @item tfind start
12302 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12303 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12304
12305 @item tfind none
12306 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12307
12308 @item tfind end
12309 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12310
12311 @item tfind
12312 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12313
12314 @item tfind -
12315 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12316 retracing earlier steps.
12317
12318 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12319 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12320 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12321 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12322 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12323
12324 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12325 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12326 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12327 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12328 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12329
12330 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12331 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12332 addresses (exclusive).
12333
12334 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12335 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12336 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12337
12338 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12339 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12340 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12341 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12342 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12343 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12344 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12345 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12346 @end table
12347
12348 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12349 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12350 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12351 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12352 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12353 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12354 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12355 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12356 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12357 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12358 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12359 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12360 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12361 tracepoint as the current one.
12362
12363 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12364 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12365 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12366 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12367 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12368
12369 @smallexample
12370 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12371 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12372 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12373 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12374 > tfind
12375 > end
12376
12377 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12378 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12379 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12380 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12381 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12382 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12383 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12384 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12385 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12386 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12387 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12388 @end smallexample
12389
12390 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12391 the buffer:
12392
12393 @smallexample
12394 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12395 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12396 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12397 > tfind line
12398 > end
12399
12400 Frame 0, X = 1
12401 Frame 7, X = 2
12402 Frame 13, X = 255
12403 @end smallexample
12404
12405 @node tdump
12406 @subsection @code{tdump}
12407 @kindex tdump
12408 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12409 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12410
12411 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12412 the current trace snapshot.
12413
12414 @smallexample
12415 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12416 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12417 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12418 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12419 > end
12420
12421 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12422
12423 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12424 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12425 at gdb_test.c:444
12426 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12427
12428 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12429 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12430 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12431 d1 0x18 24
12432 d2 0x80 128
12433 d3 0x33 51
12434 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12435 d5 0x22 34
12436 d6 0xe0 224
12437 d7 0x380035 3670069
12438 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12439 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12440 a2 0x100 256
12441 a3 0x322000 3284992
12442 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12443 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12444 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12445 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12446 ps 0x0 0
12447 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12448 fpcontrol 0x0 0
12449 fpstatus 0x0 0
12450 fpiaddr 0x0 0
12451 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12452 p1 = (void *) 0x11
12453 p2 = (void *) 0x22
12454 p3 = (void *) 0x33
12455 p4 = (void *) 0x44
12456 p5 = (void *) 0x55
12457 p6 = (void *) 0x66
12458 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12459
12460 (@value{GDBP})
12461 @end smallexample
12462
12463 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12464 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12465 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12466 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12467
12468 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12469 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12470 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12471 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12472 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12473 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12474 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12475 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12476 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12477 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12478
12479 @node save tracepoints
12480 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12481 @kindex save tracepoints
12482 @kindex save-tracepoints
12483 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12484
12485 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12486 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12487 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12488 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12489 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12490 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12491
12492 @node Tracepoint Variables
12493 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12494 @cindex tracepoint variables
12495 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12496
12497 @table @code
12498 @vindex $trace_frame
12499 @item (int) $trace_frame
12500 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12501 snapshot is selected.
12502
12503 @vindex $tracepoint
12504 @item (int) $tracepoint
12505 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12506
12507 @vindex $trace_line
12508 @item (int) $trace_line
12509 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12510
12511 @vindex $trace_file
12512 @item (char []) $trace_file
12513 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12514
12515 @vindex $trace_func
12516 @item (char []) $trace_func
12517 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12518 @end table
12519
12520 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12521 use @code{output} instead.
12522
12523 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12524 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12525 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12526 which are managed by the target.
12527
12528 @smallexample
12529 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12530
12531 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12532 > output $trace_file
12533 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12534 > tfind
12535 > end
12536 @end smallexample
12537
12538 @node Trace Files
12539 @section Using Trace Files
12540 @cindex trace files
12541
12542 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12543 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12544 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12545 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12546 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12547
12548 @table @code
12549
12550 @kindex tsave
12551 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12552 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12553 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12554 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12555 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12556 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12557 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12558 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12559 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12560 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12561 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12562 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12563 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12564 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12565 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12566
12567 @kindex target tfile
12568 @kindex tfile
12569 @kindex target ctf
12570 @kindex ctf
12571 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12572 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12573 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12574 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12575 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12576 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12577 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12578 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12579 the host.
12580
12581 @smallexample
12582 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12583 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12584 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12585 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12586 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12587 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12588 i = 0
12589 a = 0
12590 b = 1 '\001'
12591 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12592 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12593 (@value{GDBP}) p b
12594 $1 = 1
12595 @end smallexample
12596
12597 @end table
12598
12599 @node Overlays
12600 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12601 @cindex overlays
12602
12603 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12604 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12605 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12606 use overlays.
12607
12608 @menu
12609 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12610 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12611 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12612 mapped by asking the inferior.
12613 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12614 @end menu
12615
12616 @node How Overlays Work
12617 @section How Overlays Work
12618 @cindex mapped overlays
12619 @cindex unmapped overlays
12620 @cindex load address, overlay's
12621 @cindex mapped address
12622 @cindex overlay area
12623
12624 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12625 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12626 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12627 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12628 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12629
12630 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12631 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12632 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12633 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12634 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12635 largest overlay as well.
12636
12637 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12638 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12639 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12640 there.
12641
12642 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12643 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12644 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12645
12646 @smallexample
12647 @group
12648 Data Instruction Larger
12649 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12650 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12651 | | | | | |
12652 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12653 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12654 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12655 | and heap | | | | | |
12656 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12657 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12658 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12659 | | | | | |
12660 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12661 address | | | | | |
12662 | overlay | <-' | | |
12663 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12664 | | <---. | | load address
12665 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12666 | | | |
12667 +-----------+ | |
12668 +-----------+
12669 | |
12670 +-----------+
12671
12672 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12673 @end group
12674 @end smallexample
12675
12676 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12677 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12678 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12679 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12680 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12681 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12682 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12683 program and the overlay area.
12684
12685 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12686 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12687 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12688 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12689 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12690 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12691 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12692
12693 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12694 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12695 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12696
12697 @itemize @bullet
12698
12699 @item
12700 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12701 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12702 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12703 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12704
12705 @item
12706 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12707 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12708 your program's performance.
12709
12710 @item
12711 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12712 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12713 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12714 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12715 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12716 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12717 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12718
12719 @item
12720 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12721 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12722 instruction and data spaces.
12723
12724 @end itemize
12725
12726 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12727 improved in many ways:
12728
12729 @itemize @bullet
12730
12731 @item
12732 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12733 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12734 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12735 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12736 area in the usual way.
12737
12738 @item
12739 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12740 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12741
12742 @item
12743 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12744 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12745 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12746 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12747 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12748 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12749 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12750
12751 @end itemize
12752
12753
12754 @node Overlay Commands
12755 @section Overlay Commands
12756
12757 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12758 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12759 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12760 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12761 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12762 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12763
12764 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12765 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12766
12767 @table @code
12768 @item overlay off
12769 @kindex overlay
12770 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12771 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12772 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12773 overlay support is disabled.
12774
12775 @item overlay manual
12776 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12777 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12778 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12779 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12780 commands described below.
12781
12782 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12783 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12784 @cindex map an overlay
12785 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12786 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12787 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12788 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12789 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12790 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12791
12792 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12793 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12794 @cindex unmap an overlay
12795 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12796 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12797 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12798 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12799
12800 @item overlay auto
12801 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12802 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12803 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12804 Overlay Debugging}.
12805
12806 @item overlay load-target
12807 @itemx overlay load
12808 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12809 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12810 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12811 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12812 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12813 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12814
12815 @item overlay list-overlays
12816 @itemx overlay list
12817 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12818 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12819 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12820
12821 @end table
12822
12823 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12824 of the function the address falls in:
12825
12826 @smallexample
12827 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12828 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12829 @end smallexample
12830 @noindent
12831 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12832 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12833 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12834 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12835
12836 @smallexample
12837 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12838 No sections are mapped.
12839 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12840 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12841 @end smallexample
12842 @noindent
12843 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12844 name normally:
12845
12846 @smallexample
12847 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12848 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12849 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12850 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12851 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12852 @end smallexample
12853
12854 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12855 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12856 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12857 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12858 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12859
12860 @itemize @bullet
12861 @item
12862 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12863 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12864 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12865 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12866 @item
12867 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12868 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12869 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12870 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12871 breakpoints properly.
12872 @end itemize
12873
12874
12875 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12876 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12877 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12878
12879 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12880 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12881 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12882 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12883 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12884 current state of the overlays.
12885
12886 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12887 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12888
12889 @table @asis
12890
12891 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12892 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12893
12894 @smallexample
12895 struct
12896 @{
12897 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12898 unsigned long vma;
12899
12900 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12901 unsigned long size;
12902
12903 /* The overlay's load address. */
12904 unsigned long lma;
12905
12906 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12907 zero otherwise. */
12908 unsigned long mapped;
12909 @}
12910 @end smallexample
12911
12912 @item @code{_novlys}:
12913 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12914 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12915
12916 @end table
12917
12918 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12919 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12920 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12921 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12922 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12923 currently mapped.
12924
12925 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12926 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12927 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12928 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12929 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12930 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12931 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12932 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12933 are not being executed.
12934
12935 @node Overlay Sample Program
12936 @section Overlay Sample Program
12937 @cindex overlay example program
12938
12939 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12940 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12941 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12942 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12943 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12944 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12945 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12946
12947 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12948 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12949 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12950 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12951
12952 @table @file
12953 @item overlays.c
12954 The main program file.
12955 @item ovlymgr.c
12956 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12957 @item foo.c
12958 @itemx bar.c
12959 @itemx baz.c
12960 @itemx grbx.c
12961 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12962 @item d10v.ld
12963 @itemx m32r.ld
12964 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12965 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12966 @end table
12967
12968 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12969 cross-compiler like this:
12970
12971 @smallexample
12972 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12973 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12974 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12975 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12976 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12977 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12978 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12979 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12980 @end smallexample
12981
12982 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12983 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12984 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12985
12986
12987 @node Languages
12988 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12989 @cindex languages
12990
12991 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12992 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12993 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12994 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12995 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12996 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12997
12998 @cindex working language
12999 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13000 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13001 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13002 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13003 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13004 language}.
13005
13006 @menu
13007 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13008 * Show:: Displaying the language
13009 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13010 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13011 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13012 @end menu
13013
13014 @node Setting
13015 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13016
13017 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13018 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13019 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13020 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13021 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13022 are printed, etc.
13023
13024 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13025 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13026 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13027 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13028 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13029 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13030 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13031 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13032 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13033 Displaying the Language}.
13034
13035 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13036 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13037 another language. In that case, make the
13038 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13039 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13040 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13041
13042 @menu
13043 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13044 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13045 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13046 @end menu
13047
13048 @node Filenames
13049 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13050
13051 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13052 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13053
13054 @table @file
13055 @item .ada
13056 @itemx .ads
13057 @itemx .adb
13058 @itemx .a
13059 Ada source file.
13060
13061 @item .c
13062 C source file
13063
13064 @item .C
13065 @itemx .cc
13066 @itemx .cp
13067 @itemx .cpp
13068 @itemx .cxx
13069 @itemx .c++
13070 C@t{++} source file
13071
13072 @item .d
13073 D source file
13074
13075 @item .m
13076 Objective-C source file
13077
13078 @item .f
13079 @itemx .F
13080 Fortran source file
13081
13082 @item .mod
13083 Modula-2 source file
13084
13085 @item .s
13086 @itemx .S
13087 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13088 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13089 @end table
13090
13091 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13092 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13093
13094 @node Manually
13095 @subsection Setting the Working Language
13096
13097 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13098 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13099 your program.
13100
13101 @kindex set language
13102 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13103 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13104 a language, such as
13105 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13106 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13107
13108 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13109 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13110 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13111 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13112 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13113 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13114 command such as:
13115
13116 @smallexample
13117 print a = b + c
13118 @end smallexample
13119
13120 @noindent
13121 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13122 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13123 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13124 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13125
13126 @node Automatically
13127 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13128
13129 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13130 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13131 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13132 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13133 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13134 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13135 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13136 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13137 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13138
13139 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13140 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13141 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13142 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13143 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13144
13145 @node Show
13146 @section Displaying the Language
13147
13148 The following commands help you find out which language is the
13149 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13150
13151 @table @code
13152 @item show language
13153 @kindex show language
13154 Display the current working language. This is the
13155 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13156 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13157
13158 @item info frame
13159 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13160 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13161 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13162 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13163 information listed here.
13164
13165 @item info source
13166 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13167 Display the source language of this source file.
13168 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13169 information listed here.
13170 @end table
13171
13172 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13173 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13174 with a language explicitly:
13175
13176 @table @code
13177 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13178 @kindex set extension-language
13179 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13180 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13181
13182 @item info extensions
13183 @kindex info extensions
13184 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13185 @end table
13186
13187 @node Checks
13188 @section Type and Range Checking
13189
13190 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13191 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13192 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13193 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13194 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13195 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13196 errors when your program is running.
13197
13198 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13199 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13200 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13201 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13202
13203 @menu
13204 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13205 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13206 @end menu
13207
13208 @cindex type checking
13209 @cindex checks, type
13210 @node Type Checking
13211 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13212
13213 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13214 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13215 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13216 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13217
13218 @smallexample
13219 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13220
13221 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13222 $1 = 2
13223 @exdent but
13224 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13225 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13226 @end smallexample
13227
13228 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13229 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13230
13231 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13232 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13233 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13234 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13235 expressions like the second example above.
13236
13237 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13238 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13239 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13240 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13241 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13242 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13243
13244 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13245
13246 @kindex set check type
13247 @kindex show check type
13248 @table @code
13249 @item set check type on
13250 @itemx set check type off
13251 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13252 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13253 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13254
13255 @item show check type
13256 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13257 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13258 @end table
13259
13260 @cindex range checking
13261 @cindex checks, range
13262 @node Range Checking
13263 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13264
13265 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13266 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13267 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13268 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13269 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13270
13271 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13272 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13273 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13274 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13275
13276 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13277 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13278 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13279 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13280 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13281 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13282
13283 @smallexample
13284 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13285 @end smallexample
13286
13287 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13288 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13289 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13290
13291 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13292
13293 @kindex set check range
13294 @kindex show check range
13295 @table @code
13296 @item set check range auto
13297 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13298 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13299 each language.
13300
13301 @item set check range on
13302 @itemx set check range off
13303 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13304 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13305 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13306 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13307
13308 @item set check range warn
13309 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13310 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13311 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13312 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13313 systems).
13314
13315 @item show range
13316 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13317 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13318 @end table
13319
13320 @node Supported Languages
13321 @section Supported Languages
13322
13323 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13324 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13325 @c This is false ...
13326 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13327 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13328 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13329 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13330 language.
13331
13332 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13333 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13334 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13335 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13336 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13337 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13338 language reference or tutorial.
13339
13340 @menu
13341 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13342 * D:: D
13343 * Go:: Go
13344 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13345 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13346 * Fortran:: Fortran
13347 * Pascal:: Pascal
13348 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13349 * Ada:: Ada
13350 @end menu
13351
13352 @node C
13353 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13354
13355 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13356 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13357
13358 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13359 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13360 together.
13361
13362 @cindex C@t{++}
13363 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13364 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13365 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13366 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13367 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13368 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13369 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13370
13371 @menu
13372 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13373 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13374 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13375 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13376 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13377 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13378 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13379 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13380 @end menu
13381
13382 @node C Operators
13383 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13384
13385 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13386
13387 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13388 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13389 often defined on groups of types.
13390
13391 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13392
13393 @itemize @bullet
13394
13395 @item
13396 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13397 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13398
13399 @item
13400 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13401 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13402
13403 @item
13404 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13405
13406 @item
13407 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13408
13409 @end itemize
13410
13411 @noindent
13412 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13413 in order of increasing precedence:
13414
13415 @table @code
13416 @item ,
13417 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13418 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13419 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13420
13421 @item =
13422 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13423 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13424
13425 @item @var{op}=
13426 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13427 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13428 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13429 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13430 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13431
13432 @item ?:
13433 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13434 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13435 integral type.
13436
13437 @item ||
13438 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13439
13440 @item &&
13441 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13442
13443 @item |
13444 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13445
13446 @item ^
13447 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13448
13449 @item &
13450 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13451
13452 @item ==@r{, }!=
13453 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13454 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13455
13456 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13457 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13458 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13459 and non-zero for true.
13460
13461 @item <<@r{, }>>
13462 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13463
13464 @item @@
13465 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13466
13467 @item +@r{, }-
13468 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13469 pointer types.
13470
13471 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13472 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13473 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13474 integral types.
13475
13476 @item ++@r{, }--
13477 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13478 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13479 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13480 operation takes place.
13481
13482 @item *
13483 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13484 @code{++}.
13485
13486 @item &
13487 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13488
13489 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13490 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13491 to examine the address
13492 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13493 stored.
13494
13495 @item -
13496 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13497 precedence as @code{++}.
13498
13499 @item !
13500 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13501 @code{++}.
13502
13503 @item ~
13504 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13505 @code{++}.
13506
13507
13508 @item .@r{, }->
13509 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13510 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13511 pointer based on the stored type information.
13512 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13513
13514 @item .*@r{, }->*
13515 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13516
13517 @item []
13518 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13519 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13520
13521 @item ()
13522 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13523
13524 @item ::
13525 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13526 and @code{class} types.
13527
13528 @item ::
13529 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13530 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13531 above.
13532 @end table
13533
13534 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13535 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13536 predefined meaning.
13537
13538 @node C Constants
13539 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13540
13541 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13542
13543 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13544 following ways:
13545
13546 @itemize @bullet
13547 @item
13548 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13549 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13550 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13551 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13552 @code{long} value.
13553
13554 @item
13555 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13556 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13557 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13558 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13559 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13560 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13561 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13562 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13563 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13564 constant.
13565
13566 @item
13567 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13568 integral equivalents.
13569
13570 @item
13571 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13572 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13573 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13574 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13575 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13576 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13577 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13578 @samp{\n} for newline.
13579
13580 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13581 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13582 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13583 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13584
13585 @item
13586 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13587 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13588 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13589 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13590 characters.
13591
13592 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13593 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13594 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13595
13596 @item
13597 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13598 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13599
13600 @item
13601 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13602 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13603 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13604 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13605 @end itemize
13606
13607 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13608 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13609
13610 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13611 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13612
13613 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13614 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13615 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13616 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13617 @quotation
13618 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13619 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13620 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13621 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13622 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13623 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13624 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13625 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13626 @end quotation
13627
13628 @enumerate
13629
13630 @cindex member functions
13631 @item
13632 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13633
13634 @smallexample
13635 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13636 @end smallexample
13637
13638 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13639 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13640 @item
13641 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13642 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13643 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13644 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13645 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13646
13647 @cindex call overloaded functions
13648 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13649 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13650 @item
13651 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13652 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13653 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13654 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13655 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13656 default arguments.
13657
13658 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13659 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13660 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13661 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13662 number of function arguments.
13663
13664 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13665 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13666 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13667
13668 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13669 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13670 @smallexample
13671 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13672 @end smallexample
13673
13674 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13675 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13676
13677 @cindex reference declarations
13678 @item
13679 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13680 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13681 dereferenced.
13682
13683 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13684 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13685 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13686 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13687 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13688
13689 @item
13690 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13691 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13692 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13693 necessary, for example in an expression like
13694 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13695 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13696 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13697
13698 @item
13699 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13700 specification.
13701 @end enumerate
13702
13703 @node C Defaults
13704 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13705
13706 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13707
13708 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13709 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13710 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13711 selects the working language.
13712
13713 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13714 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13715 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13716 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13717 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13718 for further details.
13719
13720 @node C Checks
13721 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13722
13723 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13724
13725 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13726 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13727 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13728 constants to pointers.
13729
13730 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13731 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13732 that is not itself an array.
13733
13734 @node Debugging C
13735 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13736
13737 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13738 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13739 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13740 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13741
13742 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13743 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13744 ,Expressions}.
13745
13746 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13747 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13748
13749 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13750
13751 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13752 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13753
13754 @table @code
13755 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13756 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13757 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13758 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13759 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13760 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13761
13762 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13763 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13764 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13765 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13766 classes.
13767 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13768
13769 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13770 @item catch throw
13771 @itemx catch rethrow
13772 @itemx catch catch
13773 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13774 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13775
13776 @cindex inheritance
13777 @item ptype @var{typename}
13778 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13779 @var{typename}.
13780 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13781
13782 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13783 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13784 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13785 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13786 multiple inheritance is in use.
13787
13788 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13789 @item set print demangle
13790 @itemx show print demangle
13791 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13792 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13793 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13794 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13795 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13796
13797 @item set print object
13798 @itemx show print object
13799 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13800 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13801
13802 @item set print vtbl
13803 @itemx show print vtbl
13804 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13805 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13806 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13807 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13808
13809 @kindex set overload-resolution
13810 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13811 @item set overload-resolution on
13812 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13813 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13814 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13815 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13816 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13817 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13818
13819 @item set overload-resolution off
13820 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13821 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13822 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13823 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13824 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13825 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13826 argument types.
13827
13828 @kindex show overload-resolution
13829 @item show overload-resolution
13830 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13831
13832 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13833 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13834 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13835 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13836 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13837 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13838 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13839 @end table
13840
13841 @node Decimal Floating Point
13842 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13843 @cindex decimal floating point format
13844
13845 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13846 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13847 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13848 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13849
13850 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13851 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13852 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13853 target.
13854
13855 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13856 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13857 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13858
13859 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13860 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13861 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13862
13863 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13864 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13865 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13866
13867 @node D
13868 @subsection D
13869
13870 @cindex D
13871 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13872 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13873 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13874
13875 @node Go
13876 @subsection Go
13877
13878 @cindex Go (programming language)
13879 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13880 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13881
13882 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13883
13884 @table @code
13885 @cindex current Go package
13886 @item The current Go package
13887 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13888 specifying global variables and functions.
13889
13890 For example, given the program:
13891
13892 @example
13893 package main
13894 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13895 func main () @{
13896 // ...
13897 @}
13898 @end example
13899
13900 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13901
13902 @example
13903 (gdb) p myglob
13904 (gdb) p main.myglob
13905 @end example
13906
13907 @cindex builtin Go types
13908 @item Builtin Go types
13909 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13910 as a string.
13911
13912 @cindex builtin Go functions
13913 @item Builtin Go functions
13914 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13915 function and handles it internally.
13916
13917 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13918 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13919 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13920 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13921 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13922 @end table
13923
13924 @node Objective-C
13925 @subsection Objective-C
13926
13927 @cindex Objective-C
13928 This section provides information about some commands and command
13929 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13930 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13931 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13932
13933 @menu
13934 * Method Names in Commands::
13935 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13936 @end menu
13937
13938 @node Method Names in Commands
13939 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13940
13941 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13942 names as line specifications:
13943
13944 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13945 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13946 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13947 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13948 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13949 @itemize
13950 @item @code{clear}
13951 @item @code{break}
13952 @item @code{info line}
13953 @item @code{jump}
13954 @item @code{list}
13955 @end itemize
13956
13957 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13958
13959 @smallexample
13960 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13961 @end smallexample
13962
13963 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13964 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13965 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13966 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13967 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13968 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13969 debugged, enter:
13970
13971 @smallexample
13972 break -[Fruit create]
13973 @end smallexample
13974
13975 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13976 enter:
13977
13978 @smallexample
13979 list +[NSText initialize]
13980 @end smallexample
13981
13982 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13983 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13984 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13985 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13986
13987 @smallexample
13988 break create
13989 @end smallexample
13990
13991 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13992 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13993 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13994 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13995 none apply.
13996
13997 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13998 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13999
14000 @smallexample
14001 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14002 @end smallexample
14003
14004 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14005 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14006 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14007 @kindex print-object
14008 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14009
14010 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14011
14012 @smallexample
14013 print -[@var{object} hash]
14014 @end smallexample
14015
14016 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14017 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14018 @noindent
14019 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14020 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14021 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14022 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14023 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14024 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14025
14026 @node OpenCL C
14027 @subsection OpenCL C
14028
14029 @cindex OpenCL C
14030 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14031
14032 @menu
14033 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
14034 * OpenCL C Expressions::
14035 * OpenCL C Operators::
14036 @end menu
14037
14038 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
14039 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14040
14041 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14042 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14043 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14044 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14045 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14046
14047 @node OpenCL C Expressions
14048 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14049
14050 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14051 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14052 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14053 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14054
14055 @node OpenCL C Operators
14056 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14057
14058 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
14059 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14060 vector data types.
14061
14062 @node Fortran
14063 @subsection Fortran
14064 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14065
14066 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14067 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14068
14069 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14070 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14071 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14072 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14073 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14074 underscore.
14075
14076 @menu
14077 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14078 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14079 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14080 @end menu
14081
14082 @node Fortran Operators
14083 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14084
14085 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14086
14087 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14088 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14089 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14090
14091 @table @code
14092 @item **
14093 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14094 of the second one.
14095
14096 @item :
14097 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14098 represent a section of array.
14099
14100 @item %
14101 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14102 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14103 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14104 union type.
14105 @end table
14106
14107 @node Fortran Defaults
14108 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14109
14110 @cindex Fortran Defaults
14111
14112 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14113 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14114 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14115 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14116
14117 @node Special Fortran Commands
14118 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14119
14120 @cindex Special Fortran commands
14121
14122 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14123 such as displaying common blocks.
14124
14125 @table @code
14126 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14127 @kindex info common
14128 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14129 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14130 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14131 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14132 printed.
14133 @end table
14134
14135 @node Pascal
14136 @subsection Pascal
14137
14138 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14139 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14140 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14141 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14142 syntax.
14143
14144 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14145 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14146 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14147
14148 @node Modula-2
14149 @subsection Modula-2
14150
14151 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14152
14153 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14154 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14155 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14156 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14157 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14158 table.
14159
14160 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
14161 @menu
14162 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14163 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14164 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14165 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14166 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14167 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14168 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14169 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14170 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14171 @end menu
14172
14173 @node M2 Operators
14174 @subsubsection Operators
14175 @cindex Modula-2 operators
14176
14177 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14178 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14179 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14180 following definitions hold:
14181
14182 @itemize @bullet
14183
14184 @item
14185 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14186 their subranges.
14187
14188 @item
14189 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14190
14191 @item
14192 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14193
14194 @item
14195 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14196 @var{type}}.
14197
14198 @item
14199 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14200
14201 @item
14202 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14203
14204 @item
14205 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14206 @end itemize
14207
14208 @noindent
14209 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14210 increasing precedence:
14211
14212 @table @code
14213 @item ,
14214 Function argument or array index separator.
14215
14216 @item :=
14217 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14218 @var{value}.
14219
14220 @item <@r{, }>
14221 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14222 types.
14223
14224 @item <=@r{, }>=
14225 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14226 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14227 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14228
14229 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14230 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14231 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14232 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14233 comment character.
14234
14235 @item IN
14236 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14237 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14238
14239 @item OR
14240 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14241
14242 @item AND@r{, }&
14243 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14244
14245 @item @@
14246 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14247
14248 @item +@r{, }-
14249 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14250 and difference on set types.
14251
14252 @item *
14253 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14254 on set types.
14255
14256 @item /
14257 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14258 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14259
14260 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
14261 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14262 precedence as @code{*}.
14263
14264 @item -
14265 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14266
14267 @item ^
14268 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14269
14270 @item NOT
14271 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14272 @code{^}.
14273
14274 @item .
14275 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14276 precedence as @code{^}.
14277
14278 @item []
14279 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14280
14281 @item ()
14282 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14283 as @code{^}.
14284
14285 @item ::@r{, }.
14286 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14287 @end table
14288
14289 @quotation
14290 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14291 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14292 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14293 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14294 @end quotation
14295
14296
14297 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14298 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14299 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14300
14301 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14302 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14303
14304 @table @var
14305
14306 @item a
14307 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14308
14309 @item c
14310 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14311
14312 @item i
14313 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14314
14315 @item m
14316 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14317 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14318 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14319
14320 @item n
14321 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14322
14323 @item r
14324 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14325
14326 @item t
14327 represents a type.
14328
14329 @item v
14330 represents a variable.
14331
14332 @item x
14333 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14334 explanation of the function for details.
14335 @end table
14336
14337 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14338
14339 @table @code
14340 @item ABS(@var{n})
14341 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14342
14343 @item CAP(@var{c})
14344 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14345 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14346
14347 @item CHR(@var{i})
14348 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14349
14350 @item DEC(@var{v})
14351 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14352
14353 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14354 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14355 new value.
14356
14357 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14358 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14359 set.
14360
14361 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14362 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14363
14364 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14365 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14366
14367 @item INC(@var{v})
14368 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14369
14370 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14371 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14372 new value.
14373
14374 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14375 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14376 there. Returns the new set.
14377
14378 @item MAX(@var{t})
14379 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14380
14381 @item MIN(@var{t})
14382 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14383
14384 @item ODD(@var{i})
14385 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14386
14387 @item ORD(@var{x})
14388 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14389 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14390 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14391 integral, character and enumerated types.
14392
14393 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14394 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14395
14396 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14397 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14398
14399 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14400 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14401
14402 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14403 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14404 @end table
14405
14406 @quotation
14407 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14408 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14409 an error.
14410 @end quotation
14411
14412 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14413 @node M2 Constants
14414 @subsubsection Constants
14415
14416 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14417 ways:
14418
14419 @itemize @bullet
14420
14421 @item
14422 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14423 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14424 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14425 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14426
14427 @item
14428 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14429 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14430 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14431 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14432 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14433 digits.
14434
14435 @item
14436 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14437 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14438 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14439 followed by a @samp{C}.
14440
14441 @item
14442 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14443 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14444 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14445 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14446 sequences.
14447
14448 @item
14449 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14450
14451 @item
14452 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14453 @code{FALSE}.
14454
14455 @item
14456 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14457
14458 @item
14459 Set constants are not yet supported.
14460 @end itemize
14461
14462 @node M2 Types
14463 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14464 @cindex Modula-2 types
14465
14466 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14467 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14468 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14469 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14470 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14471 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14472
14473 The first example contains the following section of code:
14474
14475 @smallexample
14476 VAR
14477 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14478 r: [20..40] ;
14479 @end smallexample
14480
14481 @noindent
14482 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14483 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14484
14485 @smallexample
14486 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14487 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14488 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14489 SET OF CHAR
14490 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14491 21
14492 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14493 [20..40]
14494 @end smallexample
14495
14496 @noindent
14497 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14498
14499 @smallexample
14500 VAR
14501 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14502 @end smallexample
14503
14504 @noindent
14505 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14506
14507 @smallexample
14508 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14509 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14510 @end smallexample
14511
14512 @noindent
14513 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14514 expressions using the debugger.
14515
14516 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14517 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14518
14519 @smallexample
14520 VAR
14521 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14522 @end smallexample
14523
14524 @smallexample
14525 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14526 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14527 @end smallexample
14528
14529 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14530 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14531 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14532 above.
14533
14534 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14535
14536 @smallexample
14537 TYPE
14538 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14539 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14540 VAR
14541 s: t ;
14542 BEGIN
14543 s := blue ;
14544 @end smallexample
14545
14546 @noindent
14547 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14548 and value of a variable.
14549
14550 @smallexample
14551 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14552 $1 = blue
14553 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14554 type = [blue..yellow]
14555 @end smallexample
14556
14557 @noindent
14558 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14559 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14560 their @code{C} counterparts.
14561
14562 @smallexample
14563 VAR
14564 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14565 BEGIN
14566 s[1] := 1 ;
14567 @end smallexample
14568
14569 @smallexample
14570 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14571 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14572 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14573 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14574 @end smallexample
14575
14576 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14577 pointer types as shown in this example:
14578
14579 @smallexample
14580 VAR
14581 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14582 BEGIN
14583 NEW(s) ;
14584 s^[1] := 1 ;
14585 @end smallexample
14586
14587 @noindent
14588 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14589
14590 @smallexample
14591 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14592 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14593 @end smallexample
14594
14595 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14596 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14597 types:
14598
14599 @smallexample
14600 TYPE
14601 foo = RECORD
14602 f1: CARDINAL ;
14603 f2: CHAR ;
14604 f3: myarray ;
14605 END ;
14606
14607 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14608 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14609 VAR
14610 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14611 @end smallexample
14612
14613 @noindent
14614 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14615 below.
14616
14617 @smallexample
14618 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14619 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14620 f1 : CARDINAL;
14621 f2 : CHAR;
14622 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14623 END
14624 @end smallexample
14625
14626 @node M2 Defaults
14627 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14628 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14629
14630 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14631 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14632 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14633 selected the working language.
14634
14635 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14636 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14637 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14638 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14639
14640 @node Deviations
14641 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14642 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14643
14644 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14645 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14646
14647 @itemize @bullet
14648 @item
14649 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14650 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14651 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14652 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14653 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14654 returned a pointer.)
14655
14656 @item
14657 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14658 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14659 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14660 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14661
14662 @item
14663 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14664 argument.
14665
14666 @item
14667 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14668 @end itemize
14669
14670 @node M2 Checks
14671 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14672 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14673
14674 @quotation
14675 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14676 range checking.
14677 @end quotation
14678 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14679
14680 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14681
14682 @itemize @bullet
14683 @item
14684 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14685 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14686
14687 @item
14688 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14689 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14690 @end itemize
14691
14692 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14693 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14694
14695 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14696 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14697
14698 @node M2 Scope
14699 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14700 @cindex scope
14701 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14702 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14703 @ifinfo
14704 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14705 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14706 @end ifinfo
14707 @ifnotinfo
14708 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14709 @end ifnotinfo
14710
14711 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14712 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14713 similar syntax:
14714
14715 @smallexample
14716
14717 @var{module} . @var{id}
14718 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14719 @end smallexample
14720
14721 @noindent
14722 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14723 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14724 identifier within your program, except another module.
14725
14726 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14727 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14728 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14729 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14730
14731 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14732 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14733 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14734 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14735 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14736 @var{module}.
14737
14738 @node GDB/M2
14739 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14740
14741 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14742 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14743 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14744 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14745 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14746 analogue in Modula-2.
14747
14748 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14749 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14750 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14751 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14752 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14753 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14754
14755 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14756 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14757 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14758
14759 @node Ada
14760 @subsection Ada
14761 @cindex Ada
14762
14763 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14764 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14765 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14766 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14767 to be difficult.
14768
14769
14770 @cindex expressions in Ada
14771 @menu
14772 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14773 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14774 in @value{GDBN}.
14775 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14776 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14777 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14778 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14779 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14780 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14781 Profile
14782 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14783 @end menu
14784
14785 @node Ada Mode Intro
14786 @subsubsection Introduction
14787 @cindex Ada mode, general
14788
14789 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14790 syntax, with some extensions.
14791 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14792
14793 @itemize @bullet
14794 @item
14795 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14796 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14797 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14798 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14799
14800 @item
14801 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14802 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14803
14804 @item
14805 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14806 @end itemize
14807
14808 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14809 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14810 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14811 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14812 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14813
14814 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14815 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14816 was translated from an Ada source file.
14817
14818 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14819 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14820 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14821 middle (to allow based literals).
14822
14823 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14824 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14825 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14826 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14827 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14828 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14829
14830 @node Omissions from Ada
14831 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14832 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14833
14834 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14835
14836 @itemize @bullet
14837 @item
14838 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14839
14840 @itemize @minus
14841 @item
14842 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14843 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14844
14845 @item
14846 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14847
14848 @item
14849 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14850
14851 @item
14852 @t{'Tag}.
14853
14854 @item
14855 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14856 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14857
14858 @item
14859 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14860 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14861
14862 @item
14863 @t{'Address}.
14864 @end itemize
14865
14866 @item
14867 The names in
14868 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14869 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14870 not currently available.
14871
14872 @item
14873 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14874 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14875 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14876 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14877 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14878 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14879 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14880 indeterminate values.
14881
14882 @item
14883 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14884 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14885 are not implemented.
14886
14887 @item
14888 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14889 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14890 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14891 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14892 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14893
14894 @smallexample
14895 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14896 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14897 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14898 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14899 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14900 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14901 @end smallexample
14902
14903 Changing a
14904 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14905 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14906 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14907 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14908 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14909 declared to have a type such as:
14910
14911 @smallexample
14912 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14913 Id : Integer;
14914 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14915 end record;
14916 @end smallexample
14917
14918 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14919 assignments:
14920
14921 @smallexample
14922 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14923 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14924 @end smallexample
14925
14926 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14927 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14928 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14929 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14930 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14931 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14932 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14933 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14934
14935 @item
14936 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14937
14938 @item
14939 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14940 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14941 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14942 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14943 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14944 the proper resolution.
14945
14946 @item
14947 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14948
14949 @item
14950 Entry calls are not implemented.
14951
14952 @item
14953 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14954 formats are not supported.
14955
14956 @item
14957 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14958
14959 @item
14960 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14961 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14962 context.
14963 Should your program
14964 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14965 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14966 @end itemize
14967
14968 @node Additions to Ada
14969 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14970 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14971
14972 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14973 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14974
14975 @itemize @bullet
14976 @item
14977 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14978 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14979 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14980 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14981 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14982 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14983 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14984 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14985
14986 @item
14987 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14988 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14989 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14990
14991 @item
14992 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14993 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14994
14995 @item
14996 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14997 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14998 @end itemize
14999
15000 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15001 additions specific to Ada:
15002
15003 @itemize @bullet
15004 @item
15005 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15006 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15007
15008 @smallexample
15009 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15010 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15011 @end smallexample
15012
15013 @item
15014 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15015 the value of its right-hand operand.
15016 This allows, for example,
15017 complex conditional breaks:
15018
15019 @smallexample
15020 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15021 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15022 @end smallexample
15023
15024 @item
15025 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15026 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15027 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15028 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15029 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15030 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15031 in strings. For example,
15032 @smallexample
15033 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15034 @end smallexample
15035 @noindent
15036 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15037 after each period.
15038
15039 @item
15040 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15041 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15042 to write
15043
15044 @smallexample
15045 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15046 @end smallexample
15047
15048 @item
15049 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15050 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15051 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15052 of 3 might print as
15053
15054 @smallexample
15055 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
15056 @end smallexample
15057
15058 @noindent
15059 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15060 clause.
15061
15062 @item
15063 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15064 multi-character subsequence of
15065 their names (an exact match gets preference).
15066 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15067 in place of @t{a'length}.
15068
15069 @item
15070 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15071 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15072 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15073 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15074 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15075 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15076 For example,
15077 @smallexample
15078 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15079 @end smallexample
15080
15081 @item
15082 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15083 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15084 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15085 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15086 object.
15087
15088 @end itemize
15089
15090 @node Stopping Before Main Program
15091 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15092
15093 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15094 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15095 before reaching the main procedure.
15096 As defined in the Ada Reference
15097 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15098 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15099 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15100 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15101
15102 @node Ada Tasks
15103 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15104 @cindex Ada, tasking
15105
15106 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15107 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15108
15109 @table @code
15110 @kindex info tasks
15111 @item info tasks
15112 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15113
15114
15115 @smallexample
15116 @iftex
15117 @leftskip=0.5cm
15118 @end iftex
15119 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15120 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15121 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15122 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15123 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15124 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15125
15126 @end smallexample
15127
15128 @noindent
15129 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15130 task currently being inspected.
15131
15132 @table @asis
15133 @item ID
15134 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15135
15136 @item TID
15137 The Ada task ID.
15138
15139 @item P-ID
15140 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15141
15142 @item Pri
15143 The base priority of the task.
15144
15145 @item State
15146 Current state of the task.
15147
15148 @table @code
15149 @item Unactivated
15150 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15151 executing.
15152
15153 @item Runnable
15154 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15155 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15156
15157 @item Terminated
15158 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15159 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15160 terminated themselves.
15161
15162 @item Child Activation Wait
15163 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15164
15165 @item Accept Statement
15166 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15167
15168 @item Waiting on entry call
15169 The task is waiting on an entry call.
15170
15171 @item Async Select Wait
15172 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15173 select statement.
15174
15175 @item Delay Sleep
15176 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15177 alternative open.
15178
15179 @item Child Termination Wait
15180 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15181 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15182 waiting on a terminate Phase.
15183
15184 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
15185 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15186 finish terminating.
15187
15188 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15189 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15190 @end table
15191
15192 @item Name
15193 Name of the task in the program.
15194
15195 @end table
15196
15197 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
15198 @item info task @var{taskno}
15199 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15200 the following example:
15201 @smallexample
15202 @iftex
15203 @leftskip=0.5cm
15204 @end iftex
15205 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15206 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15207 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15208 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15209 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15210 Ada Task: 0x807c468
15211 Name: task_1
15212 Thread: 0x807f378
15213 Parent: 1 (main_task)
15214 Base Priority: 15
15215 State: Runnable
15216 @end smallexample
15217
15218 @item task
15219 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15220 @cindex current Ada task ID
15221 This command prints the ID of the current task.
15222
15223 @smallexample
15224 @iftex
15225 @leftskip=0.5cm
15226 @end iftex
15227 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15228 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15229 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15230 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15231 (@value{GDBP}) task
15232 [Current task is 2]
15233 @end smallexample
15234
15235 @item task @var{taskno}
15236 @cindex Ada task switching
15237 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15238 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15239 from the current task to the given task.
15240
15241 @smallexample
15242 @iftex
15243 @leftskip=0.5cm
15244 @end iftex
15245 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15246 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15247 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15248 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15249 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15250 [Switching to task 1]
15251 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15252 (@value{GDBP}) bt
15253 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15254 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15255 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15256 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15257 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15258 @end smallexample
15259
15260 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15261 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15262 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15263 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15264 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15265 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15266 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15267 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15268 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15269
15270 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15271 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15272 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15273 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15274 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15275
15276 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15277 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15278 program.
15279
15280 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15281 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15282 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15283
15284 For example,
15285
15286 @smallexample
15287 @iftex
15288 @leftskip=0.5cm
15289 @end iftex
15290 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15291 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15292 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15293 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15294 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15295 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15296 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15297 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15298 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15299 Continuing.
15300 task # 1 running
15301 task # 2 running
15302
15303 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15304 15 flush;
15305 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15306 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15307 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15308 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15309 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15310 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15311 @end smallexample
15312 @end table
15313
15314 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15315 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15316 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15317
15318 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15319 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15320 the platform being used.
15321 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15322 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15323 as usual.
15324
15325 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15326 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15327 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15328 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15329 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15330 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15331
15332 @node Ravenscar Profile
15333 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15334 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15335
15336 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15337 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15338 requirements.
15339
15340 @table @code
15341 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15342 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15343 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15344 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15345 Profile. This is the default.
15346
15347 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15348 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15349 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15350 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15351 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15352 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15353 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15354
15355 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15356 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15357 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15358 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15359
15360 @end table
15361
15362 @node Ada Glitches
15363 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15364 @cindex Ada, problems
15365
15366 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15367 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15368 @value{GDBN},
15369 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15370 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15371
15372 @itemize @bullet
15373 @item
15374 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15375 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15376
15377 @item
15378 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15379 argument lists are treated as positional).
15380
15381 @item
15382 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15383
15384 @item
15385 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15386 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15387 the host machine.
15388
15389 @item
15390 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15391 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15392 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15393 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15394 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15395 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15396 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15397 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15398 you can usually resolve the confusion
15399 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15400 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15401 @end itemize
15402
15403 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15404 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15405 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15406 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15407 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15408 enabled.
15409
15410 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15411 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15412 @table @code
15413
15414 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15415 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15416 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15417 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15418 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15419 This is the default.
15420
15421 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15422 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15423 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15424 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15425 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15426 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15427 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15428
15429 @end table
15430
15431 @node Unsupported Languages
15432 @section Unsupported Languages
15433
15434 @cindex unsupported languages
15435 @cindex minimal language
15436 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15437 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15438 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15439 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15440 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15441 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15442
15443 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15444 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15445 language.
15446
15447 @node Symbols
15448 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15449
15450 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15451 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15452 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15453 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15454 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15455 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15456 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15457
15458 @cindex symbol names
15459 @cindex names of symbols
15460 @cindex quoting names
15461 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15462 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15463 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15464 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15465 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15466 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15467 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15468 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15469
15470 @smallexample
15471 p 'foo.c'::x
15472 @end smallexample
15473
15474 @noindent
15475 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15476
15477 @table @code
15478 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15479 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15480 @kindex set case-sensitive
15481 @item set case-sensitive on
15482 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15483 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15484 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15485 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15486 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15487 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15488 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15489 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15490 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15491 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15492 case-insensitive matches.
15493
15494 @kindex show case-sensitive
15495 @item show case-sensitive
15496 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15497 lookups.
15498
15499 @kindex set print type methods
15500 @item set print type methods
15501 @itemx set print type methods on
15502 @itemx set print type methods off
15503 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15504 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15505 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15506 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15507 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15508 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15509
15510 @kindex show print type methods
15511 @item show print type methods
15512 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15513 classes.
15514
15515 @kindex set print type typedefs
15516 @item set print type typedefs
15517 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15518 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15519
15520 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15521 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15522 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15523 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15524 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15525 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15526 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15527 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15528 types.
15529
15530 @kindex show print type typedefs
15531 @item show print type typedefs
15532 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15533 printing classes.
15534
15535 @kindex info address
15536 @cindex address of a symbol
15537 @item info address @var{symbol}
15538 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15539 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15540 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15541 is always stored.
15542
15543 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15544 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15545 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15546
15547 @kindex info symbol
15548 @cindex symbol from address
15549 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15550 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15551 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15552 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15553 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15554
15555 @smallexample
15556 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15557 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15558 @end smallexample
15559
15560 @noindent
15561 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15562 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15563
15564 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15565 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15566
15567 @smallexample
15568 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15569 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15570 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15571 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15572 @end smallexample
15573
15574 @kindex whatis
15575 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15576 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15577 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15578 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15579
15580 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15581 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15582 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15583
15584 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15585 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15586 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15587 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15588 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15589 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15590 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15591 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15592 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15593
15594 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15595 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15596 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15597 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15598 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15599 unroll it.
15600
15601 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15602 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15603 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15604
15605 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15606 Available flags are:
15607
15608 @table @code
15609 @item r
15610 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15611 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15612 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15613
15614 @item m
15615 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15616
15617 @item M
15618 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15619 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15620
15621 @item t
15622 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15623 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15624 names are substituted when printing other types.
15625
15626 @item T
15627 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15628 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15629 @end table
15630
15631 @kindex ptype
15632 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15633 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15634 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15635 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15636
15637 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15638 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15639 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15640 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15641 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15642 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15643 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15644 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15645
15646 For example, for this variable declaration:
15647
15648 @smallexample
15649 typedef double real_t;
15650 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15651 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15652 complex_t var;
15653 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15654 @end smallexample
15655
15656 @noindent
15657 the two commands give this output:
15658
15659 @smallexample
15660 @group
15661 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15662 type = complex_t
15663 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15664 type = struct complex @{
15665 real_t real;
15666 double imag;
15667 @}
15668 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15669 type = struct complex
15670 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15671 type = struct complex
15672 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15673 type = struct complex @{
15674 real_t real;
15675 double imag;
15676 @}
15677 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15678 type = real_t *
15679 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15680 type = double *
15681 @end group
15682 @end smallexample
15683
15684 @noindent
15685 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15686 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15687
15688 @cindex incomplete type
15689 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15690 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15691 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15692 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15693 given these declarations:
15694
15695 @smallexample
15696 struct foo;
15697 struct foo *fooptr;
15698 @end smallexample
15699
15700 @noindent
15701 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15702
15703 @smallexample
15704 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15705 $1 = <incomplete type>
15706 @end smallexample
15707
15708 @noindent
15709 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15710 completely specified.
15711
15712 @kindex info types
15713 @item info types @var{regexp}
15714 @itemx info types
15715 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15716 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15717 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15718 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15719 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15720 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15721 name is @code{value}.
15722
15723 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15724 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15725 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15726
15727 @kindex info type-printers
15728 @item info type-printers
15729 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15730 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15731 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15732 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15733 type printers.
15734
15735 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15736
15737 @kindex enable type-printer
15738 @kindex disable type-printer
15739 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15740 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15741 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15742
15743 @kindex info scope
15744 @cindex local variables
15745 @item info scope @var{location}
15746 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15747 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15748 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15749 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15750 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15751
15752 @smallexample
15753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15754 Scope for command_line_handler:
15755 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15756 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15757 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15758 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15759 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15760 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15761 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15762 @end smallexample
15763
15764 @noindent
15765 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15766 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15767 collect}.
15768
15769 @kindex info source
15770 @item info source
15771 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15772 the function containing the current point of execution:
15773 @itemize @bullet
15774 @item
15775 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15776 @item
15777 the directory it was compiled in,
15778 @item
15779 its length, in lines,
15780 @item
15781 which programming language it is written in,
15782 @item
15783 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15784 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15785 @item
15786 whether the debugging information includes information about
15787 preprocessor macros.
15788 @end itemize
15789
15790
15791 @kindex info sources
15792 @item info sources
15793 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15794 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15795 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15796
15797 @kindex info functions
15798 @item info functions
15799 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15800
15801 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15802 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15803 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15804 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15805 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15806 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15807 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15808 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15809
15810 @kindex info variables
15811 @item info variables
15812 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15813 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15814
15815 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15816 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15817 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15818 @var{regexp}.
15819
15820 @kindex info classes
15821 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15822 @item info classes
15823 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15824 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15825 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15826 expression.
15827
15828 @kindex info selectors
15829 @item info selectors
15830 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15831 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15832 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15833 expression.
15834
15835 @ignore
15836 This was never implemented.
15837 @kindex info methods
15838 @item info methods
15839 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15840 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15841 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15842 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15843 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15844 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15845 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15846 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15847 @end ignore
15848
15849 @cindex opaque data types
15850 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15851 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15852 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15853 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15854 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15855 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15856 another source file. The default is on.
15857
15858 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15859 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15860
15861 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15862 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15863 is printed as follows:
15864 @smallexample
15865 @{<no data fields>@}
15866 @end smallexample
15867
15868 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15869 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15870 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15871
15872 @kindex maint print symbols
15873 @cindex symbol dump
15874 @kindex maint print psymbols
15875 @cindex partial symbol dump
15876 @kindex maint print msymbols
15877 @cindex minimal symbol dump
15878 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15879 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15880 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15881 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15882 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15883 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15884 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15885 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15886 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15887 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15888 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15889 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15890 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15891 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15892 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15893 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15894 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15895
15896 @kindex maint info symtabs
15897 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15898 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15899 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15900 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15901 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15902 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15903 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15904
15905 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15906 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15907 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15908 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15909 structure in more detail. For example:
15910
15911 @smallexample
15912 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15913 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15914 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15915 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15916 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15917 readin no
15918 fullname (null)
15919 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15920 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15921 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15922 dependencies (none)
15923 @}
15924 @}
15925 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15926 (@value{GDBP})
15927 @end smallexample
15928 @noindent
15929 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15930 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15931 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15932 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15933 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15934
15935 @smallexample
15936 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15937 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15938 line 1574.
15939 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15940 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15941 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15942 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15943 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15944 dirname (null)
15945 fullname (null)
15946 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15947 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15948 debugformat DWARF 2
15949 @}
15950 @}
15951 (@value{GDBP})
15952 @end smallexample
15953 @end table
15954
15955
15956 @node Altering
15957 @chapter Altering Execution
15958
15959 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15960 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15961 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15962 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15963 program.
15964
15965 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15966 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15967 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15968
15969 @menu
15970 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15971 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15972 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15973 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15974 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15975 * Patching:: Patching your program
15976 @end menu
15977
15978 @node Assignment
15979 @section Assignment to Variables
15980
15981 @cindex assignment
15982 @cindex setting variables
15983 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15984 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15985
15986 @smallexample
15987 print x=4
15988 @end smallexample
15989
15990 @noindent
15991 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15992 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15993 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15994 information on operators in supported languages.
15995
15996 @kindex set variable
15997 @cindex variables, setting
15998 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15999 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16000 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16001 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16002 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16003
16004 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16005 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16006 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16007 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16008 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16009 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16010 command @code{set width}:
16011
16012 @smallexample
16013 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16014 type = double
16015 (@value{GDBP}) p width
16016 $4 = 13
16017 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16018 Invalid syntax in expression.
16019 @end smallexample
16020
16021 @noindent
16022 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16023 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16024
16025 @smallexample
16026 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16027 @end smallexample
16028
16029 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16030 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16031 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16032 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16033 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16034 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16035
16036 @smallexample
16037 @group
16038 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16039 type = double
16040 (@value{GDBP}) p g
16041 $1 = 1
16042 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16043 (@value{GDBP}) p g
16044 $2 = 1
16045 (@value{GDBP}) r
16046 The program being debugged has been started already.
16047 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16048 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16049 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16050 Invalid bfd target.
16051 (@value{GDBP}) show g
16052 The current BFD target is "=4".
16053 @end group
16054 @end smallexample
16055
16056 @noindent
16057 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16058 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16059 @code{g}, use
16060
16061 @smallexample
16062 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16063 @end smallexample
16064
16065 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16066 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16067 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16068 same length or shorter.
16069 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16070 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16071
16072 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16073 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16074 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16075 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16076 and representation in memory), and
16077
16078 @smallexample
16079 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16080 @end smallexample
16081
16082 @noindent
16083 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16084
16085 @node Jumping
16086 @section Continuing at a Different Address
16087
16088 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16089 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16090 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16091
16092 @table @code
16093 @kindex jump
16094 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16095 @item jump @var{linespec}
16096 @itemx j @var{linespec}
16097 @itemx jump @var{location}
16098 @itemx j @var{location}
16099 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16100 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16101 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16102 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16103 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16104 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16105
16106 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16107 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16108 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16109 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16110 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16111 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16112 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16113 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16114 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16115 @end table
16116
16117 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16118 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16119 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16120 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16121 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16122 example,
16123
16124 @smallexample
16125 set $pc = 0x485
16126 @end smallexample
16127
16128 @noindent
16129 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16130 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16131 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16132
16133 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16134 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16135 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16136 detail.
16137
16138 @c @group
16139 @node Signaling
16140 @section Giving your Program a Signal
16141 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
16142
16143 @table @code
16144 @kindex signal
16145 @item signal @var{signal}
16146 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16147 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16148 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16149 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16150
16151 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16152 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16153 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16154 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16155 signal.
16156
16157 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16158 after executing the command.
16159 @end table
16160 @c @end group
16161
16162 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16163 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16164 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16165 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16166 passes the signal directly to your program.
16167
16168
16169 @node Returning
16170 @section Returning from a Function
16171
16172 @table @code
16173 @cindex returning from a function
16174 @kindex return
16175 @item return
16176 @itemx return @var{expression}
16177 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16178 command. If you give an
16179 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16180 value.
16181 @end table
16182
16183 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16184 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16185 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16186 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16187
16188 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16189 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16190 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16191 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16192 of functions.
16193
16194 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16195 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16196 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16197 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16198 selected stack frame returns naturally.
16199
16200 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16201 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16202 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16203 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16204 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16205 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16206 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16207 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16208 assignment into the right register(s).
16209
16210 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16211 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16212 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16213 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16214 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16215 into a @code{long long int}:
16216
16217 @smallexample
16218 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
16219 29 return 31;
16220 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16221 Make func return now? (y or n) y
16222 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
16223 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16224 (@value{GDBP})
16225 @end smallexample
16226
16227 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16228 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16229 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16230 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16231 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16232 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16233 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16234 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16235
16236 @smallexample
16237 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16238 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16239 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16240 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16241 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16242 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16243 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16244 (@value{GDBP})
16245 @end smallexample
16246
16247 @node Calling
16248 @section Calling Program Functions
16249
16250 @table @code
16251 @cindex calling functions
16252 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16253 @item print @var{expr}
16254 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16255 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16256 debugged.
16257
16258 @kindex call
16259 @item call @var{expr}
16260 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16261 returned values.
16262
16263 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16264 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16265 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16266 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16267 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16268 value history.
16269 @end table
16270
16271 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16272 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16273 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16274 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16275
16276 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16277 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16278 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16279 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16280 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16281 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16282 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16283 in that case is controlled by the
16284 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16285
16286 @table @code
16287 @item set unwindonsignal
16288 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16289 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16290 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16291 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16292 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16293 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16294 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16295 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16296 received.
16297
16298 @item show unwindonsignal
16299 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16300 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16301 @value{GDBN}.
16302
16303 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16304 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16305 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16306 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16307 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16308 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16309 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16310 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16311 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16312 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16313
16314 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16315 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16316 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16317 @value{GDBN}.
16318
16319 @end table
16320
16321 @cindex weak alias functions
16322 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16323 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16324 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16325 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16326 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16327 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16328 function instead.
16329
16330 @node Patching
16331 @section Patching Programs
16332
16333 @cindex patching binaries
16334 @cindex writing into executables
16335 @cindex writing into corefiles
16336
16337 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16338 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16339 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16340 patching your program's binary.
16341
16342 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16343 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16344 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16345 repairs.
16346
16347 @table @code
16348 @kindex set write
16349 @item set write on
16350 @itemx set write off
16351 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16352 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16353 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16354
16355 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16356 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16357 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16358
16359 @item show write
16360 @kindex show write
16361 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16362 as well as reading.
16363 @end table
16364
16365 @node GDB Files
16366 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16367
16368 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16369 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16370 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16371 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16372
16373 @menu
16374 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16375 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16376 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16377 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16378 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16379 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16380 @end menu
16381
16382 @node Files
16383 @section Commands to Specify Files
16384
16385 @cindex symbol table
16386 @cindex core dump file
16387
16388 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16389 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16390 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16391 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16392
16393 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16394 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16395 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16396 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16397 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16398 new files are useful.
16399
16400 @table @code
16401 @cindex executable file
16402 @kindex file
16403 @item file @var{filename}
16404 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16405 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16406 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16407 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16408 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16409 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16410 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16411 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16412
16413 @cindex unlinked object files
16414 @cindex patching object files
16415 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16416 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16417 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16418 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16419 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16420 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16421 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16422 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16423
16424 @item file
16425 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16426 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16427
16428 @kindex exec-file
16429 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16430 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16431 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16432 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16433 discard information on the executable file.
16434
16435 @kindex symbol-file
16436 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16437 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16438 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16439 table and program to run from the same file.
16440
16441 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16442 program's symbol table.
16443
16444 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16445 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16446 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16447 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16448 @value{GDBN}.
16449
16450 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16451 executing it once.
16452
16453 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16454 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16455 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16456 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16457 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16458 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16459 optimized code.
16460
16461 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16462 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16463 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16464 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16465 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16466
16467 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16468 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16469 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16470 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16471 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16472 Warnings and Messages}.)
16473
16474 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16475 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16476 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16477 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16478 in stabs format.
16479
16480 @kindex readnow
16481 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16482 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16483 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16484 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16485 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16486 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16487 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16488 entire symbol table available.
16489
16490 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16491 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16492 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16493 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16494 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16495 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16496 @c files.
16497
16498 @kindex core-file
16499 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16500 @itemx core
16501 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16502 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16503 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16504 executable file itself for other parts.
16505
16506 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16507 to be used.
16508
16509 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16510 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16511 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16512 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16513 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16514
16515 @kindex add-symbol-file
16516 @cindex dynamic linking
16517 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16518 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16519 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16520 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16521 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16522 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16523 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16524 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16525 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16526 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16527 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16528 @var{address} as an expression.
16529
16530 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16531 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16532 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16533 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16534 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16535
16536 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16537 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16538 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16539 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16540 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16541 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16542 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16543 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16544 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16545
16546 @itemize @bullet
16547 @item
16548 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16549 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16550 @item
16551 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16552 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16553 @item
16554 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16555 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16556 @end itemize
16557
16558 @noindent
16559 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16560 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16561 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16562 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16563 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16564 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16565 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16566 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16567 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16568 way.
16569
16570 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16571
16572 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16573 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16574 @cindex load symbols from memory
16575 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16576 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16577 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16578 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16579 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16580 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16581 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16582 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16583 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16584
16585 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16586 @kindex assf
16587 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16588 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16589 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16590 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16591 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16592 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16593 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16594 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16595 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16596 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16597
16598 @kindex section
16599 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16600 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16601 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16602 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16603 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16604 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16605 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16606 their addresses.
16607
16608 @kindex info files
16609 @kindex info target
16610 @item info files
16611 @itemx info target
16612 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16613 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16614 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16615 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16616 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16617 current ones.
16618
16619 @kindex maint info sections
16620 @item maint info sections
16621 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16622 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16623 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16624 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16625 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16626 may be arbitrarily combined):
16627
16628 @table @code
16629 @item ALLOBJ
16630 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16631 @item @var{sections}
16632 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16633 @item @var{section-flags}
16634 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16635 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16636 @table @code
16637 @item ALLOC
16638 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16639 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16640 @item LOAD
16641 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16642 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16643 @item RELOC
16644 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16645 @item READONLY
16646 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16647 @item CODE
16648 Section contains executable code only.
16649 @item DATA
16650 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16651 @item ROM
16652 Section will reside in ROM.
16653 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16654 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16655 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16656 Section is not empty.
16657 @item NEVER_LOAD
16658 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16659 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16660 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16661 COFF shared library information.
16662 @item IS_COMMON
16663 Section contains common symbols.
16664 @end table
16665 @end table
16666 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16667 @cindex read-only sections
16668 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16669 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16670 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16671 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16672 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16673 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16674 enhancement to debugging performance.
16675
16676 The default is off.
16677
16678 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16679 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16680 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16681 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16682
16683 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16684 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16685 @end table
16686
16687 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16688 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16689 name and remembers it that way.
16690
16691 @cindex shared libraries
16692 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16693 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16694 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16695
16696 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16697 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16698
16699 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16700 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16701 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16702 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16703 debugging a core file).
16704
16705 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16706 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16707
16708 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16709 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16710 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16711
16712 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16713 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16714 particularly large or there are many of them.
16715
16716 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16717 commands:
16718
16719 @table @code
16720 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16721 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16722 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16723 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16724 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16725 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16726 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16727 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16728
16729 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16730 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16731 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16732 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16733 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16734 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16735 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16736 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16737 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16738
16739 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16740 @item show auto-solib-add
16741 Display the current autoloading mode.
16742 @end table
16743
16744 @cindex load shared library
16745 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16746 command:
16747
16748 @table @code
16749 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16750 @kindex info share
16751 @item info share @var{regex}
16752 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16753 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16754 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16755 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16756
16757 @kindex sharedlibrary
16758 @kindex share
16759 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16760 @itemx share @var{regex}
16761 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16762 Unix regular expression.
16763 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16764 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16765 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16766 loaded.
16767
16768 @item nosharedlibrary
16769 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16770 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16771 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16772 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16773 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16774 discarded.
16775 @end table
16776
16777 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16778 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16779 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16780 Catchpoints}).
16781
16782 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16783 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16784 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16785 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16786
16787 @table @code
16788 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16789 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16790 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16791 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16792 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16793 shared library.
16794
16795 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16796 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16797 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16798 library events happen.
16799 @end table
16800
16801 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16802 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16803 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16804 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16805 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16806 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16807 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16808 not.
16809
16810 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16811 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16812 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16813 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16814 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16815
16816 @table @code
16817 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16818 @cindex system root, alternate
16819 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16820 @kindex set sysroot
16821 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16822 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16823 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16824 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16825 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16826 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16827 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16828 under @var{path}.
16829
16830 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16831 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16832 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16833 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16834 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16835 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16836 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16837 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16838 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16839
16840 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16841 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16842 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16843 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16844 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16845
16846 @smallexample
16847 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16848 @end smallexample
16849
16850 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16851 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16852 system:
16853
16854 @smallexample
16855 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16856 @end smallexample
16857
16858 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16859 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16860 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16861 colons:
16862
16863 @smallexample
16864 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16865 @end smallexample
16866
16867 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16868 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16869 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16870 @samp{z}):
16871
16872 @smallexample
16873 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16874 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16875 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16876 @end smallexample
16877
16878 @noindent
16879 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16880 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16881 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16882
16883 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16884 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16885
16886 @smallexample
16887 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16888 @end smallexample
16889
16890 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16891 if you don't want or need to.
16892
16893 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16894 sysroot}.
16895
16896 @cindex default system root
16897 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16898 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16899 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16900 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16901 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16902 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16903 location.
16904
16905 @kindex show sysroot
16906 @item show sysroot
16907 Display the current shared library prefix.
16908
16909 @kindex set solib-search-path
16910 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16911 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16912 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16913 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16914 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16915 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16916 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16917 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16918 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16919 of shared library symbols.
16920
16921 @kindex show solib-search-path
16922 @item show solib-search-path
16923 Display the current shared library search path.
16924
16925 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16926 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16927 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16928 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16929 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16930
16931 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16932 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16933 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16934 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16935 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16936 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16937 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16938 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16939 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16940 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16941 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16942 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16943 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16944 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16945 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16946 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16947 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16948 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16949 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16950 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16951 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16952 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16953
16954 @table @code
16955 @item unix
16956 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16957 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16958 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16959 the forward slash.
16960
16961 @item dos-based
16962 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16963 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16964 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16965 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16966 considered directory separators.
16967
16968 @item auto
16969 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16970 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16971 This is the default.
16972 @end table
16973 @end table
16974
16975 @cindex file name canonicalization
16976 @cindex base name differences
16977 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16978 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16979 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16980 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16981 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16982 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16983 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16984 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16985 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16986 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16987 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16988 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16989 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16990 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16991 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16992
16993 @table @code
16994 @item set basenames-may-differ
16995 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16996 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16997
16998 @item show basenames-may-differ
16999 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
17000 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17001 @end table
17002
17003 @node Separate Debug Files
17004 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17005 @cindex separate debugging information files
17006 @cindex debugging information in separate files
17007 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17008 @cindex debugging information directory, global
17009 @cindex global debugging information directories
17010 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17011 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17012
17013 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17014 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17015 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17016 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17017 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17018 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17019 install only when they need to debug a problem.
17020
17021 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17022 file:
17023
17024 @itemize @bullet
17025 @item
17026 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17027 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17028 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17029 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17030 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17031 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17032 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17033 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17034
17035 @item
17036 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17037 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17038 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17039 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17040 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17041 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17042 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17043 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17044 below.
17045 @end itemize
17046
17047 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17048 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17049
17050 @itemize @bullet
17051 @item
17052 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17053 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17054 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17055 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17056 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17057
17058 @item
17059 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17060 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17061 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17062 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17063 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17064 hex characters, not 10.)
17065 @end itemize
17066
17067 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17068 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17069 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17070 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17071 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17072 debug information files, in the indicated order:
17073
17074 @itemize @minus
17075 @item
17076 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17077 @item
17078 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17079 @item
17080 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17081 @item
17082 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17083 @end itemize
17084
17085 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
17086 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17087 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17088 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17089 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
17090
17091 @table @code
17092
17093 @kindex set debug-file-directory
17094 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17095 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17096 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17097 concatenating them by a path separator.
17098
17099 @kindex show debug-file-directory
17100 @item show debug-file-directory
17101 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17102 information files.
17103
17104 @end table
17105
17106 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17107 @cindex debug link sections
17108 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17109 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17110
17111 @itemize
17112 @item
17113 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17114 a zero byte,
17115 @item
17116 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17117 boundary within the section, and
17118 @item
17119 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17120 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17121 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17122 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17123 @end itemize
17124
17125 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17126 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17127 described above.
17128
17129 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17130 @cindex build ID sections
17131 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17132 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17133 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17134 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17135 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17136 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17137 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17138 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17139 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17140
17141 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17142 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17143 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17144 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17145 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17146 in an ordinary executable.
17147
17148 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17149 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17150 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17151 following commands:
17152
17153 @smallexample
17154 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17155 @kbd{strip -g foo}
17156 @end smallexample
17157
17158 @noindent
17159 These commands remove the debugging
17160 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17161 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17162 two files:
17163
17164 @itemize @bullet
17165 @item
17166 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17167 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17168
17169 @smallexample
17170 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17171 @end smallexample
17172
17173 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17174 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17175 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17176 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17177
17178 @item
17179 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17180 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17181 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17182 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17183 @end itemize
17184
17185 @noindent
17186
17187 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
17188 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17189 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17190
17191 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17192 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17193 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17194 @c different ways!
17195 @ifhtml
17196 @display
17197 @html
17198 <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>
17199 + <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
17200 @end html
17201 @end display
17202 @end ifhtml
17203 @ifnothtml
17204 @display
17205 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17206 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17207 @end display
17208 @end ifnothtml
17209
17210 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17211 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17212 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17213 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17214 CRC.
17215
17216 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17217 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17218 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17219 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17220 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17221 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17222
17223 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17224 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17225 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17226 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17227 @code{0xffffffff}.
17228
17229 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17230 @smallexample
17231 unsigned long
17232 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17233 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17234 @{
17235 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17236 @{
17237 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17238 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17239 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17240 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17241 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17242 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17243 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17244 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17245 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17246 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17247 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17248 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17249 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17250 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17251 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17252 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17253 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17254 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17255 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17256 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17257 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17258 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17259 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17260 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17261 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17262 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17263 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17264 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17265 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17266 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17267 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17268 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17269 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17270 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17271 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17272 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17273 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17274 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17275 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17276 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17277 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17278 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17279 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17280 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17281 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17282 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17283 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17284 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17285 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17286 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17287 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17288 0x2d02ef8d
17289 @};
17290 unsigned char *end;
17291
17292 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17293 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17294 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17295 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17296 @}
17297 @end smallexample
17298
17299 @noindent
17300 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17301
17302 @node MiniDebugInfo
17303 @section Debugging information in a special section
17304 @cindex separate debug sections
17305 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17306
17307 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17308 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17309 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17310 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17311
17312 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17313 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17314 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17315 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17316 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17317 debugging information might be included in the section.
17318
17319 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17320 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17321 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17322
17323 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17324 standard utilities:
17325
17326 @smallexample
17327 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17328 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17329 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17330 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17331
17332 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17333 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17334 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17335 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17336 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17337 | sort > funcsyms
17338
17339 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17340 # table.
17341 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17342
17343 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17344 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17345
17346 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17347 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17348 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17349 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17350
17351 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17352 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17353
17354 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17355 # original binary.
17356 xz mini_debuginfo
17357 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17358 @end smallexample
17359
17360 @node Index Files
17361 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17362 @cindex index files
17363 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17364
17365 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17366 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17367 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17368 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17369 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17370 startup.
17371
17372 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17373 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17374 using @command{objcopy}.
17375
17376 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17377
17378 @table @code
17379 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17380 @kindex save gdb-index
17381 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17382 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17383 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17384 @var{directory}.
17385 @end table
17386
17387 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17388 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17389
17390 @smallexample
17391 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17392 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17393 @end smallexample
17394
17395 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17396 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17397 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17398 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17399 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17400 The default is @code{off}.
17401 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17402 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17403
17404 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17405 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17406
17407 @smallexample
17408 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17409 @end smallexample
17410
17411 Instead you must do, for example,
17412
17413 @smallexample
17414 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17415 @end smallexample
17416
17417 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17418 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17419 currently work for programs using Ada.
17420
17421 @node Symbol Errors
17422 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17423
17424 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17425 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17426 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17427 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17428 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17429 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17430 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17431 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17432 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17433 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17434 Messages}).
17435
17436 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17437
17438 @table @code
17439 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17440
17441 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17442 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17443 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17444 in its outer scope blocks.
17445
17446 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17447 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17448 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17449 function.
17450
17451 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17452
17453 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17454 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17455 do so.
17456
17457 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17458 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17459 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17460 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17461 Messages}.)
17462
17463 @item bad block start address patched
17464
17465 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17466 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17467 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17468
17469 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17470 starting on the previous source line.
17471
17472 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17473
17474 @cindex foo
17475 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17476 larger than the size of the string table.
17477
17478 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17479 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17480 with this name.
17481
17482 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17483
17484 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17485 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17486 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17487
17488 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17489 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17490 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17491 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17492 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17493 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17494
17495 @item stub type has NULL name
17496
17497 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17498
17499 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17500 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17501 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17502 it.
17503
17504 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17505
17506 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17507
17508 @end table
17509
17510 @node Data Files
17511 @section GDB Data Files
17512
17513 @cindex prefix for data files
17514 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17515 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17516
17517 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17518 is currently using.
17519
17520 @table @code
17521 @kindex set data-directory
17522 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17523 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17524 to @var{directory}.
17525
17526 @kindex show data-directory
17527 @item show data-directory
17528 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17529 @end table
17530
17531 @cindex default data directory
17532 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17533 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17534 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17535 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17536 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17537 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17538 location.
17539
17540 The data directory may also be specified with the
17541 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17542 @xref{Mode Options}.
17543
17544 @node Targets
17545 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17546
17547 @cindex debugging target
17548 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17549
17550 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17551 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17552 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17553 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17554 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17555 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17556 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17557 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17558
17559 @cindex target architecture
17560 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17561 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17562 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17563 command.
17564
17565 @table @code
17566 @kindex set architecture
17567 @kindex show architecture
17568 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17569 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17570 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17571 supported architectures.
17572
17573 @item show architecture
17574 Show the current target architecture.
17575
17576 @item set processor
17577 @itemx processor
17578 @kindex set processor
17579 @kindex show processor
17580 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17581 and @code{show architecture}.
17582 @end table
17583
17584 @menu
17585 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17586 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17587 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17588 @end menu
17589
17590 @node Active Targets
17591 @section Active Targets
17592
17593 @cindex stacking targets
17594 @cindex active targets
17595 @cindex multiple targets
17596
17597 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17598 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17599 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17600 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17601 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17602 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17603 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17604 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17605 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17606
17607 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17608 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17609 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17610 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17611
17612 @node Target Commands
17613 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17614
17615 @table @code
17616 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17617 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17618 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17619 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17620 protocol of the target machine.
17621
17622 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17623 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17624 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17625
17626 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17627 after executing the command.
17628
17629 @kindex help target
17630 @item help target
17631 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17632 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17633 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17634
17635 @item help target @var{name}
17636 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17637 select it.
17638
17639 @kindex set gnutarget
17640 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17641 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17642 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17643 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17644 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17645 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17646
17647 @quotation
17648 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17649 you must know the actual BFD name.
17650 @end quotation
17651
17652 @noindent
17653 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17654
17655 @kindex show gnutarget
17656 @item show gnutarget
17657 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17658 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17659 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17660 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17661 @end table
17662
17663 @cindex common targets
17664 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17665 configuration):
17666
17667 @table @code
17668 @kindex target
17669 @item target exec @var{program}
17670 @cindex executable file target
17671 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17672 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17673
17674 @item target core @var{filename}
17675 @cindex core dump file target
17676 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17677 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17678
17679 @item target remote @var{medium}
17680 @cindex remote target
17681 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17682 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17683 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17684
17685 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17686 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17687
17688 @smallexample
17689 target remote /dev/ttya
17690 @end smallexample
17691
17692 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17693 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17694 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17695 clobbered by the download.
17696
17697 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17698 @cindex built-in simulator target
17699 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17700 In general,
17701 @smallexample
17702 target sim
17703 load
17704 run
17705 @end smallexample
17706 @noindent
17707 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17708 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17709 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17710 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17711 Processors}.
17712
17713 @end table
17714
17715 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17716 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17717
17718 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17719 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17720 various aspects of this process.
17721
17722 @table @code
17723
17724 @item set hash
17725 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17726 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17727 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17728 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17729 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17730 monitor.
17731
17732 @item show hash
17733 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17734 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17735
17736 @item set debug monitor
17737 @kindex set debug monitor
17738 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17739 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17740 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17741
17742 @item show debug monitor
17743 @kindex show debug monitor
17744 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17745 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17746 @end table
17747
17748 @table @code
17749
17750 @kindex load @var{filename}
17751 @item load @var{filename}
17752 @anchor{load}
17753 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17754 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17755 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17756 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17757 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17758 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17759
17760 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17761 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17762 target is @dots{}}''
17763
17764 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17765 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17766 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17767 specifies a fixed address.
17768 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17769
17770 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17771 load programs into flash memory.
17772
17773 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17774 @end table
17775
17776 @node Byte Order
17777 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17778
17779 @cindex choosing target byte order
17780 @cindex target byte order
17781
17782 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17783 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17784 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17785 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17786 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17787 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17788
17789 @table @code
17790 @kindex set endian
17791 @item set endian big
17792 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17793
17794 @item set endian little
17795 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17796
17797 @item set endian auto
17798 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17799 executable.
17800
17801 @item show endian
17802 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17803
17804 @end table
17805
17806 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17807 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17808 target system.
17809
17810
17811 @node Remote Debugging
17812 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17813 @cindex remote debugging
17814
17815 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17816 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17817 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17818 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17819 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17820
17821 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17822 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17823 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17824 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17825 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17826 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17827
17828 Other remote targets may be available in your
17829 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17830
17831 @menu
17832 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17833 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17834 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17835 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17836 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17837 @end menu
17838
17839 @node Connecting
17840 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17841
17842 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17843 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17844 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17845 program as the first argument.
17846
17847 @cindex @code{target remote}
17848 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17849 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17850 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17851 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17852 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17853 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17854
17855 @table @code
17856
17857 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17858 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17859 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17860 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17861
17862 @smallexample
17863 target remote /dev/ttyb
17864 @end smallexample
17865
17866 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17867 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17868 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17869 @code{target} command.
17870
17871 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17872 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17873 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17874 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17875 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17876 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17877 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17878 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17879 target.
17880
17881 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17882 @code{manyfarms}:
17883
17884 @smallexample
17885 target remote manyfarms:2828
17886 @end smallexample
17887
17888 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17889 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17890 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17891 port 1234 on your local machine:
17892
17893 @smallexample
17894 target remote :1234
17895 @end smallexample
17896 @noindent
17897
17898 Note that the colon is still required here.
17899
17900 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17901 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17902 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17903 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17904
17905 @smallexample
17906 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17907 @end smallexample
17908
17909 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17910 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17911 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17912 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17913
17914 @item target remote | @var{command}
17915 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17916 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17917 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17918 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17919 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17920 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17921 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17922 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17923
17924 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17925 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17926 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17927
17928 @end table
17929
17930 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17931 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17932 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17933 need to use @kbd{run}.
17934
17935 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17936 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17937 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17938 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17939 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17940 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17941 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17942
17943 @smallexample
17944 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17945 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17946 @end smallexample
17947
17948 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17949 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17950 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17951 goes back to waiting.
17952
17953 @table @code
17954 @kindex detach (remote)
17955 @item detach
17956 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17957 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17958 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17959 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17960 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17961
17962 @kindex disconnect
17963 @item disconnect
17964 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17965 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17966 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17967 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17968 another target.
17969
17970 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17971 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17972 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17973 @kindex monitor
17974 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17975 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17976 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17977 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17978 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17979 and implement.
17980 @end table
17981
17982 @node File Transfer
17983 @section Sending files to a remote system
17984 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17985 @cindex file transfer
17986 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17987
17988 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17989 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17990 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17991 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17992 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17993 the only way to upload or download files.
17994
17995 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17996
17997 @table @code
17998 @kindex remote put
17999 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18000 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18001 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18002
18003 @kindex remote get
18004 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18005 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18006 on the host system.
18007
18008 @kindex remote delete
18009 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18010 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18011
18012 @end table
18013
18014 @node Server
18015 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18016
18017 @kindex gdbserver
18018 @cindex remote connection without stubs
18019 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18020 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18021 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18022
18023 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18024 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18025 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18026 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18027 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18028 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18029 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18030 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18031 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18032 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18033 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18034 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18035 choice for debugging.
18036
18037 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18038 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18039 protocol.
18040
18041 @quotation
18042 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18043 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18044 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18045 target system with the same privileges as the user running
18046 @code{gdbserver}.
18047 @end quotation
18048
18049 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18050 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18051 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18052
18053 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18054 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18055 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18056 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18057 system does all the symbol handling.
18058
18059 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18060 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18061 syntax is:
18062
18063 @smallexample
18064 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18065 @end smallexample
18066
18067 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18068 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18069 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18070 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18071 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18072 @file{/dev/com1}:
18073
18074 @smallexample
18075 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18076 @end smallexample
18077
18078 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18079 with it.
18080
18081 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18082
18083 @smallexample
18084 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18085 @end smallexample
18086
18087 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18088 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18089 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18090 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18091 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18092 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18093 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18094 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18095 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18096 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18097 @code{target remote} command.
18098
18099 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18100 with ssh:
18101
18102 @smallexample
18103 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18104 @end smallexample
18105
18106 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18107 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18108 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18109 You could elide it if you want to.
18110
18111 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18112 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18113 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18114 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18115
18116 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18117 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18118 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18119
18120 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18121 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18122
18123 @smallexample
18124 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18125 @end smallexample
18126
18127 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18128 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18129
18130 @pindex pidof
18131 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18132 @code{pidof} utility:
18133
18134 @smallexample
18135 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18136 @end smallexample
18137
18138 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18139 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18140 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18141
18142 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18143 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18144 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18145
18146 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18147 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18148 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18149 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18150
18151 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18152 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18153 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18154 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18155 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18156 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18157 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18158 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18159 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18160
18161 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18162 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18163 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18164 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18165 the program you want to debug.
18166
18167 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18168 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18169 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18170 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18171 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18172 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18173
18174 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18175
18176 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18177
18178 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18179 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18180 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18181 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18182 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18183 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18184 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18185 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18186
18187 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18188 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18189 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18190
18191 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18192 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18193 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18194 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18195 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18196 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18197 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18198 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18199 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18200 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18201 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18202 instance closes its port after the first connection.
18203
18204 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18205
18206 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18207 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18208 status information about the debugging process.
18209 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18210 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18211 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18212 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18213
18214 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18215 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18216 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18217 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18218 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18219
18220 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18221 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18222 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18223 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18224
18225 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18226 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18227 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18228 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18229
18230 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18231 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18232 environment:
18233
18234 @smallexample
18235 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18236 @end smallexample
18237
18238 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18239
18240 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18241
18242 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18243 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18244 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18245 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18246
18247 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18248 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18249 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18250 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18251 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18252 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18253 programs.
18254
18255 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18256 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18257 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18258 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18259 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18260 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18261 already on the target.
18262
18263 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18264 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18265 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18266
18267 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18268 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18269 Here are the available commands.
18270
18271 @table @code
18272 @item monitor help
18273 List the available monitor commands.
18274
18275 @item monitor set debug 0
18276 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18277 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18278
18279 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18280 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18281 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18282 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18283
18284 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18285 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18286 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18287 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18288 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18289 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18290
18291 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18292 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18293
18294 @item monitor exit
18295 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18296 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18297 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18298 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18299 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18300
18301 @end table
18302
18303 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18304 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18305
18306 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18307 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18308
18309 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18310 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18311 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18312 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18313 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18314 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18315 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18316 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18317 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18318 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18319 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18320 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18321
18322 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18323
18324 @table @code
18325 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18326
18327 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18328 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18329 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18330
18331 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18332
18333 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18334 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18335 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18336 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18337 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18338 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18339
18340 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18341
18342 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18343 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18344 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18345 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18346 command for that. For example:
18347
18348 @smallexample
18349 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18350 @end smallexample
18351
18352 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18353 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18354 @end table
18355
18356 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18357 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18358 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18359 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18360 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18361 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18362 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18363 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18364 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18365 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18366
18367 @smallexample
18368 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18369 @end smallexample
18370
18371 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18372
18373 @smallexample
18374 $ gdb myprogram
18375 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18376 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18377 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18378 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18379 @end smallexample
18380
18381 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18382 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18383 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18384 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18385 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18386 tracing.
18387
18388 @node Remote Configuration
18389 @section Remote Configuration
18390
18391 @kindex set remote
18392 @kindex show remote
18393 This section documents the configuration options available when
18394 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18395 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18396 system-call-allowed}.
18397
18398 @table @code
18399 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18400 @cindex address size for remote targets
18401 @cindex bits in remote address
18402 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18403 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18404 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18405 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18406
18407 @item show remoteaddresssize
18408 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18409
18410 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
18411 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18412 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18413 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18414 remote targets.
18415
18416 @item show remotebaud
18417 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18418
18419 @item set remotebreak
18420 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18421 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18422 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18423 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18424 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18425 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18426 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18427 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18428
18429 @item show remotebreak
18430 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18431 interrupt the remote program.
18432
18433 @item set remoteflow on
18434 @itemx set remoteflow off
18435 @kindex set remoteflow
18436 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18437 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18438
18439 @item show remoteflow
18440 @kindex show remoteflow
18441 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18442
18443 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18444 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18445 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18446 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18447 @code{ascii}.
18448
18449 @item show remotelogbase
18450 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18451 protocol.
18452
18453 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18454 @cindex record serial communications on file
18455 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18456 default is not to record at all.
18457
18458 @item show remotelogfile.
18459 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18460 serial communications.
18461
18462 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18463 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18464 @cindex remote timeout
18465 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18466 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18467
18468 @item show remotetimeout
18469 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18470 responses.
18471
18472 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18473 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18474 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18475 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18476 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18477 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18478 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18479 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18480
18481 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18482 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18483 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18484 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18485 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18486 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18487 as unlimited.
18488
18489 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18490 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18491 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18492
18493 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18494 @itemx show remote exec-file
18495 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18496 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18497 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18498 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18499 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18500 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18501
18502 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18503 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18504 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18505 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18506 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18507 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18508 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18509 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18510 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18511 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18512
18513 @item show interrupt-sequence
18514 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18515 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18516 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18517 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18518
18519 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18520 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18521 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18522 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18523 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18524 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18525
18526 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18527 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18528 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18529
18530 @kindex set tcp
18531 @kindex show tcp
18532 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18533 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18534 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18535 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18536 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18537 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18538 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18539 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18540 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18541
18542 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18543 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18544
18545 @item show tcp auto-retry
18546 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18547
18548 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18549 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18550 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18551 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18552 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18553 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18554 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18555 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18556 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18557 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18558 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18559
18560 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18561 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18562 @end table
18563
18564 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18565 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18566 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18567 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18568 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18569 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18570 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18571 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18572 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18573
18574 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18575 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18576 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18577 @value{GDBN} developers.
18578
18579 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18580 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18581 are:
18582
18583 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18584 @item Command Name
18585 @tab Remote Packet
18586 @tab Related Features
18587
18588 @item @code{fetch-register}
18589 @tab @code{p}
18590 @tab @code{info registers}
18591
18592 @item @code{set-register}
18593 @tab @code{P}
18594 @tab @code{set}
18595
18596 @item @code{binary-download}
18597 @tab @code{X}
18598 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18599
18600 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18601 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18602 @tab @code{info auxv}
18603
18604 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18605 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18606 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18607
18608 @item @code{attach}
18609 @tab @code{vAttach}
18610 @tab @code{attach}
18611
18612 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18613 @tab @code{vCont}
18614 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18615
18616 @item @code{run}
18617 @tab @code{vRun}
18618 @tab @code{run}
18619
18620 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18621 @tab @code{Z0}
18622 @tab @code{break}
18623
18624 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18625 @tab @code{Z1}
18626 @tab @code{hbreak}
18627
18628 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18629 @tab @code{Z2}
18630 @tab @code{watch}
18631
18632 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18633 @tab @code{Z3}
18634 @tab @code{rwatch}
18635
18636 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18637 @tab @code{Z4}
18638 @tab @code{awatch}
18639
18640 @item @code{target-features}
18641 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18642 @tab @code{set architecture}
18643
18644 @item @code{library-info}
18645 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18646 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18647
18648 @item @code{memory-map}
18649 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18650 @tab @code{info mem}
18651
18652 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18653 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18654 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18655
18656 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18657 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18658 @tab @code{info spu}
18659
18660 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18661 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18662 @tab @code{info spu}
18663
18664 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18665 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18666 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18667
18668 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18669 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18670 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18671
18672 @item @code{threads}
18673 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18674 @tab @code{info threads}
18675
18676 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18677 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18678 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18679
18680 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18681 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18682 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18683
18684 @item @code{search-memory}
18685 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18686 @tab @code{find}
18687
18688 @item @code{supported-packets}
18689 @tab @code{qSupported}
18690 @tab Remote communications parameters
18691
18692 @item @code{pass-signals}
18693 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18694 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18695
18696 @item @code{program-signals}
18697 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18698 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18699
18700 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18701 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18702 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18703
18704 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18705 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18706 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18707
18708 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18709 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18710 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18711
18712 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18713 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18714 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18715
18716 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18717 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18718 @tab @code{remote delete}
18719
18720 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18721 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18722 @tab Host I/O
18723
18724 @item @code{noack-packet}
18725 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18726 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18727
18728 @item @code{osdata}
18729 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18730 @tab @code{info os}
18731
18732 @item @code{query-attached}
18733 @tab @code{qAttached}
18734 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18735
18736 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18737 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18738 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18739
18740 @item @code{trace-status}
18741 @tab @code{qTStatus}
18742 @tab @code{tstatus}
18743
18744 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18745 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18746 @tab Traceframe info
18747
18748 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18749 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18750 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18751
18752 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18753 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18754 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18755
18756 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18757 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18758 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18759 @end multitable
18760
18761 @node Remote Stub
18762 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18763
18764 @cindex debugging stub, example
18765 @cindex remote stub, example
18766 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18767 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18768 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18769 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18770 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18771 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18772 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18773 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18774
18775 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18776 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18777 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18778 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18779 program, you need:
18780
18781 @enumerate
18782 @item
18783 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18784 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18785 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18786
18787 @item
18788 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18789 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18790
18791 @item
18792 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18793 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18794 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18795 documentation.
18796 @end enumerate
18797
18798 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18799 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18800 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18801
18802 @table @emph
18803 @item On the host,
18804 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18805 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18806 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18807
18808 @item On the target,
18809 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18810 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18811 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18812
18813 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18814 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18815 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18816 @end table
18817
18818 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18819 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18820 @sc{sparc} boards.
18821
18822 @cindex remote serial stub list
18823 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18824
18825 @table @code
18826
18827 @item i386-stub.c
18828 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18829 @cindex Intel
18830 @cindex i386
18831 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18832
18833 @item m68k-stub.c
18834 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18835 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18836 @cindex m680x0
18837 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18838
18839 @item sh-stub.c
18840 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18841 @cindex Renesas
18842 @cindex SH
18843 For Renesas SH architectures.
18844
18845 @item sparc-stub.c
18846 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18847 @cindex Sparc
18848 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18849
18850 @item sparcl-stub.c
18851 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18852 @cindex Fujitsu
18853 @cindex SparcLite
18854 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18855
18856 @end table
18857
18858 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18859 recently added stubs.
18860
18861 @menu
18862 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18863 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18864 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18865 @end menu
18866
18867 @node Stub Contents
18868 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18869
18870 @cindex remote serial stub
18871 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18872 subroutines:
18873
18874 @table @code
18875 @item set_debug_traps
18876 @findex set_debug_traps
18877 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18878 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18879 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18880 program's startup code.
18881
18882 @item handle_exception
18883 @findex handle_exception
18884 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18885 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18886 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18887 run when a trap is triggered.
18888
18889 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18890 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18891 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18892 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18893 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18894 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18895 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18896 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18897 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18898 machine.
18899
18900 @item breakpoint
18901 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18902 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18903 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18904 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18905 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18906 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18907 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18908 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18909 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18910 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18911 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18912
18913 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18914 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18915 start of your debugging session.
18916 @end table
18917
18918 @node Bootstrapping
18919 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18920
18921 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18922 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18923 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18924 debugging target machine.
18925
18926 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18927 serial port.
18928
18929 @table @code
18930 @item int getDebugChar()
18931 @findex getDebugChar
18932 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18933 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18934 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18935
18936 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18937 @findex putDebugChar
18938 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18939 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18940 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18941 @end table
18942
18943 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18944 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18945 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18946 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18947 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18948 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18949 remote system to stop.
18950
18951 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18952 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18953 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18954 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18955
18956 Other routines you need to supply are:
18957
18958 @table @code
18959 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18960 @findex exceptionHandler
18961 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18962 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18963 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18964 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18965 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18966 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18967 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18968 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18969 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18970 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18971 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18972 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18973 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18974
18975 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18976 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18977 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18978 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18979 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18980
18981 @item void flush_i_cache()
18982 @findex flush_i_cache
18983 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18984 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18985 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18986
18987 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18988 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18989 @end table
18990
18991 @noindent
18992 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18993
18994 @table @code
18995 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18996 @findex memset
18997 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18998 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18999 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19000 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19001 @end table
19002
19003 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19004 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19005 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19006 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19007
19008
19009 @node Debug Session
19010 @subsection Putting it All Together
19011
19012 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
19013 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19014 steps.
19015
19016 @enumerate
19017 @item
19018 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19019 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19020 @display
19021 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19022 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19023 @end display
19024
19025 @item
19026 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19027 procedure is called:
19028
19029 @smallexample
19030 set_debug_traps();
19031 breakpoint();
19032 @end smallexample
19033
19034 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19035 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19036 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19037 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19038 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19039 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19040 progress.
19041
19042 @item
19043 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19044 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19045
19046 @smallexample
19047 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19048 @end smallexample
19049
19050 @noindent
19051 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19052 function in your program, that function is called when
19053 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19054 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19055 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19056
19057 @item
19058 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19059 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19060
19061 @item
19062 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19063 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19064
19065 @item
19066 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19067 @c document that. FIXME.
19068 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19069 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19070
19071 @item
19072 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19073 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19074
19075 @end enumerate
19076
19077 @node Configurations
19078 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19079
19080 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19081 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19082 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19083
19084 There are three major categories of configurations: native
19085 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19086 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19087 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19088 are quite different from each other.
19089
19090 @menu
19091 * Native::
19092 * Embedded OS::
19093 * Embedded Processors::
19094 * Architectures::
19095 @end menu
19096
19097 @node Native
19098 @section Native
19099
19100 This section describes details specific to particular native
19101 configurations.
19102
19103 @menu
19104 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
19105 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19106 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19107 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19108 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19109 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19110 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19111 @end menu
19112
19113 @node HP-UX
19114 @subsection HP-UX
19115
19116 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19117 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19118 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19119
19120
19121 @node BSD libkvm Interface
19122 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19123
19124 @cindex libkvm
19125 @cindex kernel memory image
19126 @cindex kernel crash dump
19127
19128 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19129 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19130 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19131 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19132 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19133 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19134 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19135 @code{kvm} target:
19136
19137 @smallexample
19138 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19139 @end smallexample
19140
19141 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19142 argument:
19143
19144 @smallexample
19145 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19146 @end smallexample
19147
19148 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19149 available:
19150
19151 @table @code
19152 @kindex kvm
19153 @item kvm pcb
19154 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19155
19156 @item kvm proc
19157 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19158 modern FreeBSD systems.
19159 @end table
19160
19161 @node SVR4 Process Information
19162 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
19163 @cindex /proc
19164 @cindex examine process image
19165 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19166
19167 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19168 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19169 process using file-system subroutines.
19170
19171 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19172 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19173 information about the process running your program, or about any
19174 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19175 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19176 not HP-UX, for example.
19177
19178 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19179 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19180
19181 @table @code
19182 @kindex info proc
19183 @cindex process ID
19184 @item info proc
19185 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19186 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19187 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19188 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19189 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19190 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19191 executable file's absolute file name.
19192
19193 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19194 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19195 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19196 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19197 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19198 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19199
19200 @item info proc cmdline
19201 @cindex info proc cmdline
19202 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19203 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19204
19205 @item info proc cwd
19206 @cindex info proc cwd
19207 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19208 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19209
19210 @item info proc exe
19211 @cindex info proc exe
19212 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19213 to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19214
19215 @item info proc mappings
19216 @cindex memory address space mappings
19217 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19218 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19219 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19220 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19221 memory access rights to that range.
19222
19223 @item info proc stat
19224 @itemx info proc status
19225 @cindex process detailed status information
19226 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19227 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19228 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19229 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19230 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19231 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19232 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19233
19234 @item info proc all
19235 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19236 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19237
19238 @ignore
19239 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19240 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19241 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19242 @kindex info proc times
19243 @item info proc times
19244 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19245 its children.
19246
19247 @kindex info proc id
19248 @item info proc id
19249 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19250 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19251 @end ignore
19252
19253 @item set procfs-trace
19254 @kindex set procfs-trace
19255 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19256 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19257
19258 @item show procfs-trace
19259 @kindex show procfs-trace
19260 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19261
19262 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19263 @kindex set procfs-file
19264 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19265 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19266 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19267 standard output.
19268
19269 @item show procfs-file
19270 @kindex show procfs-file
19271 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19272
19273 @item proc-trace-entry
19274 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19275 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19276 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19277 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19278 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19279 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19280 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19281 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19282 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19283
19284 @item info pidlist
19285 @kindex info pidlist
19286 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19287 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19288 processes and all the threads within each process.
19289
19290 @item info meminfo
19291 @kindex info meminfo
19292 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19293 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19294 @end table
19295
19296 @node DJGPP Native
19297 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19298 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19299 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19300 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19301
19302 @cindex DPMI
19303 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19304 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19305 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19306 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19307
19308 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19309 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19310 subsection describes those commands.
19311
19312 @table @code
19313 @kindex info dos
19314 @item info dos
19315 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19316 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19317
19318 @kindex sysinfo
19319 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19320 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19321 @item info dos sysinfo
19322 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19323 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19324 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19325
19326 @cindex GDT
19327 @cindex LDT
19328 @cindex IDT
19329 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19330 @cindex descriptor tables display
19331 @item info dos gdt
19332 @itemx info dos ldt
19333 @itemx info dos idt
19334 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19335 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19336 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19337 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19338 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19339 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19340 rights.
19341
19342 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19343 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19344 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19345 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19346 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19347
19348 @cindex garbled pointers
19349 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19350 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19351 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19352 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19353 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19354 debugged program's data segment:
19355
19356 @smallexample
19357 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19358 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19359 @end smallexample
19360
19361 @noindent
19362 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19363 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19364
19365 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19366 @item info dos pde
19367 @itemx info dos pte
19368 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19369 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19370 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19371 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19372 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19373 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19374 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19375 that is currently in use.
19376
19377 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19378 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19379 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19380 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19381 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19382 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19383 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19384
19385 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19386 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19387 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19388 controller.
19389
19390 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19391
19392 @cindex physical address from linear address
19393 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19394 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19395 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19396 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19397 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19398 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19399 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19400
19401 @smallexample
19402 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19403 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19404 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19405 @end smallexample
19406
19407 @noindent
19408 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19409 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19410 attributes of that page.
19411
19412 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19413 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19414 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19415 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19416 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19417 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19418
19419 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19420 transfer buffer:
19421
19422 @smallexample
19423 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19424 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19425 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19426 @end smallexample
19427
19428 @noindent
19429 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19430 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19431 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19432 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19433 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19434
19435 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19436 @end table
19437
19438 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19439 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19440 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19441 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19442
19443 @table @code
19444 @kindex set com1base
19445 @kindex set com1irq
19446 @kindex set com2base
19447 @kindex set com2irq
19448 @kindex set com3base
19449 @kindex set com3irq
19450 @kindex set com4base
19451 @kindex set com4irq
19452 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19453 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19454 port.
19455
19456 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19457 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19458 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19459
19460 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19461 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19462 other 3 COM ports.
19463
19464 @kindex show com1base
19465 @kindex show com1irq
19466 @kindex show com2base
19467 @kindex show com2irq
19468 @kindex show com3base
19469 @kindex show com3irq
19470 @kindex show com4base
19471 @kindex show com4irq
19472 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19473 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19474 lines used by the COM ports.
19475
19476 @item info serial
19477 @kindex info serial
19478 @cindex DOS serial port status
19479 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19480 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19481 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19482 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19483 @end table
19484
19485
19486 @node Cygwin Native
19487 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19488 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19489 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19490 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19491
19492 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19493 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19494
19495 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19496 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19497 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19498 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19499 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19500 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19501 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19502 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
19503
19504 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19505 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19506 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19507
19508 @table @code
19509 @kindex info w32
19510 @item info w32
19511 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19512 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19513
19514 @item info w32 selector
19515 This command displays information returned by
19516 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19517 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19518 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19519 Without argument, this command displays information
19520 about the six segment registers.
19521
19522 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19523 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19524 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19525 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19526
19527 @kindex info dll
19528 @item info dll
19529 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19530
19531 @kindex dll-symbols
19532 @item dll-symbols
19533 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19534 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19535
19536 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19537 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19538 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19539 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19540 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19541 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19542 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19543 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19544 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19545 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19546 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19547
19548 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19549 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19550 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19551 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19552
19553 @kindex set new-console
19554 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19555 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19556 be started in a new console on next start.
19557 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19558 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19559
19560 @kindex show new-console
19561 @item show new-console
19562 Displays whether a new console is used
19563 when the debuggee is started.
19564
19565 @kindex set new-group
19566 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19567 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19568 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19569 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19570 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
19571
19572 @kindex show new-group
19573 @item show new-group
19574 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19575
19576 @kindex set debugevents
19577 @item set debugevents
19578 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19579 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19580 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19581 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19582 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19583
19584 @kindex set debugexec
19585 @item set debugexec
19586 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19587 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19588
19589 @kindex set debugexceptions
19590 @item set debugexceptions
19591 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19592 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19593
19594 @kindex set debugmemory
19595 @item set debugmemory
19596 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19597 and writes by the debugger.
19598
19599 @kindex set shell
19600 @item set shell
19601 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19602 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19603
19604 @kindex show shell
19605 @item show shell
19606 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19607
19608 @end table
19609
19610 @menu
19611 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19612 @end menu
19613
19614 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19615 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19616 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19617 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19618
19619 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19620 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19621 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19622 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19623 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19624 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19625 ``minimal symbols''.
19626
19627 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19628 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19629 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19630 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19631 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19632 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19633 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19634 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19635 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19636 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19637
19638 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19639
19640 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19641 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19642 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19643 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19644 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19645 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19646 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19647 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19648 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19649
19650 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19651 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19652 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19653 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19654 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19655 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19656
19657 @smallexample
19658 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19659 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19660
19661 Non-debugging symbols:
19662 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19663 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19664 @end smallexample
19665
19666 @smallexample
19667 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19668 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19669
19670 Non-debugging symbols:
19671 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19672 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19673 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19674 [etc...]
19675 @end smallexample
19676
19677 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19678
19679 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19680 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19681 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19682 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19683 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19684 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19685 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19686
19687 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19688 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19689 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19690 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19691 problem:
19692
19693 @smallexample
19694 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19695 $1 = 268572168
19696 @end smallexample
19697
19698 @smallexample
19699 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19700 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19701 @end smallexample
19702
19703 And two possible solutions:
19704
19705 @smallexample
19706 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19707 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19708 @end smallexample
19709
19710 @smallexample
19711 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19712 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19713 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19714 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19715 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19716 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19717 @end smallexample
19718
19719 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19720 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19721 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19722 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19723 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19724
19725 @smallexample
19726 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19727 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19728 @end smallexample
19729
19730 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19731 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19732 safe.
19733
19734 @node Hurd Native
19735 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19736 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19737
19738 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19739 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19740
19741 @table @code
19742 @item set signals
19743 @itemx set sigs
19744 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19745 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19746 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19747 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19748 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19749 @code{signals}.
19750
19751 @item show signals
19752 @itemx show sigs
19753 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19754 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19755 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19756
19757 @item set signal-thread
19758 @itemx set sigthread
19759 @kindex set signal-thread
19760 @kindex set sigthread
19761 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19762 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19763 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19764 signal-thread}.
19765
19766 @item show signal-thread
19767 @itemx show sigthread
19768 @kindex show signal-thread
19769 @kindex show sigthread
19770 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19771 delivered a signal.
19772
19773 @item set stopped
19774 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19775 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19776 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19777 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19778
19779 @item show stopped
19780 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19781 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19782 stopped.
19783
19784 @item set exceptions
19785 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19786 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19787 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19788 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19789 trapping on.
19790
19791 @item show exceptions
19792 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19793 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19794
19795 @item set task pause
19796 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19797 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19798 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19799 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19800 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19801 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19802 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19803 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19804 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19805
19806 @item show task pause
19807 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19808 Show the current state of task suspension.
19809
19810 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19811 @cindex task suspend count
19812 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19813 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19814 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19815
19816 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19817 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19818
19819 @item set task exception-port
19820 @itemx set task excp
19821 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19822 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19823 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19824 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19825
19826 @item set noninvasive
19827 @cindex noninvasive task options
19828 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19829 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19830 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19831 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19832
19833 @item info send-rights
19834 @itemx info receive-rights
19835 @itemx info port-rights
19836 @itemx info port-sets
19837 @itemx info dead-names
19838 @itemx info ports
19839 @itemx info psets
19840 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19841 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19842 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19843 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19844 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19845 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19846 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19847 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19848 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19849
19850 @item set thread pause
19851 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19852 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19853 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19854 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19855 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19856 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19857 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19858 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19859 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19860 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19861 only the current thread.
19862
19863 @item show thread pause
19864 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19865 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19866
19867 @item set thread run
19868 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19869
19870 @item show thread run
19871 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19872
19873 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19874 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19875 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19876 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19877 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19878 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19879 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19880
19881 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19882 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19883 detaching.
19884
19885 @item set thread exception-port
19886 @itemx set thread excp
19887 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19888 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19889 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19890
19891 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19892 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19893 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19894 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19895
19896 @item set thread default
19897 @itemx show thread default
19898 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19899 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19900 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19901 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19902 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19903 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19904 the non-default commands.
19905 @end table
19906
19907 @node Darwin
19908 @subsection Darwin
19909 @cindex Darwin
19910
19911 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19912
19913 @table @code
19914 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19915 @kindex set debug darwin
19916 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19917 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19918
19919 @item show debug darwin
19920 @kindex show debug darwin
19921 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19922
19923 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19924 @kindex set debug mach-o
19925 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19926 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19927 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19928 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19929 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19930 usage.
19931
19932 @item show debug mach-o
19933 @kindex show debug mach-o
19934 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19935
19936 @item set mach-exceptions on
19937 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19938 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19939 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19940 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19941 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19942 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19943
19944 @item show mach-exceptions
19945 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19946 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19947 @end table
19948
19949
19950 @node Embedded OS
19951 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19952
19953 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19954 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19955 architectures.
19956
19957 @menu
19958 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19959 @end menu
19960
19961 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19962 various real-time operating systems.
19963
19964 @node VxWorks
19965 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19966
19967 @cindex VxWorks
19968
19969 @table @code
19970
19971 @kindex target vxworks
19972 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19973 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19974 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19975
19976 @end table
19977
19978 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19979 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19980
19981 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19982 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19983 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19984 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19985 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19986 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19987 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19988
19989 @table @code
19990 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19991 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19992 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19993 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19994 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19995 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19996 of a thin network line.
19997 @end table
19998
19999 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20000 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20001 procedures.
20002
20003 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
20004 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20005 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20006 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20007 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20008 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20009 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20010 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20011 manual.
20012 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20013
20014 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20015 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20016 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20017 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20018
20019 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20020
20021 @smallexample
20022 (vxgdb)
20023 @end smallexample
20024
20025 @menu
20026 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20027 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20028 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20029 @end menu
20030
20031 @node VxWorks Connection
20032 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20033
20034 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20035 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20036
20037 @smallexample
20038 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20039 @end smallexample
20040
20041 @need 750
20042 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20043
20044 @smallexample
20045 Attaching remote machine across net...
20046 Connected to tt.
20047 @end smallexample
20048
20049 @need 1000
20050 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20051 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20052 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20053 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20054 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20055
20056 @smallexample
20057 prog.o: No such file or directory.
20058 @end smallexample
20059
20060 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20061 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20062 command again.
20063
20064 @node VxWorks Download
20065 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
20066
20067 @cindex download to VxWorks
20068 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20069 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20070 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20071 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20072 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20073 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20074 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20075 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20076 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20077 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20078 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20079 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20080 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20081 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20082 program, type this on VxWorks:
20083
20084 @smallexample
20085 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20086 @end smallexample
20087
20088 @noindent
20089 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20090
20091 @smallexample
20092 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20093 (vxgdb) load prog.o
20094 @end smallexample
20095
20096 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20097
20098 @smallexample
20099 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20100 @end smallexample
20101
20102 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20103 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20104 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20105 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20106 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20107 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20108 table.)
20109
20110 @node VxWorks Attach
20111 @subsubsection Running Tasks
20112
20113 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
20114 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20115 follows:
20116
20117 @smallexample
20118 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20119 @end smallexample
20120
20121 @noindent
20122 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20123 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20124 the time of attachment.
20125
20126 @node Embedded Processors
20127 @section Embedded Processors
20128
20129 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20130 configurations.
20131
20132 @cindex send command to simulator
20133 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20134 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20135
20136 @table @code
20137 @item sim @var{command}
20138 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
20139 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20140 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20141 acceptable commands.
20142 @end table
20143
20144
20145 @menu
20146 * ARM:: ARM RDI
20147 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20148 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
20149 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20150 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20151 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20152 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
20153 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20154 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20155 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20156 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
20157 * CRIS:: CRIS
20158 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20159 @end menu
20160
20161 @node ARM
20162 @subsection ARM
20163 @cindex ARM RDI
20164
20165 @table @code
20166 @kindex target rdi
20167 @item target rdi @var{dev}
20168 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20169 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20170 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20171
20172 @kindex target rdp
20173 @item target rdp @var{dev}
20174 ARM Demon monitor.
20175
20176 @end table
20177
20178 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20179
20180 @table @code
20181 @item set arm disassembler
20182 @kindex set arm
20183 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20184 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20185
20186 @item show arm disassembler
20187 @kindex show arm
20188 Show the current disassembly style.
20189
20190 @item set arm apcs32
20191 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20192 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20193
20194 @item show arm apcs32
20195 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20196
20197 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20198 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20199 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20200
20201 @table @code
20202 @item auto
20203 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20204 @item softfpa
20205 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20206 processors.
20207 @item fpa
20208 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20209 @item softvfp
20210 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20211 @item vfp
20212 VFP co-processor.
20213 @end table
20214
20215 @item show arm fpu
20216 Show the current type of the FPU.
20217
20218 @item set arm abi
20219 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20220
20221 @item show arm abi
20222 Show the currently used ABI.
20223
20224 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20225 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20226 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20227 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20228 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20229 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20230 register).
20231
20232 @item show arm fallback-mode
20233 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20234
20235 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20236 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20237 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20238 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20239 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20240
20241 @item show arm force-mode
20242 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20243
20244 @item set debug arm
20245 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20246 target support subsystem.
20247
20248 @item show debug arm
20249 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20250 @end table
20251
20252 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20253 using the RDI interface:
20254
20255 @table @code
20256 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20257 @kindex rdilogfile
20258 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20259 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20260 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20261 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20262 @file{rdi.log}.
20263
20264 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20265 @kindex rdilogenable
20266 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20267 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20268 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20269 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20270 are logged to a file.
20271
20272 @item set rdiromatzero
20273 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20274 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20275 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20276 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20277 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20278 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20279
20280 @item show rdiromatzero
20281 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20282 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20283
20284 @item set rdiheartbeat
20285 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20286 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20287 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20288 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20289 well as the Angel monitor.
20290
20291 @item show rdiheartbeat
20292 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20293 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20294 @end table
20295
20296 @table @code
20297 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20298 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20299
20300 @table @code
20301 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20302 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20303 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20304 The default value is @code{all}.
20305
20306 @table @code
20307 @item none
20308 @item demon
20309 @item angel
20310 @item redboot
20311 @item all
20312 @end table
20313 @end table
20314 @end table
20315
20316 @node M32R/D
20317 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20318
20319 @table @code
20320 @kindex target m32r
20321 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20322 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20323
20324 @kindex target m32rsdi
20325 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20326 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20327 @end table
20328
20329 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20330
20331 @table @code
20332 @item set download-path @var{path}
20333 @kindex set download-path
20334 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20335 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20336
20337 @item show download-path
20338 @kindex show download-path
20339 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20340
20341 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20342 @kindex set board-address
20343 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20344 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20345
20346 @item show board-address
20347 @kindex show board-address
20348 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20349
20350 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20351 @kindex set server-address
20352 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20353 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20354 host machine.
20355
20356 @item show server-address
20357 @kindex show server-address
20358 Display the IP address of the download server.
20359
20360 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20361 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20362 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20363 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20364 executable file is uploaded.
20365
20366 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20367 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20368 Test the @code{upload} command.
20369 @end table
20370
20371 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20372
20373 @table @code
20374 @item sdireset
20375 @kindex sdireset
20376 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20377 This command resets the SDI connection.
20378
20379 @item sdistatus
20380 @kindex sdistatus
20381 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20382
20383 @item debug_chaos
20384 @kindex debug_chaos
20385 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20386 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20387
20388 @item use_debug_dma
20389 @kindex use_debug_dma
20390 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20391
20392 @item use_mon_code
20393 @kindex use_mon_code
20394 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20395
20396 @item use_ib_break
20397 @kindex use_ib_break
20398 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20399
20400 @item use_dbt_break
20401 @kindex use_dbt_break
20402 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20403 @end table
20404
20405 @node M68K
20406 @subsection M68k
20407
20408 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20409 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20410
20411 @table @code
20412
20413 @kindex target dbug
20414 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20415 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20416
20417 @end table
20418
20419 @node MicroBlaze
20420 @subsection MicroBlaze
20421 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20422 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20423
20424 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20425 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20426 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20427 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20428 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20429 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20430 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20431 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20432 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20433 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20434 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20435
20436 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20437
20438 @table @code
20439 @item target remote :1234
20440 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20441 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20442
20443 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20444 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20445 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20446
20447 @item load
20448 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20449
20450 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20451 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20452
20453 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20454 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20455 @end table
20456
20457 @node MIPS Embedded
20458 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20459
20460 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20461 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20462 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20463 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20464
20465 @need 1000
20466 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20467
20468 @table @code
20469 @item target mips @var{port}
20470 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20471 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20472 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20473 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20474 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20475 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20476 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20477
20478 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20479 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20480 debugger:
20481
20482 @smallexample
20483 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20484 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20485 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20486 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20487 (@value{GDBP}) run
20488 @end smallexample
20489
20490 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20491 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20492 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20493 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20494 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20495
20496 @item target pmon @var{port}
20497 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20498 PMON ROM monitor.
20499
20500 @item target ddb @var{port}
20501 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20502 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20503
20504 @item target lsi @var{port}
20505 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20506 LSI variant of PMON.
20507
20508 @kindex target r3900
20509 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20510 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20511
20512 @kindex target array
20513 @item target array @var{dev}
20514 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20515
20516 @end table
20517
20518
20519 @noindent
20520 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20521
20522 @table @code
20523 @item set mipsfpu double
20524 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20525 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20526 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20527 @itemx show mipsfpu
20528 @kindex set mipsfpu
20529 @kindex show mipsfpu
20530 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20531 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20532 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20533 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20534 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20535 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20536 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20537 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20538 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20539 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20540 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20541 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20542 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20543
20544 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20545 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20546 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20547
20548 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20549 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20550
20551 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20552 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20553 @itemx show timeout
20554 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20555 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20556 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20557 @kindex set timeout
20558 @kindex show timeout
20559 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20560 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20561 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20562 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20563 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20564 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20565 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20566 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20567 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20568 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20569
20570 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20571 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20572 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20573 to run before stopping.
20574
20575 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20576 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20577 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20578 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20579 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20580 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20581
20582 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20583 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20584 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20585 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20586
20587 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20588 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20589 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20590 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20591 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20592 @table @asis
20593 @item pmon target
20594 @samp{PMON}
20595 @item ddb target
20596 @samp{NEC010}
20597 @item lsi target
20598 @samp{PMON>}
20599 @end table
20600
20601 @item show monitor-prompt
20602 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20603 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20604 remote monitor.
20605
20606 @item set monitor-warnings
20607 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20608 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20609 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20610 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20611 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20612
20613 @item show monitor-warnings
20614 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20615 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20616
20617 @item pmon @var{command}
20618 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20619 @cindex send PMON command
20620 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20621 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20622 @end table
20623
20624 @node PowerPC Embedded
20625 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20626
20627 @cindex DVC register
20628 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20629 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20630
20631 @smallexample
20632 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20633 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20634 @end smallexample
20635
20636 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20637 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20638 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20639 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20640 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20641 or newer.
20642
20643 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20644 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20645 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20646 watching variables of scalar types.
20647
20648 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20649 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20650
20651 @smallexample
20652 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20653 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20654 @end smallexample
20655
20656 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20657 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20658
20659 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20660 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20661 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20662 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20663 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20664 use the @code{break-range} command.
20665
20666 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20667
20668 @table @code
20669 @kindex break-range
20670 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20671 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20672 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20673 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20674 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20675 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20676 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20677 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20678 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20679
20680 @kindex set powerpc
20681 @item set powerpc soft-float
20682 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20683 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20684 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20685 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20686
20687 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20688 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20689 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20690 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20691 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20692 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20693 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20694 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20695
20696 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20697 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20698 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20699 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20700 address of its first byte.
20701
20702 @kindex target dink32
20703 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20704 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20705
20706 @kindex target ppcbug
20707 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20708 @kindex target ppcbug1
20709 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20710 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20711
20712 @kindex target sds
20713 @item target sds @var{dev}
20714 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20715 @end table
20716
20717 @cindex SDS protocol
20718 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20719 by @value{GDBN}:
20720
20721 @table @code
20722 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20723 @kindex set sdstimeout
20724 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20725 default is 2 seconds.
20726
20727 @item show sdstimeout
20728 @kindex show sdstimeout
20729 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20730
20731 @item sds @var{command}
20732 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20733 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20734 @end table
20735
20736
20737 @node PA
20738 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20739
20740 @table @code
20741
20742 @kindex target op50n
20743 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20744 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20745
20746 @kindex target w89k
20747 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20748 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20749
20750 @end table
20751
20752 @node Sparclet
20753 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20754
20755 @cindex Sparclet
20756
20757 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20758 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20759 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20760 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20761 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20762
20763 @table @code
20764 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20765 @kindex remotetimeout
20766 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20767 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20768 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20769 @end table
20770
20771 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20772 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20773 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20774 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20775 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20776
20777 @smallexample
20778 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20779 @end smallexample
20780
20781 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20782
20783 @smallexample
20784 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20785 @end smallexample
20786
20787 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20788 Once you have set
20789 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20790 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20791 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20792
20793 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20794
20795 @smallexample
20796 (gdbslet)
20797 @end smallexample
20798
20799 @menu
20800 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20801 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20802 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20803 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20804 @end menu
20805
20806 @node Sparclet File
20807 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20808
20809 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20810
20811 @smallexample
20812 (gdbslet) file prog
20813 @end smallexample
20814
20815 @need 1000
20816 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20817 @value{GDBN} locates
20818 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20819 path.
20820 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20821 files will be searched as well.
20822 @value{GDBN} locates
20823 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20824 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20825 If it fails
20826 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20827
20828 @smallexample
20829 prog: No such file or directory.
20830 @end smallexample
20831
20832 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20833 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20834 @code{target} command again.
20835
20836 @node Sparclet Connection
20837 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20838
20839 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20840 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20841
20842 @smallexample
20843 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20844 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20845 main () at ../prog.c:3
20846 @end smallexample
20847
20848 @need 750
20849 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20850
20851 @smallexample
20852 Connected to ttya.
20853 @end smallexample
20854
20855 @node Sparclet Download
20856 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20857
20858 @cindex download to Sparclet
20859 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20860 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20861 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20862 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20863 command.
20864 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20865 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20866 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20867 of each of the file's sections.
20868 For instance, if the program
20869 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20870 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20871
20872 @smallexample
20873 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20874 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20875 @end smallexample
20876
20877 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20878 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20879 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20880
20881 @node Sparclet Execution
20882 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20883
20884 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20885 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20886 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20887 manual for the list of commands.
20888
20889 @smallexample
20890 (gdbslet) b main
20891 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20892 (gdbslet) run
20893 Starting program: prog
20894 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20895 3 char *symarg = 0;
20896 (gdbslet) step
20897 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20898 (gdbslet)
20899 @end smallexample
20900
20901 @node Sparclite
20902 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20903
20904 @table @code
20905
20906 @kindex target sparclite
20907 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20908 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20909 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20910 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20911 remote protocol.
20912
20913 @end table
20914
20915 @node Z8000
20916 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20917
20918 @cindex Z8000
20919 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20920 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20921
20922 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20923 a Z8000 simulator.
20924
20925 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20926 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20927 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20928 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20929
20930 @table @code
20931 @item target sim @var{args}
20932 @kindex sim
20933 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20934 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20935 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20936 @end table
20937
20938 @noindent
20939 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20940 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20941 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20942 to run your program, and so on.
20943
20944 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20945 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20946 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20947
20948 @table @code
20949
20950 @item cycles
20951 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20952
20953 @item insts
20954 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20955
20956 @item time
20957 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20958
20959 @end table
20960
20961 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20962 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20963 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20964 simulated clock ticks.
20965
20966 @node AVR
20967 @subsection Atmel AVR
20968 @cindex AVR
20969
20970 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20971 following AVR-specific commands:
20972
20973 @table @code
20974 @item info io_registers
20975 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20976 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20977 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20978 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20979 @end table
20980
20981 @node CRIS
20982 @subsection CRIS
20983 @cindex CRIS
20984
20985 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20986 following CRIS-specific commands:
20987
20988 @table @code
20989 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20990 @cindex CRIS version
20991 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20992 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20993 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20994
20995 @item show cris-version
20996 Show the current CRIS version.
20997
20998 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20999 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21000 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21001 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21002 @code{R59}.
21003
21004 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21005 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21006
21007 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21008 @cindex CRIS mode
21009 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21010 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21011 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21012
21013 @item show cris-mode
21014 Show the current CRIS mode.
21015 @end table
21016
21017 @node Super-H
21018 @subsection Renesas Super-H
21019 @cindex Super-H
21020
21021 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21022 commands:
21023
21024 @table @code
21025 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21026 @kindex set sh calling-convention
21027 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21028 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21029 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21030 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21031 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21032 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21033 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21034 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21035 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21036 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21037
21038 @item show sh calling-convention
21039 @kindex show sh calling-convention
21040 Show the current calling convention setting.
21041
21042 @end table
21043
21044
21045 @node Architectures
21046 @section Architectures
21047
21048 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21049 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21050
21051 @menu
21052 * AArch64::
21053 * i386::
21054 * Alpha::
21055 * MIPS::
21056 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21057 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21058 * PowerPC::
21059 * Nios II::
21060 @end menu
21061
21062 @node AArch64
21063 @subsection AArch64
21064 @cindex AArch64 support
21065
21066 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21067 following special commands:
21068
21069 @table @code
21070 @item set debug aarch64
21071 @kindex set debug aarch64
21072 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21073 messages are to be displayed.
21074
21075 @item show debug aarch64
21076 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21077
21078 @end table
21079
21080 @node i386
21081 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21082
21083 @table @code
21084 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21085 @kindex set struct-convention
21086 @cindex struct return convention
21087 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
21088 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21089 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21090 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21091 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21092 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21093 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21094 be returned in a register.
21095
21096 @item show struct-convention
21097 @kindex show struct-convention
21098 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21099 from functions.
21100 @end table
21101
21102 @node Alpha
21103 @subsection Alpha
21104
21105 See the following section.
21106
21107 @node MIPS
21108 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21109
21110 @cindex stack on Alpha
21111 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21112 @cindex Alpha stack
21113 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21114 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21115 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21116 find the beginning of a function.
21117
21118 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21119 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21120 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21121 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21122 commands:
21123
21124 @table @code
21125 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21126 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21127 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21128 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21129 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21130 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21131 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21132 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21133
21134 @item show heuristic-fence-post
21135 Display the current limit.
21136 @end table
21137
21138 @noindent
21139 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21140 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21141
21142 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21143 programs:
21144
21145 @table @code
21146 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
21147 @kindex set mips abi
21148 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21149 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21150 values of @var{arg} are:
21151
21152 @table @samp
21153 @item auto
21154 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21155 default).
21156 @item o32
21157 @item o64
21158 @item n32
21159 @item n64
21160 @item eabi32
21161 @item eabi64
21162 @end table
21163
21164 @item show mips abi
21165 @kindex show mips abi
21166 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21167
21168 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
21169 @kindex set mips compression
21170 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21171 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21172 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21173 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21174 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21175 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21176 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21177 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21178 provided by the executable.
21179
21180 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21181 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21182 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21183 identified as such.
21184
21185 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21186 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21187 implicitly from an executable.
21188
21189 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21190 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21191 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21192 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21193 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21194
21195 @item show mips compression
21196 @kindex show mips compression
21197 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21198 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21199
21200 @item set mipsfpu
21201 @itemx show mipsfpu
21202 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21203
21204 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21205 @kindex set mips mask-address
21206 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21207 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21208 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21209 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21210 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21211
21212 @item show mips mask-address
21213 @kindex show mips mask-address
21214 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21215 not.
21216
21217 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21218 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21219 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21220 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21221 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21222 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21223
21224 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21225 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21226 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21227
21228 @item set debug mips
21229 @kindex set debug mips
21230 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21231 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21232
21233 @item show debug mips
21234 @kindex show debug mips
21235 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21236 @end table
21237
21238
21239 @node HPPA
21240 @subsection HPPA
21241 @cindex HPPA support
21242
21243 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21244 following special commands:
21245
21246 @table @code
21247 @item set debug hppa
21248 @kindex set debug hppa
21249 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21250 messages are to be displayed.
21251
21252 @item show debug hppa
21253 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21254
21255 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21256 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21257 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21258 given @var{address}.
21259
21260 @end table
21261
21262
21263 @node SPU
21264 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21265 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21266 @cindex SPU
21267
21268 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21269 it provides the following special commands:
21270
21271 @table @code
21272 @item info spu event
21273 @kindex info spu
21274 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21275 and pending event status.
21276
21277 @item info spu signal
21278 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21279 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21280 notification channels.
21281
21282 @item info spu mailbox
21283 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21284 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21285 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21286
21287 @item info spu dma
21288 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21289 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21290 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21291
21292 @item info spu proxydma
21293 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21294 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21295 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21296
21297 @end table
21298
21299 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21300 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21301 special commands:
21302
21303 @table @code
21304 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21305 @kindex set spu
21306 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21307 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21308 function. The default is @code{off}.
21309
21310 @item show spu stop-on-load
21311 @kindex show spu
21312 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21313
21314 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21315 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21316 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21317 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21318 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21319 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21320
21321 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21322 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21323
21324 @end table
21325
21326 @node PowerPC
21327 @subsection PowerPC
21328 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21329
21330 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21331 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21332 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21333 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21334 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21335
21336 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21337 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21338 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21339
21340 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21341 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21342
21343 @node Nios II
21344 @subsection Nios II
21345 @cindex Nios II architecture
21346
21347 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21348 it provides the following special commands:
21349
21350 @table @code
21351
21352 @item set debug nios2
21353 @kindex set debug nios2
21354 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21355 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21356
21357 @item show debug nios2
21358 @kindex show debug nios2
21359 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21360 @end table
21361
21362 @node Controlling GDB
21363 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21364
21365 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21366 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21367 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21368 described here.
21369
21370 @menu
21371 * Prompt:: Prompt
21372 * Editing:: Command editing
21373 * Command History:: Command history
21374 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21375 * Numbers:: Numbers
21376 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21377 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21378 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21379 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21380 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21381 @end menu
21382
21383 @node Prompt
21384 @section Prompt
21385
21386 @cindex prompt
21387
21388 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21389 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21390 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21391 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21392 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21393 which one you are talking to.
21394
21395 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21396 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21397 or a prompt that does not.
21398
21399 @table @code
21400 @kindex set prompt
21401 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21402 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21403
21404 @kindex show prompt
21405 @item show prompt
21406 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21407 @end table
21408
21409 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21410 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21411 are:
21412
21413 @table @code
21414 @kindex set extended-prompt
21415 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21416 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21417 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21418 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21419 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21420 is displayed.
21421
21422 For example:
21423
21424 @smallexample
21425 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21426 @end smallexample
21427
21428 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21429 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21430
21431 @kindex show extended-prompt
21432 @item show extended-prompt
21433 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21434 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21435 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21436 @end table
21437
21438 @node Editing
21439 @section Command Editing
21440 @cindex readline
21441 @cindex command line editing
21442
21443 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21444 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21445 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21446 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21447 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21448 debugging sessions.
21449
21450 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21451 command @code{set}.
21452
21453 @table @code
21454 @kindex set editing
21455 @cindex editing
21456 @item set editing
21457 @itemx set editing on
21458 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21459
21460 @item set editing off
21461 Disable command line editing.
21462
21463 @kindex show editing
21464 @item show editing
21465 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21466 @end table
21467
21468 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21469 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21470 @end ifset
21471 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21472 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21473 @end ifclear
21474 for more details about the Readline
21475 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21476 encouraged to read that chapter.
21477
21478 @node Command History
21479 @section Command History
21480 @cindex command history
21481
21482 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21483 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21484 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21485 history facility.
21486
21487 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21488 package, to provide the history facility.
21489 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21490 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21491 @end ifset
21492 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21493 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21494 @end ifclear
21495 for the detailed description of the History library.
21496
21497 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21498 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21499 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21500 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21501 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21502 pressed on a line by itself.
21503
21504 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21505 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21506 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21507 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21508
21509 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21510 history.
21511
21512 @table @code
21513 @cindex history substitution
21514 @cindex history file
21515 @kindex set history filename
21516 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21517 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21518 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21519 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21520 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21521 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21522 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21523 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21524 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21525 is not set.
21526
21527 @cindex save command history
21528 @kindex set history save
21529 @item set history save
21530 @itemx set history save on
21531 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21532 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21533
21534 @item set history save off
21535 Stop recording command history in a file.
21536
21537 @cindex history size
21538 @kindex set history size
21539 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21540 @item set history size @var{size}
21541 @itemx set history size unlimited
21542 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21543 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21544 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21545 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21546 history list is unlimited.
21547 @end table
21548
21549 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21550 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21551 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21552 @end ifset
21553 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21554 @xref{Event Designators},
21555 @end ifclear
21556 for more details.
21557
21558 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21559 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21560 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21561 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21562 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21563 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21564 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21565 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21566
21567 The commands to control history expansion are:
21568
21569 @table @code
21570 @item set history expansion on
21571 @itemx set history expansion
21572 @kindex set history expansion
21573 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21574
21575 @item set history expansion off
21576 Disable history expansion.
21577
21578 @c @group
21579 @kindex show history
21580 @item show history
21581 @itemx show history filename
21582 @itemx show history save
21583 @itemx show history size
21584 @itemx show history expansion
21585 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21586 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21587 @c @end group
21588 @end table
21589
21590 @table @code
21591 @kindex show commands
21592 @cindex show last commands
21593 @cindex display command history
21594 @item show commands
21595 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21596
21597 @item show commands @var{n}
21598 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21599
21600 @item show commands +
21601 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21602 @end table
21603
21604 @node Screen Size
21605 @section Screen Size
21606 @cindex size of screen
21607 @cindex pauses in output
21608
21609 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21610 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21611 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21612 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21613 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21614 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21615 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21616 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21617
21618 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21619 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21620 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21621 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21622 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21623 width} commands:
21624
21625 @table @code
21626 @kindex set height
21627 @kindex set width
21628 @kindex show width
21629 @kindex show height
21630 @item set height @var{lpp}
21631 @itemx set height unlimited
21632 @itemx show height
21633 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21634 @itemx set width unlimited
21635 @itemx show width
21636 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21637 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21638 commands display the current settings.
21639
21640 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21641 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21642 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21643 buffer.
21644
21645 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21646 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21647
21648 @item set pagination on
21649 @itemx set pagination off
21650 @kindex set pagination
21651 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21652 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21653 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21654 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21655
21656 @item show pagination
21657 @kindex show pagination
21658 Show the current pagination mode.
21659 @end table
21660
21661 @node Numbers
21662 @section Numbers
21663 @cindex number representation
21664 @cindex entering numbers
21665
21666 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21667 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21668 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21669 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21670 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21671 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21672 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21673 both input and output with the commands described below.
21674
21675 @table @code
21676 @kindex set input-radix
21677 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21678 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21679 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21680 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21681 example, any of
21682
21683 @smallexample
21684 set input-radix 012
21685 set input-radix 10.
21686 set input-radix 0xa
21687 @end smallexample
21688
21689 @noindent
21690 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21691 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21692 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21693 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21694 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21695 change the radix.
21696
21697 @kindex set output-radix
21698 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21699 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21700 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21701 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21702
21703 @kindex show input-radix
21704 @item show input-radix
21705 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21706
21707 @kindex show output-radix
21708 @item show output-radix
21709 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21710
21711 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21712 @itemx show radix
21713 @kindex set radix
21714 @kindex show radix
21715 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21716 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21717 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21718 default value of 10.
21719
21720 @end table
21721
21722 @node ABI
21723 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21724
21725 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21726 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21727 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21728 current ABI.
21729
21730 @cindex OS ABI
21731 @kindex set osabi
21732 @kindex show osabi
21733 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21734
21735 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21736 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21737 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21738 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21739 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21740 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21741 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21742 platform provides.
21743
21744 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21745 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21746 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21747 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21748
21749 @table @code
21750 @item show osabi
21751 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21752
21753 @item set osabi
21754 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21755
21756 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21757 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21758 @end table
21759
21760 @cindex float promotion
21761
21762 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21763 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21764 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21765 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21766 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21767 @code{double} and then passed.
21768
21769 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21770 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21771 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21772
21773 @table @code
21774 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21775 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21776 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21777 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21778 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21779
21780 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21781 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21782 functions.
21783
21784 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21785 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21786 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21787 @end table
21788
21789 @kindex set cp-abi
21790 @kindex show cp-abi
21791 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21792 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21793 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21794 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21795 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21796 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21797 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21798 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21799 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21800 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21801 ``auto''.
21802
21803 @table @code
21804 @item show cp-abi
21805 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21806
21807 @item set cp-abi
21808 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21809
21810 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21811 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21812 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21813 @end table
21814
21815 @node Auto-loading
21816 @section Automatically loading associated files
21817 @cindex auto-loading
21818
21819 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21820 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21821 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21822 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21823 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21824 sources).
21825
21826 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21827 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21828 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21829
21830 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21831 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21832
21833 @table @code
21834 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21835 @kindex set auto-load off
21836 @item set auto-load off
21837 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21838 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21839 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21840 @smallexample
21841 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21842 @end smallexample
21843
21844 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21845 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21846 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21847 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21848 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21849 @code{set auto-load no}.
21850
21851 @anchor{show auto-load}
21852 @kindex show auto-load
21853 @item show auto-load
21854 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21855 or disabled.
21856
21857 @smallexample
21858 (gdb) show auto-load
21859 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21860 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21861 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21862 is on.
21863 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21864 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21865 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21866 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21867 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21868 @end smallexample
21869
21870 @anchor{info auto-load}
21871 @kindex info auto-load
21872 @item info auto-load
21873 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21874 not.
21875
21876 @smallexample
21877 (gdb) info auto-load
21878 gdb-scripts:
21879 Loaded Script
21880 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21881 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21882 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21883 loaded.
21884 python-scripts:
21885 Loaded Script
21886 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21887 @end smallexample
21888 @end table
21889
21890 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21891
21892 @itemize @bullet
21893 @item
21894 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21895 @item
21896 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21897 @item
21898 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21899 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21900 @item
21901 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21902 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21903 @item
21904 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21905 @end itemize
21906
21907 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21908
21909 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21910 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21911 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21912 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21913 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21914 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21915 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21916 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21917 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21918 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21919 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21920 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21921 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21922 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21923 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21924 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21925 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21926 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21927 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21928 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21929 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21930 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21931 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21932 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21933 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21934 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21935 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21936 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21937 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21938 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21939 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21940 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21941 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21942 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21943 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21944 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21945 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21946 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21947 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21948 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21949 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21950 @end multitable
21951
21952 @menu
21953 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21954 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21955 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21956 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21957 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21958 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21959 @end menu
21960
21961 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21962 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21963 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21964
21965 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21966 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21967 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21968
21969 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21970 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21971
21972 @table @code
21973 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21974 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21975 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21976 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21977 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21978
21979 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21980 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21981 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21982 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21983 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21984
21985 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21986 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21987 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21988 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21989 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21990 @end table
21991
21992 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21993 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21994 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21995
21996 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21997
21998 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21999 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22000
22001 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22002 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22003 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22004 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22005 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22006 library.
22007
22008 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22009 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22010
22011 @table @code
22012 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22013 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22014 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22015 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22016
22017 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22018 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22019 @item show auto-load libthread-db
22020 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22021 enabled or disabled.
22022
22023 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22024 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22025 @item info auto-load libthread-db
22026 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22027 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22028 @end table
22029
22030 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22031 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22032 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22033
22034 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22035 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22036 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22037
22038 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22039 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22040
22041 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22042 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22043
22044 @table @code
22045 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22046 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22047 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22048 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22049
22050 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22051 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22052 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22053 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22054 disabled.
22055
22056 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22057 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22058 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22059 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22060 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22061 auto-loaded.
22062 @end table
22063
22064 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22065 matching names are printed.
22066
22067 @node Auto-loading safe path
22068 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22069 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
22070
22071 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22072 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22073 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22074 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22075 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22076
22077 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22078 get loaded:
22079
22080 @smallexample
22081 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
22082 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22083 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22084 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22085 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22086 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22087 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22088 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22089 @end smallexample
22090
22091 @noindent
22092 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22093 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22094
22095 @smallexample
22096 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22097 @end smallexample
22098
22099 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22100
22101 @table @code
22102 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22103 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
22104 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22105 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22106 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22107 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22108 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22109 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22110 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22111 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22112
22113 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22114 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22115 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22116
22117 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22118 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
22119 @item show auto-load safe-path
22120 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22121 scripts.
22122
22123 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22124 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22125 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
22126 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22127 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22128 host platform path separator in use.
22129 @end table
22130
22131 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22132 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22133 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22134 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22135 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22136
22137 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22138 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22139 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22140 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22141 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22142 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22143 init file in the current directory
22144 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22145
22146 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22147 example, you could use one of the following ways:
22148
22149 @table @asis
22150 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22151 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22152 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22153 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22154
22155 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22156 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22157 @value{GDBN} session.
22158
22159 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22160 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22161 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22162 from trusted sources.
22163
22164 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22165 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22166 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22167 trusted sources.
22168 @end table
22169
22170 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22171 also suppresses any such warning messages:
22172
22173 @table @asis
22174 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22175 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22176
22177 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22178 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22179 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22180 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22181 @end table
22182
22183 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22184 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22185 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22186 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22187 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22188 recommended to be entered.
22189
22190 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
22191 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22192 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22193
22194 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22195 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22196 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22197 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22198 be printed.
22199
22200 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22201 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22202 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22203
22204 @smallexample
22205 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
22206 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22207 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22208 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22209 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22210 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22211 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22212 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22213 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22214 @end smallexample
22215
22216 @table @code
22217 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
22218 @kindex set debug auto-load
22219 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22220 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22221
22222 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
22223 @kindex show debug auto-load
22224 @item show debug auto-load
22225 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22226 on or off.
22227 @end table
22228
22229 @node Messages/Warnings
22230 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22231
22232 @cindex verbose operation
22233 @cindex optional warnings
22234 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22235 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22236 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22237 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22238
22239 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22240 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22241 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22242
22243 @table @code
22244 @kindex set verbose
22245 @item set verbose on
22246 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22247
22248 @item set verbose off
22249 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22250
22251 @kindex show verbose
22252 @item show verbose
22253 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22254 @end table
22255
22256 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22257 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22258 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22259 Symbol Files}).
22260
22261 @table @code
22262
22263 @kindex set complaints
22264 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22265 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22266 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22267 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22268 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22269
22270 @kindex show complaints
22271 @item show complaints
22272 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22273
22274 @end table
22275
22276 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22277 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22278 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22279 you try to run a program which is already running:
22280
22281 @smallexample
22282 (@value{GDBP}) run
22283 The program being debugged has been started already.
22284 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22285 @end smallexample
22286
22287 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22288 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22289
22290 @table @code
22291
22292 @kindex set confirm
22293 @cindex flinching
22294 @cindex confirmation
22295 @cindex stupid questions
22296 @item set confirm off
22297 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22298 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22299 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22300
22301 @item set confirm on
22302 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22303
22304 @kindex show confirm
22305 @item show confirm
22306 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22307
22308 @end table
22309
22310 @cindex command tracing
22311 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22312 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22313 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22314 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22315
22316 @table @code
22317 @kindex set trace-commands
22318 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22319 @item set trace-commands on
22320 Enable command tracing.
22321 @item set trace-commands off
22322 Disable command tracing.
22323 @item show trace-commands
22324 Display the current state of command tracing.
22325 @end table
22326
22327 @node Debugging Output
22328 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22329 @cindex optional debugging messages
22330
22331 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22332 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22333 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22334 section documents those commands.
22335
22336 @table @code
22337 @kindex set exec-done-display
22338 @item set exec-done-display
22339 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22340 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22341 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22342 @kindex show exec-done-display
22343 @item show exec-done-display
22344 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22345 notification.
22346 @kindex set debug
22347 @cindex ARM AArch64
22348 @item set debug aarch64
22349 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22350 The default is off.
22351 @kindex show debug
22352 @item show debug aarch64
22353 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22354 ARM AArch64.
22355 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22356 @cindex architecture debugging info
22357 @item set debug arch
22358 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22359 @item show debug arch
22360 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22361 @item set debug aix-solib
22362 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
22363 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22364 support module. The default is off.
22365 @item show debug aix-thread
22366 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22367 @item set debug aix-thread
22368 @cindex AIX threads
22369 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22370 module.
22371 @item show debug aix-thread
22372 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22373 @item set debug check-physname
22374 @cindex physname
22375 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22376 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22377 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22378 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22379 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22380 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22381 @item show debug check-physname
22382 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22383 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22384 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22385 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22386 exported symbols. The default is off.
22387 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22388 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22389 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22390 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22391 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22392 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22393 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22394 A value of zero turns off the display.
22395 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22396 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22397 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22398 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22399 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22400 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22401 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22402 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22403 @item set debug displaced
22404 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22405 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22406 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22407 @item show debug displaced
22408 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22409 related to displaced stepping.
22410 @item set debug event
22411 @cindex event debugging info
22412 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22413 default is off.
22414 @item show debug event
22415 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22416 info.
22417 @item set debug expression
22418 @cindex expression debugging info
22419 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22420 expression parsing. The default is off.
22421 @item show debug expression
22422 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22423 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22424 @item set debug frame
22425 @cindex frame debugging info
22426 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22427 default is off.
22428 @item show debug frame
22429 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22430 info.
22431 @item set debug gnu-nat
22432 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22433 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22434 @item show debug gnu-nat
22435 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22436 @item set debug infrun
22437 @cindex inferior debugging info
22438 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22439 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22440 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22441 @item show debug infrun
22442 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22443 @item set debug jit
22444 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22445 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22446 @item show debug jit
22447 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22448 @item set debug lin-lwp
22449 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22450 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22451 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22452 @item show debug lin-lwp
22453 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22454 @item set debug mach-o
22455 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22456 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22457 processing. The default is off.
22458 @item show debug mach-o
22459 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22460 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22461 @item set debug notification
22462 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22463 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22464 The default is off.
22465 @item show debug notification
22466 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22467 @item set debug observer
22468 @cindex observer debugging info
22469 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22470 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22471 @item show debug observer
22472 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22473 @item set debug overload
22474 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22475 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22476 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22477 is off.
22478 @item show debug overload
22479 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22480 debugging info.
22481 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22482 @cindex debug expression parser
22483 @item set debug parser
22484 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22485 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22486 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22487 details. The default is off.
22488 @item show debug parser
22489 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22490 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22491 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22492 @cindex debug remote protocol
22493 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22494 @cindex display remote packets
22495 @item set debug remote
22496 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22497 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22498 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22499 @item show debug remote
22500 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22501 @item set debug serial
22502 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22503 default is off.
22504 @item show debug serial
22505 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22506 info.
22507 @item set debug solib-frv
22508 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22509 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22510 @item show debug solib-frv
22511 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22512 messages.
22513 @item set debug symtab-create
22514 @cindex symbol table creation
22515 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22516 The default is off.
22517 @item show debug symtab-create
22518 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22519 @item set debug target
22520 @cindex target debugging info
22521 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22522 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22523 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22524 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22525 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22526 @item show debug target
22527 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22528 info.
22529 @item set debug timestamp
22530 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22531 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22532 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22533 message.
22534 @item show debug timestamp
22535 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22536 debugging info.
22537 @item set debugvarobj
22538 @cindex variable object debugging info
22539 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22540 info. The default is off.
22541 @item show debugvarobj
22542 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22543 debugging info.
22544 @item set debug xml
22545 @cindex XML parser debugging
22546 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22547 @item show debug xml
22548 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22549 @end table
22550
22551 @node Other Misc Settings
22552 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22553 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22554
22555 @table @code
22556 @kindex set interactive-mode
22557 @item set interactive-mode
22558 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22559 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22560 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22561 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22562 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22563 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22564 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22565 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22566
22567 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22568 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22569 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22570 inside a cygwin window.
22571
22572 @kindex show interactive-mode
22573 @item show interactive-mode
22574 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22575 @end table
22576
22577 @node Extending GDB
22578 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22579 @cindex extending GDB
22580
22581 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22582 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22583 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22584 existing commands.
22585
22586 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22587 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22588 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22589 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22590 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22591 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22592
22593 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22594 setting:
22595
22596 @table @code
22597 @kindex set script-extension
22598 @kindex show script-extension
22599 @item set script-extension off
22600 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22601
22602 @item set script-extension soft
22603 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22604 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22605 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22606 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22607
22608 @item set script-extension strict
22609 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22610 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22611 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22612
22613 @item show script-extension
22614 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22615
22616 @end table
22617
22618 @menu
22619 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22620 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22621 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22622 @end menu
22623
22624 @node Sequences
22625 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22626
22627 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22628 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22629 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22630 files.
22631
22632 @menu
22633 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22634 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22635 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22636 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22637 @end menu
22638
22639 @node Define
22640 @subsection User-defined Commands
22641
22642 @cindex user-defined command
22643 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22644 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22645 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22646 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22647 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22648 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22649
22650 @smallexample
22651 define adder
22652 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22653 end
22654 @end smallexample
22655
22656 @noindent
22657 To execute the command use:
22658
22659 @smallexample
22660 adder 1 2 3
22661 @end smallexample
22662
22663 @noindent
22664 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22665 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22666 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22667 functions calls.
22668
22669 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22670 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22671 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22672 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22673
22674 @smallexample
22675 define adder
22676 if $argc == 2
22677 print $arg0 + $arg1
22678 end
22679 if $argc == 3
22680 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22681 end
22682 end
22683 @end smallexample
22684
22685 @table @code
22686
22687 @kindex define
22688 @item define @var{commandname}
22689 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22690 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22691 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22692 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22693 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22694 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22695
22696 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22697 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22698 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22699
22700 @kindex document
22701 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22702 @item document @var{commandname}
22703 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22704 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22705 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22706 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22707 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22708 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22709
22710 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22711 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22712 does not change the documentation.
22713
22714 @kindex dont-repeat
22715 @cindex don't repeat command
22716 @item dont-repeat
22717 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22718 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22719 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22720
22721 @kindex help user-defined
22722 @item help user-defined
22723 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22724 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22725 included (if any).
22726
22727 @kindex show user
22728 @item show user
22729 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22730 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22731 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22732 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22733 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22734
22735 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22736 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22737 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22738 @item show max-user-call-depth
22739 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22740 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22741 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22742 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22743 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22744 @end table
22745
22746 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22747 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22748
22749 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22750 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22751 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22752
22753 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22754 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22755 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22756 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22757
22758 @node Hooks
22759 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22760 @cindex command hooks
22761 @cindex hooks, for commands
22762 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22763
22764 @kindex hook
22765 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22766 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22767 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22768 before that command.
22769
22770 @cindex hooks, post-command
22771 @kindex hookpost
22772 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22773 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22774 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22775 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22776 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22777
22778 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22779 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22780
22781 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22782 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22783
22784 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22785 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22786 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22787 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22788 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22789
22790 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22791 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22792 you could define:
22793
22794 @smallexample
22795 define hook-stop
22796 handle SIGALRM nopass
22797 end
22798
22799 define hook-run
22800 handle SIGALRM pass
22801 end
22802
22803 define hook-continue
22804 handle SIGALRM pass
22805 end
22806 @end smallexample
22807
22808 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22809 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22810 you could define:
22811
22812 @smallexample
22813 define hook-echo
22814 echo <<<---
22815 end
22816
22817 define hookpost-echo
22818 echo --->>>\n
22819 end
22820
22821 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22822 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22823 (@value{GDBP})
22824
22825 @end smallexample
22826
22827 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22828 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22829 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22830 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22831 @c or not?
22832 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22833 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22834 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22835
22836 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22837 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22838 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22839
22840 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22841 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22842
22843 @node Command Files
22844 @subsection Command Files
22845
22846 @cindex command files
22847 @cindex scripting commands
22848 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22849 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22850 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22851 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22852 terminal.
22853
22854 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22855 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22856 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22857 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22858 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22859
22860 @table @code
22861 @kindex source
22862 @cindex execute commands from a file
22863 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22864 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22865 @end table
22866
22867 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22868 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22869 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22870 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22871 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22872
22873 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22874 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22875 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22876 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22877 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22878 is not relevant to scripts.
22879
22880 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22881 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22882 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22883 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22884 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22885 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22886 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22887 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22888 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22889 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22890 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22891 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22892 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22893 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22894
22895 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22896 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22897 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22898
22899 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22900 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22901 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22902 when called from command files.
22903
22904 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22905 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22906 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22907 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22908 the next command.
22909
22910 @smallexample
22911 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22912 @end smallexample
22913
22914 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22915 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22916 would be directed to @file{log}.
22917
22918 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22919 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22920 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22921 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22922 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22923 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22924 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22925 conditionally, etc.
22926
22927 @table @code
22928 @kindex if
22929 @kindex else
22930 @item if
22931 @itemx else
22932 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22933 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22934 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22935 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22936 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22937 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22938 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22939
22940 @kindex while
22941 @item while
22942 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22943 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22944 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22945 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22946 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22947 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22948
22949 @kindex loop_break
22950 @item loop_break
22951 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22952 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22953 line.
22954
22955 @kindex loop_continue
22956 @item loop_continue
22957 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22958 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22959 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22960 the controlling expression.
22961
22962 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22963 @item end
22964 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22965 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22966 @end table
22967
22968
22969 @node Output
22970 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22971
22972 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22973 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22974 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22975 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22976 want.
22977
22978 @table @code
22979 @kindex echo
22980 @item echo @var{text}
22981 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22982 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22983 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22984 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22985 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22986 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22987 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22988 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22989 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22990 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22991 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22992
22993 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22994 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22995
22996 @smallexample
22997 echo This is some text\n\
22998 which is continued\n\
22999 onto several lines.\n
23000 @end smallexample
23001
23002 produces the same output as
23003
23004 @smallexample
23005 echo This is some text\n
23006 echo which is continued\n
23007 echo onto several lines.\n
23008 @end smallexample
23009
23010 @kindex output
23011 @item output @var{expression}
23012 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23013 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23014 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23015 on expressions.
23016
23017 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23018 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23019 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23020 Formats}, for more information.
23021
23022 @kindex printf
23023 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23024 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23025 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23026 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23027 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23028 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23029 executing the code below:
23030
23031 @smallexample
23032 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23033 @end smallexample
23034
23035 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23036 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23037 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23038 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23039 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23040 printed.
23041
23042 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23043
23044 @smallexample
23045 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23046 @end smallexample
23047
23048 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23049 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23050 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23051
23052 @itemize @bullet
23053 @item
23054 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23055
23056 @item
23057 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23058 width.
23059
23060 @item
23061 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23062 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23063
23064 @item
23065 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23066 supported.
23067
23068 @item
23069 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23070
23071 @item
23072 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23073 @end itemize
23074
23075 @noindent
23076 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23077 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23078 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23079 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23080
23081 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23082 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23083 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23084 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23085 supported.
23086
23087 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23088 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23089 together with a floating point specifier.
23090 letters:
23091
23092 @itemize @bullet
23093 @item
23094 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23095
23096 @item
23097 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23098
23099 @item
23100 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23101 @end itemize
23102
23103 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23104 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23105 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23106
23107 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23108 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23109
23110 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23111 @smallexample
23112 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23113 @end smallexample
23114
23115 @kindex eval
23116 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23117 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23118 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23119
23120 @end table
23121
23122 @node Python
23123 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23124 @cindex python scripting
23125 @cindex scripting with python
23126
23127 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23128 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23129 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23130
23131 @cindex python directory
23132 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23133 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23134 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23135 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23136 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23137 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23138
23139 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23140 are written in Python and are located in the
23141 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23142 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23143 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23144
23145 @menu
23146 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23147 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23148 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23149 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23150 @end menu
23151
23152 @node Python Commands
23153 @subsection Python Commands
23154 @cindex python commands
23155 @cindex commands to access python
23156
23157 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23158 and one related setting:
23159
23160 @table @code
23161 @kindex python-interactive
23162 @kindex pi
23163 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23164 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23165 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23166 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23167 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23168
23169 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23170 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23171 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23172
23173 @smallexample
23174 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
23175 5
23176 @end smallexample
23177
23178 @kindex python
23179 @kindex py
23180 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23181 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23182 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23183
23184 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23185 argument as a Python command. For example:
23186
23187 @smallexample
23188 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
23189 23
23190 @end smallexample
23191
23192 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23193 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23194 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23195 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23196 containing @code{end}. For example:
23197
23198 @smallexample
23199 (@value{GDBP}) python
23200 Type python script
23201 End with a line saying just "end".
23202 >print 23
23203 >end
23204 23
23205 @end smallexample
23206
23207 @kindex set python print-stack
23208 @item set python print-stack
23209 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23210 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23211 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23212 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23213 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23214 the message component of the error is printed.
23215 @end table
23216
23217 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23218 interpreter:
23219
23220 @table @code
23221 @item source @file{script-name}
23222 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23223 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23224 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23225
23226 @item python execfile ("script-name")
23227 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23228 and thus is always available.
23229 @end table
23230
23231 @node Python API
23232 @subsection Python API
23233 @cindex python api
23234 @cindex programming in python
23235
23236 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23237 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23238
23239 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23240 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23241 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23242 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23243
23244 @menu
23245 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23246 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23247 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23248 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23249 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23250 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23251 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23252 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23253 * Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23254 * Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23255 * Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23256 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23257 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23258 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23259 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23260 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23261 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23262 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23263 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23264 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23265 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23266 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23267 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23268 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23269 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23270 using Python.
23271 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23272 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23273 @end menu
23274
23275 @node Basic Python
23276 @subsubsection Basic Python
23277
23278 @cindex python stdout
23279 @cindex python pagination
23280 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23281 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23282 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23283 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23284 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23285
23286 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23287 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23288
23289 @itemize @bullet
23290 @item
23291 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23292 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23293 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23294 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23295 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23296 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23297
23298 @item
23299 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23300 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23301 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23302 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23303 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23304 child process.
23305 @end itemize
23306
23307 @cindex python functions
23308 @cindex python module
23309 @cindex gdb module
23310 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23311 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23312 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23313 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23314
23315 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23316 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23317 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23318 @end defvar
23319
23320 @findex gdb.execute
23321 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23322 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23323 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23324 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23325
23326 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23327 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23328 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23329
23330 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23331 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23332 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23333 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23334 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23335 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23336 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23337 @end defun
23338
23339 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23340 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23341 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23342 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23343 @end defun
23344
23345 @findex gdb.parameter
23346 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23347 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23348 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23349 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23350 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23351
23352 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23353 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23354 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23355 type, and returned.
23356 @end defun
23357
23358 @findex gdb.history
23359 @defun gdb.history (number)
23360 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23361 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23362 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23363 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23364 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23365 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23366 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23367 raised.
23368
23369 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23370 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23371 @end defun
23372
23373 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23374 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23375 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23376 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23377 @var{expression} must be a string.
23378
23379 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23380 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23381 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23382 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23383 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23384 @end defun
23385
23386 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23387 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23388 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23389 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23390 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23391 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23392 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23393 @end defun
23394
23395 @findex gdb.post_event
23396 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23397 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23398 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23399 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23400 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23401 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23402 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23403
23404 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23405 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23406 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23407 this. For example:
23408
23409 @smallexample
23410 (@value{GDBP}) python
23411 >import threading
23412 >
23413 >class Writer():
23414 > def __init__(self, message):
23415 > self.message = message;
23416 > def __call__(self):
23417 > gdb.write(self.message)
23418 >
23419 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23420 > def run (self):
23421 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23422 >
23423 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23424 > def run (self):
23425 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23426 >
23427 >MyThread1().start()
23428 >MyThread2().start()
23429 >end
23430 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23431 @end smallexample
23432 @end defun
23433
23434 @findex gdb.write
23435 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23436 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23437 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23438 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23439 values are:
23440
23441 @table @code
23442 @findex STDOUT
23443 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23444 @item gdb.STDOUT
23445 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23446
23447 @findex STDERR
23448 @findex gdb.STDERR
23449 @item gdb.STDERR
23450 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23451
23452 @findex STDLOG
23453 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23454 @item gdb.STDLOG
23455 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23456 @end table
23457
23458 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23459 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23460 relevant stream.
23461 @end defun
23462
23463 @findex gdb.flush
23464 @defun gdb.flush ()
23465 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23466 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23467 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23468 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23469 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23470 stream values are:
23471
23472 @table @code
23473 @findex STDOUT
23474 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23475 @item gdb.STDOUT
23476 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23477
23478 @findex STDERR
23479 @findex gdb.STDERR
23480 @item gdb.STDERR
23481 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23482
23483 @findex STDLOG
23484 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23485 @item gdb.STDLOG
23486 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23487
23488 @end table
23489
23490 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23491 call this function for the relevant stream.
23492 @end defun
23493
23494 @findex gdb.target_charset
23495 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23496 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23497 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23498 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23499 @end defun
23500
23501 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23502 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23503 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23504 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23505 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23506 never returned.
23507 @end defun
23508
23509 @findex gdb.solib_name
23510 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23511 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23512 as a string, or @code{None}.
23513 @end defun
23514
23515 @findex gdb.decode_line
23516 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23517 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23518 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23519 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23520 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23521 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23522 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23523 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23524 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23525 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23526 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23527 @end defun
23528
23529 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23530 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23531
23532 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23533 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23534 @value{GDBN}.
23535
23536 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23537 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23538 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23539 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23540 the current prompt.
23541
23542 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23543 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23544 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23545 @end defun
23546
23547 @node Exception Handling
23548 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23549 @cindex python exceptions
23550 @cindex exceptions, python
23551
23552 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23553 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23554 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23555 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23556 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23557 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23558 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23559
23560 @smallexample
23561 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23562 Traceback (most recent call last):
23563 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23564 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23565 @end smallexample
23566
23567 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23568 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23569 Python exception depends on the error.
23570
23571 @ftable @code
23572 @item gdb.error
23573 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23574 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23575 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23576
23577 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23578 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23579
23580 @item gdb.MemoryError
23581 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23582 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23583
23584 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23585 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23586 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23587 @end ftable
23588
23589 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23590 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23591 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23592 traceback.
23593
23594 @findex gdb.GdbError
23595 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23596 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23597 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23598 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23599 to handle this case. Example:
23600
23601 @smallexample
23602 (gdb) python
23603 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23604 > """Greet the whole world."""
23605 > def __init__ (self):
23606 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23607 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23608 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23609 > if len (argv) != 0:
23610 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23611 > print "Hello, World!"
23612 >HelloWorld ()
23613 >end
23614 (gdb) hello-world 42
23615 hello-world takes no arguments
23616 @end smallexample
23617
23618 @node Values From Inferior
23619 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23620 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23621 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23622
23623 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23624 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23625 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23626 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23627 fetching values when necessary.
23628
23629 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23630 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23631 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23632
23633 @smallexample
23634 bar = some_val + 2
23635 @end smallexample
23636
23637 @noindent
23638 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23639 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23640
23641 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23642 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23643 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23644 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23645
23646 @smallexample
23647 bar = some_val['foo']
23648 @end smallexample
23649
23650 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23651
23652 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23653 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23654 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23655 by that prototype.
23656
23657 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23658 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23659 execute this function, call it like so:
23660
23661 @smallexample
23662 result = some_val (10,20)
23663 @end smallexample
23664
23665 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23666 @code{gdb.Value}.
23667
23668 The following attributes are provided:
23669
23670 @defvar Value.address
23671 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23672 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23673 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23674 @end defvar
23675
23676 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23677 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23678 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23679 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23680 @end defvar
23681
23682 @defvar Value.type
23683 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23684 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23685 @end defvar
23686
23687 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23688 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23689 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23690 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23691 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23692 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23693 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23694 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23695 type.
23696
23697 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23698 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23699 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23700 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23701 @end defvar
23702
23703 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23704 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23705 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23706 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23707 For example:
23708
23709 @smallexample
23710 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23711 @end smallexample
23712
23713 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23714 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23715 method is invoked.
23716 @end defvar
23717
23718 The following methods are provided:
23719
23720 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23721 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23722 this object initializer. Specifically:
23723
23724 @table @asis
23725 @item Python boolean
23726 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23727 language.
23728
23729 @item Python integer
23730 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23731 current architecture.
23732
23733 @item Python long
23734 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23735 current architecture.
23736
23737 @item Python float
23738 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23739 current architecture.
23740
23741 @item Python string
23742 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23743 target encoding.
23744
23745 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23746 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23747
23748 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23749 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23750 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23751 its result is used.
23752 @end table
23753 @end defun
23754
23755 @defun Value.cast (type)
23756 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23757 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23758 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23759 reason, this method throws an exception.
23760 @end defun
23761
23762 @defun Value.dereference ()
23763 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23764 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23765 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23766
23767 @smallexample
23768 int *foo;
23769 @end smallexample
23770
23771 @noindent
23772 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23773 @code{foo} points to like this:
23774
23775 @smallexample
23776 bar = foo.dereference ()
23777 @end smallexample
23778
23779 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23780 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23781
23782 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23783 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23784 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23785 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23786 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23787 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23788 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23789 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23790 as
23791
23792 @smallexample
23793 typedef int *intptr;
23794 ...
23795 int val = 10;
23796 intptr ptr = &val;
23797 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23798 @end smallexample
23799
23800 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23801 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23802 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23803 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23804 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23805 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23806
23807 @smallexample
23808 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23809 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23810 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23811 @end smallexample
23812
23813 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23814 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23815 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23816 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23817 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23818 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23819 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23820 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23821 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23822 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23823 @end defun
23824
23825 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23826 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23827 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23828 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23829 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23830 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23831 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23832 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23833 in your C@t{++} program as
23834
23835 @smallexample
23836 int val = 10;
23837 int &ref = val;
23838 @end smallexample
23839
23840 @noindent
23841 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23842 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23843 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23844 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23845
23846 @smallexample
23847 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23848 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23849 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23850 @end smallexample
23851
23852 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23853 corresponding to @code{val}.
23854 @end defun
23855
23856 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23857 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23858 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23859 @end defun
23860
23861 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23862 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23863 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23864 @end defun
23865
23866 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23867 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23868 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23869 throw an exception.
23870
23871 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23872 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23873 language.
23874
23875 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23876 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23877 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23878 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23879 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23880
23881 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23882 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23883 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23884 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23885 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23886 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23887 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23888 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23889 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23890
23891 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23892 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23893
23894 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23895 fetched and converted to the given length.
23896 @end defun
23897
23898 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23899 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23900 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23901 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23902
23903 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23904 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23905 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23906 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23907 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23908
23909 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23910 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23911 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23912 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23913 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23914 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23915
23916 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23917 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23918 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23919 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23920 @end defun
23921
23922 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23923 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23924 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23925 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23926 will produce a Python exception.
23927
23928 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23929 has no effect.
23930
23931 This method does not return a value.
23932 @end defun
23933
23934
23935 @node Types In Python
23936 @subsubsection Types In Python
23937 @cindex types in Python
23938 @cindex Python, working with types
23939
23940 @tindex gdb.Type
23941 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23942 @code{gdb.Type}.
23943
23944 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23945 module:
23946
23947 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23948 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23949 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23950 type to look up. It must be a string.
23951
23952 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23953 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23954
23955 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23956 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23957 @end defun
23958
23959 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23960 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23961 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23962 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23963
23964 @smallexample
23965 bar = some_type['foo']
23966 @end smallexample
23967
23968 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23969 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23970 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23971
23972 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23973
23974 @defvar Type.code
23975 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23976 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23977 @end defvar
23978
23979 @defvar Type.sizeof
23980 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23981 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23982 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23983 @end defvar
23984
23985 @defvar Type.tag
23986 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23987 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23988 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23989 @code{None} is returned.
23990 @end defvar
23991
23992 The following methods are provided:
23993
23994 @defun Type.fields ()
23995 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23996 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23997 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23998 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23999 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24000 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24001
24002 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24003 @table @code
24004 @item bitpos
24005 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
24006 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
24007 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
24008 enumeration member's integer representation.
24009
24010 @item name
24011 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24012
24013 @item artificial
24014 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24015 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24016 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24017
24018 @item is_base_class
24019 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24020 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24021 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24022 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24023
24024 @item bitsize
24025 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24026 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24027 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24028
24029 @item type
24030 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24031 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24032 @end table
24033 @end defun
24034
24035 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24036 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24037 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24038 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24039 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24040 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24041 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24042 @end defun
24043
24044 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24045 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24046 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24047 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24048 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24049 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24050 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24051
24052 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24053 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24054 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24055 @end defun
24056
24057 @defun Type.const ()
24058 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24059 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24060 @end defun
24061
24062 @defun Type.volatile ()
24063 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24064 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24065 @end defun
24066
24067 @defun Type.unqualified ()
24068 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24069 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24070 @code{volatile}.
24071 @end defun
24072
24073 @defun Type.range ()
24074 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24075 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24076 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24077 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24078 @end defun
24079
24080 @defun Type.reference ()
24081 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24082 type.
24083 @end defun
24084
24085 @defun Type.pointer ()
24086 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24087 type.
24088 @end defun
24089
24090 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24091 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24092 after removing all layers of typedefs.
24093 @end defun
24094
24095 @defun Type.target ()
24096 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24097 of this type.
24098
24099 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24100 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24101 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24102 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24103 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24104 target type is the aliased type.
24105
24106 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24107 exception.
24108 @end defun
24109
24110 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24111 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24112 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24113 @var{n}th template argument.
24114
24115 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24116 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24117
24118 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24119 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24120 @end defun
24121
24122
24123 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24124 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24125 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24126
24127 @table @code
24128 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24129 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24130 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24131 The type is a pointer.
24132
24133 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24134 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24135 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24136 The type is an array.
24137
24138 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24139 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24140 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24141 The type is a structure.
24142
24143 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24144 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24145 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24146 The type is a union.
24147
24148 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24149 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24150 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24151 The type is an enum.
24152
24153 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24154 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24155 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24156 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24157
24158 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24159 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24160 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24161 The type is a function.
24162
24163 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24164 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24165 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24166 The type is an integer type.
24167
24168 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24169 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24170 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24171 A floating point type.
24172
24173 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24174 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24175 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24176 The special type @code{void}.
24177
24178 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24179 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24180 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24181 A Pascal set type.
24182
24183 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24184 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24185 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24186 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24187
24188 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24189 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24190 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24191 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24192 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24193
24194 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24195 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24196 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24197 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24198
24199 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24200 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24201 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24202 An unknown or erroneous type.
24203
24204 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24205 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24206 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24207 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24208
24209 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24210 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24211 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24212 A pointer-to-member-function.
24213
24214 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24215 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24216 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24217 A pointer-to-member.
24218
24219 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24220 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24221 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24222 A reference type.
24223
24224 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24225 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24226 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24227 A character type.
24228
24229 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24230 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24231 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24232 A boolean type.
24233
24234 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24235 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24236 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24237 A complex float type.
24238
24239 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24240 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24241 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24242 A typedef to some other type.
24243
24244 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24245 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24246 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24247 A C@t{++} namespace.
24248
24249 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24250 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24251 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24252 A decimal floating point type.
24253
24254 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24255 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24256 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24257 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24258 convenience functions.
24259 @end table
24260
24261 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24262 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24263
24264 @node Pretty Printing API
24265 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24266
24267 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24268
24269 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24270 specific interface, defined here.
24271
24272 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24273 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24274 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24275
24276 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24277 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24278 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24279 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24280 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24281
24282 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24283 as though the value has no children.
24284 @end defun
24285
24286 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24287 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24288 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24289 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24290 printed.
24291
24292 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24293 string.
24294
24295 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24296
24297 @table @samp
24298 @item array
24299 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24300 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24301 @code{set print array}.
24302
24303 @item map
24304 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24305 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24306 values.
24307
24308 @item string
24309 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24310 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24311 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24312 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24313 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24314 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24315 @end table
24316 @end defun
24317
24318 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24319 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24320 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24321
24322 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24323 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24324 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24325 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24326 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24327 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24328 the result of @code{children}.
24329
24330 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24331
24332 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24333 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24334 another pretty-printer.
24335
24336 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24337 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24338 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24339 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24340 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24341
24342 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24343 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24344
24345 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24346 @end defun
24347
24348 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24349 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24350
24351 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24352 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24353 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24354 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24355 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24356 @end defun
24357
24358 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24359 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24360
24361 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24362 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24363 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24364 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24365 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24366 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24367 attribute.
24368
24369 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24370 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24371 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24372 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24373 @code{None}.
24374
24375 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24376 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24377 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24378 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24379 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24380 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24381 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24382 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24383 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24384 object is returned.
24385
24386 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24387 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24388 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24389 object is returned.
24390
24391 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24392 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24393 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24394
24395 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24396 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24397 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24398 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24399 with a broken printer.
24400
24401 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24402 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24403 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24404 the printer is enabled.
24405
24406 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24407 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24408 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24409
24410 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24411 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24412
24413 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24414 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24415 must provide.
24416
24417 @smallexample
24418 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24419 "Print a std::string"
24420
24421 def __init__(self, val):
24422 self.val = val
24423
24424 def to_string(self):
24425 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24426
24427 def display_hint(self):
24428 return 'string'
24429 @end smallexample
24430
24431 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24432 example above might be written.
24433
24434 @smallexample
24435 def str_lookup_function(val):
24436 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24437 if lookup_tag == None:
24438 return None
24439 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24440 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24441 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24442 return None
24443 @end smallexample
24444
24445 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24446 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24447 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24448 returns @code{None}.
24449
24450 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24451 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24452 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24453 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24454 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24455 different names.
24456
24457 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24458 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24459 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24460 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24461 the current objfile.
24462
24463 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24464 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24465 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24466 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24467 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24468 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24469 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24470 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24471 inferior.
24472
24473 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24474 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24475
24476 @smallexample
24477 def register_printers(objfile):
24478 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24479 @end smallexample
24480
24481 @noindent
24482 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24483
24484 @smallexample
24485 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24486 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24487 @end smallexample
24488
24489 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24490 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24491 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24492 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24493 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24494
24495 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24496 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24497 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24498 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24499 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24500 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24501
24502 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24503 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24504 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24505
24506 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24507
24508 @smallexample
24509 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24510 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24511 @end smallexample
24512
24513 Here are the printers:
24514
24515 @smallexample
24516 class fooPrinter:
24517 """Print a foo object."""
24518
24519 def __init__(self, val):
24520 self.val = val
24521
24522 def to_string(self):
24523 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24524 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24525
24526 class barPrinter:
24527 """Print a bar object."""
24528
24529 def __init__(self, val):
24530 self.val = val
24531
24532 def to_string(self):
24533 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24534 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24535 @end smallexample
24536
24537 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24538 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24539 the object that handles the lookup.
24540
24541 @smallexample
24542 import gdb.printing
24543
24544 def build_pretty_printer():
24545 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24546 "my_library")
24547 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24548 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24549 return pp
24550 @end smallexample
24551
24552 And here is the autoload support:
24553
24554 @smallexample
24555 import gdb.printing
24556 import my_library
24557 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24558 gdb.current_objfile(),
24559 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24560 @end smallexample
24561
24562 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24563 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24564
24565 @smallexample
24566 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24567 my_library.so:
24568 my_library
24569 foo
24570 bar
24571 @end smallexample
24572
24573 @node Type Printing API
24574 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24575 @cindex type printing API for Python
24576
24577 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24578 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24579 types.
24580
24581 @cindex type printer
24582 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24583 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24584 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24585
24586 @defivar type_printer enabled
24587 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24588 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24589 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24590 @end defivar
24591
24592 @defivar type_printer name
24593 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24594 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24595 commands.
24596 @end defivar
24597
24598 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24599 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24600 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24601 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24602 @end defmethod
24603
24604
24605 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24606 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24607 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24608 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24609 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24610
24611 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24612 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24613 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24614
24615 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24616 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24617 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24618 The recognition function is defined as:
24619
24620 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24621 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24622 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24623 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24624 Python}).
24625 @end defmethod
24626
24627 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24628 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24629 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24630 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24631 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24632 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24633 inferior changed.
24634
24635 @node Frame Filter API
24636 @subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24637 @cindex frame filters api
24638
24639 Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24640 frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24641 @value{GDBN}.
24642
24643 Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24644 commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24645 are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24646
24647 @code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24648 @code{-stack-list-frames}
24649 (@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24650 @code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24651 -stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24652 @pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24653 @code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24654 -stack-list-locals command}).
24655
24656 A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24657 actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24658 iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24659 where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24660 filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24661 work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
24662 Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
24663 the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
24664 call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
24665 @value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
24666 should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
24667 and that some frame filters will be executed after.
24668
24669 An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
24670 worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
24671 the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
24672 tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
24673 filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
24674 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
24675 iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
24676 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
24677 the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
24678 executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
24679 Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
24680 examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
24681 @xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
24682
24683 The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
24684 pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
24685 dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
24686 available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
24687 register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
24688 @code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
24689 with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
24690 Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
24691 can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
24692 @code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
24693 object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
24694 attribute.
24695
24696 When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
24697 frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
24698 @code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
24699 loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
24700 several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
24701 @value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
24702 attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
24703 to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
24704
24705 Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
24706 creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
24707 @code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
24708 output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
24709 filter, and so on.
24710
24711 Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
24712 implement, defined here:
24713
24714 @defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
24715 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
24716 reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
24717
24718 For example, if there are four frame filters:
24719
24720 @smallexample
24721 Name Priority
24722
24723 Filter1 5
24724 Filter2 10
24725 Filter3 100
24726 Filter4 1
24727 @end smallexample
24728
24729 The order that the frame filters will be called is:
24730
24731 @smallexample
24732 Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
24733 @end smallexample
24734
24735 Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
24736 @code{Filter2}, and so on.
24737
24738 This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
24739 contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
24740 @code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
24741 decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
24742 filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
24743 @code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
24744 executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
24745 the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
24746 decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
24747 decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
24748 Decorator API}).
24749
24750 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24751 protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
24752 the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
24753 perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
24754 iterator untouched.
24755
24756 This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
24757 raise and print an error.
24758 @end defun
24759
24760 @defvar FrameFilter.name
24761 The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
24762 name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
24763 Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
24764 or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
24765 attribute is mandatory.
24766 @end defvar
24767
24768 @defvar FrameFilter.enabled
24769 The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
24770 indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
24771 should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
24772 @code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
24773 when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
24774 are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
24775 filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
24776 @end defvar
24777
24778 @defvar FrameFilter.priority
24779 The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
24780 controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
24781 There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
24782 it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
24783 the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
24784 frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
24785 recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
24786 frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
24787 priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
24788 attribute is mandatory.
24789 @end defvar
24790
24791 @node Frame Decorator API
24792 @subsubsection Decorating Frames.
24793 @cindex frame decorator api
24794
24795 Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
24796 Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
24797 only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
24798
24799 The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
24800 of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
24801 This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
24802 a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
24803 This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
24804 the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
24805 necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
24806 @code{gdb.Frame}.
24807
24808 Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
24809
24810 @value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
24811 @code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
24812 boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
24813 recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
24814 object, and only to override the methods needed.
24815
24816 @defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
24817
24818 The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
24819 system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
24820 frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
24821 example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
24822 a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
24823 language, to the user.
24824
24825 The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
24826 must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
24827 frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
24828 return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
24829 from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
24830 @code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
24831 frame.
24832
24833 It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
24834 the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
24835 @end defun
24836
24837 @defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
24838
24839 This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
24840 be printed.
24841
24842 This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
24843 @code{None}.
24844
24845 If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
24846 data for this field.
24847 @end defun
24848
24849 @defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
24850
24851 This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
24852
24853 This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
24854 size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
24855
24856 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24857 any data for this field.
24858 @end defun
24859
24860 @defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
24861
24862 This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
24863
24864 This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
24865 the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
24866
24867 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24868 any data for this field.
24869 @end defun
24870
24871 @defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
24872
24873 This method returns the line number associated with the current
24874 position within the function addressed by this frame.
24875
24876 This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
24877
24878 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24879 any data for this field.
24880 @end defun
24881
24882 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
24883 @anchor{frame_args}
24884
24885 This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
24886 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
24887 printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
24888 implement two methods, described here.
24889
24890 This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
24891 single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
24892 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
24893 implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
24894 parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
24895 Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
24896 method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
24897 @code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
24898 the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
24899
24900 A brief example:
24901
24902 @smallexample
24903 class SymValueWrapper():
24904
24905 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
24906 self.sym = symbol
24907 self.val = value
24908
24909 def value(self):
24910 return self.val
24911
24912 def symbol(self):
24913 return self.sym
24914
24915 class SomeFrameDecorator()
24916 ...
24917 ...
24918 def frame_args(self):
24919 args = []
24920 try:
24921 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
24922 except:
24923 return None
24924
24925 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
24926 # symbols that are arguments.
24927 for sym in block:
24928 if not sym.is_argument:
24929 continue
24930 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
24931
24932 # Add example synthetic argument.
24933 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
24934
24935 return args
24936 @end smallexample
24937 @end defun
24938
24939 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
24940
24941 This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
24942 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
24943 printed for this frame.
24944
24945 The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
24946 reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
24947 described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
24948 frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
24949
24950 @smallexample
24951 class SomeFrameDecorator()
24952 ...
24953 ...
24954 def frame_locals(self):
24955 vars = []
24956 try:
24957 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
24958 except:
24959 return None
24960
24961 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
24962 # symbols, except arguments.
24963 for sym in block:
24964 if sym.is_argument:
24965 continue
24966 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
24967
24968 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
24969 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
24970
24971 return vars
24972 @end smallexample
24973 @end defun
24974
24975 @defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
24976
24977 This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
24978 frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
24979 frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
24980 values when printing a frame.
24981 @end defun
24982
24983 @node Writing a Frame Filter
24984 @subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
24985 @cindex writing a frame filter
24986
24987 There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
24988 must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
24989 API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
24990 decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
24991 cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
24992 return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
24993 the following example.
24994
24995 @smallexample
24996 import gdb
24997
24998 class FrameFilter():
24999
25000 def __init__(self):
25001 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25002 #
25003 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25004 #
25005 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25006 # filters.
25007 #
25008 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25009 # enabled and should be executed.
25010
25011 self.name = "Foo"
25012 self.priority = 100
25013 self.enabled = True
25014
25015 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25016 # dictionary.
25017 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25018
25019 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25020 # Just return the iterator.
25021 return frame_iter
25022 @end smallexample
25023
25024 The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25025 requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25026 registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25027 returns the iterator untouched).
25028
25029 The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25030 the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25031 @code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25032 @code{enabled} attribute.
25033
25034 The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25035 dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25036 comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25037 @code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25038 is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25039 @value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25040 important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25041 of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25042 @code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25043 currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25044 present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25045 with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25046 avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25047 frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25048 the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25049 Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25050
25051 @value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25052 therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25053 registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25054 appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25055 relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25056 the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25057 attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25058 Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25059 in the @code{name} attribute.
25060
25061 The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25062 @code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25063 @code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25064 and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25065 frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25066 untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25067 have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25068 any frames.
25069
25070 In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25071 utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25072 @xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25073 decorator interface.
25074
25075 This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25076 inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25077 frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25078 method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25079 decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25080
25081 This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25082 decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25083 step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25084 decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25085 each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25086 when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25087 well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25088 that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25089 Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25090 cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25091 time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25092 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25093 to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25094 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25095
25096 In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25097 As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25098 in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25099 this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25100 the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25101 there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25102 can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25103 result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25104
25105 @smallexample
25106 class InlineFilter():
25107
25108 def __init__(self):
25109 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25110 self.priority = 100
25111 self.enabled = True
25112 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25113
25114 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25115 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25116 frame_iter)
25117 return frame_iter
25118 @end smallexample
25119
25120 This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25121 that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25122 @code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25123 @code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25124 iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25125 wraps the existing one.
25126
25127 Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25128
25129 @smallexample
25130 class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25131
25132 def __init__(self, fobj):
25133 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25134
25135 def function(self):
25136 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25137 name = str(frame.name())
25138
25139 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25140 name = name + " [inlined]"
25141
25142 return name
25143 @end smallexample
25144
25145 This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25146 method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25147 with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25148 this frame.
25149
25150 The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25151 backtrace:
25152
25153 @smallexample
25154 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25155 #1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25156 #2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25157 @end smallexample
25158
25159 So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25160 frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25161 @value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25162 @value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25163 on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25164 like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25165 time.
25166
25167 @subheading Eliding Frames
25168
25169 It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25170 inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25171 want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25172 decorator interface might be preferable.
25173
25174 This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25175 example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25176 this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25177 all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25178 example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25179
25180 This example comprises of three sections.
25181
25182 @smallexample
25183 class InlineFrameFilter():
25184
25185 def __init__(self):
25186 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25187 self.priority = 100
25188 self.enabled = True
25189 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25190
25191 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25192 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25193 @end smallexample
25194
25195 This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25196 difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25197 it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25198 @code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25199 @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25200 until printing.
25201
25202 The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25203 the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25204
25205 @smallexample
25206 class ElidingInlineIterator:
25207 def __init__(self, ii):
25208 self.input_iterator = ii
25209
25210 def __iter__(self):
25211 return self
25212
25213 def next(self):
25214 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25215
25216 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25217 return frame
25218
25219 try:
25220 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25221 except StopIteration:
25222 return frame
25223 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25224 @end smallexample
25225
25226 This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25227 @code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25228 the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25229 an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25230 untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25231 inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25232 @code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25233 frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25234 elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25235
25236 @smallexample
25237 class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25238
25239 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25240 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25241 self.frame = frame
25242 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25243
25244 def elided(self):
25245 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25246 @end smallexample
25247
25248 This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25249 frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25250 @code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25251 this frame. This produces the following output.
25252
25253 @smallexample
25254 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25255 #2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25256 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25257 @end smallexample
25258
25259 In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25260 printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25261 @code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25262 marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25263 relationship.
25264
25265 @node Inferiors In Python
25266 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25267 @cindex inferiors in Python
25268
25269 @findex gdb.Inferior
25270 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25271 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25272 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25273 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25274
25275 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25276 module:
25277
25278 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
25279 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25280 @end defun
25281
25282 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25283 Return an object representing the current inferior.
25284 @end defun
25285
25286 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25287
25288 @defvar Inferior.num
25289 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25290 @end defvar
25291
25292 @defvar Inferior.pid
25293 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25294 system.
25295 @end defvar
25296
25297 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
25298 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25299 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25300 @end defvar
25301
25302 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25303
25304 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25305 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25306 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25307 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25308 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25309 at the time the method is called.
25310 @end defun
25311
25312 @defun Inferior.threads ()
25313 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25314 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25315 return an empty tuple.
25316 @end defun
25317
25318 @findex Inferior.read_memory
25319 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25320 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25321 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25322 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25323 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25324 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25325 @end defun
25326
25327 @findex Inferior.write_memory
25328 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25329 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25330 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25331 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25332 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25333 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25334 @end defun
25335
25336 @findex gdb.search_memory
25337 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25338 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25339 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25340 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25341 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25342 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25343 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25344 the pattern could not be found.
25345 @end defun
25346
25347 @node Events In Python
25348 @subsubsection Events In Python
25349 @cindex inferior events in Python
25350
25351 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25352 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25353 the inferior.
25354
25355 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25356 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25357 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25358
25359 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25360 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25361 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25362 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25363
25364 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25365 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25366 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25367 @end defun
25368
25369 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25370 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25371 will no longer receive notifications of events.
25372 @end defun
25373
25374 Here is an example:
25375
25376 @smallexample
25377 def exit_handler (event):
25378 print "event type: exit"
25379 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25380
25381 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25382 @end smallexample
25383
25384 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25385 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25386 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25387 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25388 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25389 the inferior.
25390
25391 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25392 details of the events they emit:
25393
25394 @table @code
25395
25396 @item events.cont
25397 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25398
25399 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25400 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25401 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25402 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25403 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25404 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25405
25406 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25407 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25408 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25409 @end defvar
25410
25411 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25412
25413 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25414 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25415
25416 @item events.exited
25417 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25418 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25419 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25420 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25421 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25422 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25423 the attribute does not exist.
25424 @end defvar
25425 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25426 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25427 @end defvar
25428
25429 @item events.stop
25430 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25431
25432 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25433 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25434 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25435 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25436
25437 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25438
25439 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25440 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25441
25442 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25443 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25444 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25445 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25446 @end defvar
25447
25448 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25449
25450 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25451 been hit, and has the following attributes:
25452
25453 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25454 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25455 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25456 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25457 @end defvar
25458 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25459 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25460 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25461 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25462 @end defvar
25463
25464 @item events.new_objfile
25465 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25466 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25467
25468 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25469 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25470 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25471 @end defvar
25472
25473 @end table
25474
25475 @node Threads In Python
25476 @subsubsection Threads In Python
25477 @cindex threads in python
25478
25479 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
25480 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25481 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25482
25483 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25484 module:
25485
25486 @findex gdb.selected_thread
25487 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25488 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25489 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25490 @end defun
25491
25492 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25493
25494 @defvar InferiorThread.name
25495 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25496 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25497 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25498 returns @code{None}.
25499
25500 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25501 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25502 user-specified thread name.
25503 @end defvar
25504
25505 @defvar InferiorThread.num
25506 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25507 @end defvar
25508
25509 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25510 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25511 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25512 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25513 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25514 does not use that identifier.
25515 @end defvar
25516
25517 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25518
25519 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25520 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25521 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25522 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25523 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25524 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25525 @end defun
25526
25527 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25528 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25529 by this object.
25530 @end defun
25531
25532 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25533 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25534 @end defun
25535
25536 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25537 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25538 @end defun
25539
25540 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25541 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25542 @end defun
25543
25544 @node Commands In Python
25545 @subsubsection Commands In Python
25546
25547 @cindex commands in python
25548 @cindex python commands
25549 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25550 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25551 class, most commonly using a subclass.
25552
25553 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25554 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25555 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25556 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25557
25558 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25559 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25560 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25561 an exception is raised.
25562
25563 There is no support for multi-line commands.
25564
25565 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25566 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25567 new command in the help system.
25568
25569 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25570 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25571 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25572 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25573 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25574 error will occur when completion is attempted.
25575
25576 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25577 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25578 registered.
25579
25580 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25581 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25582 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25583 not documented.'' is used.
25584 @end defun
25585
25586 @cindex don't repeat Python command
25587 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25588 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25589 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25590 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25591 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25592 @end defun
25593
25594 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25595 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25596
25597 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25598 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25599
25600 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25601 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25602 that the command came from elsewhere.
25603
25604 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25605 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25606
25607 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
25608 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25609 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25610 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25611 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25612 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25613 Example:
25614
25615 @smallexample
25616 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25617 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25618 @end smallexample
25619
25620 @end defun
25621
25622 @cindex completion of Python commands
25623 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
25624 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25625 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25626 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25627 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25628 complete}).
25629
25630 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25631 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25632 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25633 using a word-breaking heuristic.
25634
25635 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25636 @itemize @bullet
25637 @item
25638 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25639 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25640 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25641 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25642 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25643 sequence are ignored.
25644
25645 @item
25646 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25647 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25648 function is invoked, and its result is used.
25649
25650 @item
25651 All other results are treated as though there were no available
25652 completions.
25653 @end itemize
25654 @end defun
25655
25656 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25657 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25658 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25659 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25660 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25661 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25662
25663 @table @code
25664 @findex COMMAND_NONE
25665 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25666 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25667 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
25668 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
25669
25670 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
25671 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25672 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25673 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
25674 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
25675 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25676 commands in this category.
25677
25678 @findex COMMAND_DATA
25679 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25680 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25681 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
25682 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
25683 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
25684 in this category.
25685
25686 @findex COMMAND_STACK
25687 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25688 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25689 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
25690 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
25691 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
25692 list of commands in this category.
25693
25694 @findex COMMAND_FILES
25695 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25696 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25697 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
25698 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
25699 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25700 commands in this category.
25701
25702 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
25703 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25704 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25705 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
25706 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
25707 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
25708 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
25709 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25710 commands in this category.
25711
25712 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
25713 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25714 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25715 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
25716 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
25717 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
25718 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
25719
25720 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25721 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25722 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25723 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
25724 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25725 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
25726 this category.
25727
25728 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25729 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25730 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25731 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
25732 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
25733 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25734 commands in this category.
25735
25736 @findex COMMAND_USER
25737 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
25738 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
25739 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
25740 does not fit in one of the other categories.
25741 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
25742 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
25743 (@pxref{Sequences}).
25744
25745 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
25746 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25747 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25748 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
25749 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
25750 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25751 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
25752 category.
25753
25754 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25755 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25756 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25757 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
25758 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
25759 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25760 commands in this category.
25761 @end table
25762
25763 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
25764 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
25765 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
25766 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25767
25768 @table @code
25769 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
25770 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25771 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25772 This constant means that no completion should be done.
25773
25774 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
25775 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25776 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25777 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
25778
25779 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
25780 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25781 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25782 This constant means that location completion should be done.
25783 @xref{Specify Location}.
25784
25785 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
25786 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25787 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25788 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
25789 command names.
25790
25791 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25792 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25793 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25794 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
25795 as the source.
25796 @end table
25797
25798 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
25799 implemented in Python:
25800
25801 @smallexample
25802 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
25803 """Greet the whole world."""
25804
25805 def __init__ (self):
25806 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
25807
25808 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
25809 print "Hello, World!"
25810
25811 HelloWorld ()
25812 @end smallexample
25813
25814 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
25815 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
25816 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
25817 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
25818
25819 @node Parameters In Python
25820 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
25821
25822 @cindex parameters in python
25823 @cindex python parameters
25824 @tindex gdb.Parameter
25825 @tindex Parameter
25826 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
25827 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
25828 class.
25829
25830 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
25831 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
25832
25833 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
25834 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
25835 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
25836 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
25837 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
25838
25839 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
25840 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
25841 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
25842 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25843
25844 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
25845 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25846 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
25847 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
25848 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
25849 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
25850 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
25851
25852 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
25853 can be found, an exception is raised.
25854
25855 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25856 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
25857 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
25858
25859 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
25860 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
25861 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
25862 completion.
25863
25864 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
25865 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
25866 represent the possible values for the parameter.
25867
25868 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
25869 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
25870
25871 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
25872 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
25873 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
25874 @end defun
25875
25876 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
25877 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25878 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
25879 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25880 have no effect.
25881 @end defvar
25882
25883 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
25884 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25885 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
25886 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25887 have no effect.
25888 @end defvar
25889
25890 @defvar Parameter.value
25891 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
25892 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
25893 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
25894 @end defvar
25895
25896 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
25897 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
25898
25899 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
25900 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
25901 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
25902 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
25903 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
25904 @end defun
25905
25906 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
25907 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
25908 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
25909 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
25910 current value. This method must return a string.
25911 @end defun
25912
25913 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
25914 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25915 module:
25916
25917 @table @code
25918 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
25919 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25920 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25921 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
25922 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
25923
25924 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25925 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25926 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25927 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
25928 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
25929 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
25930
25931 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
25932 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25933 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25934 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
25935 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
25936
25937 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
25938 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25939 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25940 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
25941 to mean ``unlimited''.
25942
25943 @findex PARAM_STRING
25944 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
25945 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
25946 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
25947 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
25948 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
25949 host charset.
25950
25951 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25952 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25953 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25954 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
25955 passed through untranslated.
25956
25957 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25958 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25959 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25960 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
25961
25962 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
25963 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25964 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25965 The value is a filename. This is just like
25966 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
25967
25968 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
25969 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25970 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25971 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
25972 is interpreted as itself.
25973
25974 @findex PARAM_ENUM
25975 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25976 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25977 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
25978 constants provided when the parameter is created.
25979 @end table
25980
25981 @node Functions In Python
25982 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
25983
25984 @cindex writing convenience functions
25985 @cindex convenience functions in python
25986 @cindex python convenience functions
25987 @tindex gdb.Function
25988 @tindex Function
25989 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
25990 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
25991 class @code{gdb.Function}.
25992
25993 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
25994 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
25995 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
25996 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
25997 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
25998 the given @var{name}.
25999
26000 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26001 string for the new class.
26002 @end defun
26003
26004 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26005 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26006 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26007 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26008 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26009 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26010 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26011 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26012
26013 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26014 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26015 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26016 @end defun
26017
26018 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26019 be implemented in Python:
26020
26021 @smallexample
26022 class Greet (gdb.Function):
26023 """Return string to greet someone.
26024 Takes a name as argument."""
26025
26026 def __init__ (self):
26027 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26028
26029 def invoke (self, name):
26030 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26031
26032 Greet ()
26033 @end smallexample
26034
26035 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26036 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26037 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26038 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26039
26040 Now you can use the function in an expression:
26041
26042 @smallexample
26043 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26044 $1 = "Hello, Bob!"
26045 @end smallexample
26046
26047 @node Progspaces In Python
26048 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26049
26050 @cindex progspaces in python
26051 @tindex gdb.Progspace
26052 @tindex Progspace
26053 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26054 of an address space.
26055 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26056 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26057 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26058 about program spaces.
26059
26060 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26061 @code{gdb} module:
26062
26063 @findex gdb.current_progspace
26064 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26065 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26066 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26067 @end defun
26068
26069 @findex gdb.progspaces
26070 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
26071 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26072 @end defun
26073
26074 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26075 class.
26076
26077 @defvar Progspace.filename
26078 The file name of the progspace as a string.
26079 @end defvar
26080
26081 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26082 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26083 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26084 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26085 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26086 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26087 information.
26088 @end defvar
26089
26090 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
26091 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26092 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26093 @end defvar
26094
26095 @defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26096 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26097 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26098 @end defvar
26099
26100 @node Objfiles In Python
26101 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26102
26103 @cindex objfiles in python
26104 @tindex gdb.Objfile
26105 @tindex Objfile
26106 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26107 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26108 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26109 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26110 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26111
26112 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26113 @code{gdb} module:
26114
26115 @findex gdb.current_objfile
26116 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26117 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26118 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26119 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26120 this function returns @code{None}.
26121 @end defun
26122
26123 @findex gdb.objfiles
26124 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
26125 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26126 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26127 @end defun
26128
26129 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26130 class.
26131
26132 @defvar Objfile.filename
26133 The file name of the objfile as a string.
26134 @end defvar
26135
26136 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26137 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26138 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26139 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26140 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26141 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26142 information.
26143 @end defvar
26144
26145 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
26146 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26147 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26148 @end defvar
26149
26150 @defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26151 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26152 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26153 @end defvar
26154
26155 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26156
26157 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26158 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26159 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26160 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26161 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26162 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26163 @end defun
26164
26165 @node Frames In Python
26166 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26167
26168 @cindex frames in python
26169 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26170 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26171 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26172 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26173 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26174 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26175
26176 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26177 operator, like:
26178
26179 @smallexample
26180 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26181 True
26182 @end smallexample
26183
26184 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26185
26186 @findex gdb.selected_frame
26187 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26188 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26189 @end defun
26190
26191 @findex gdb.newest_frame
26192 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26193 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26194 @end defun
26195
26196 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26197 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26198 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26199 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26200 @end defun
26201
26202 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26203
26204 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
26205 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26206 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26207 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26208 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26209 @end defun
26210
26211 @defun Frame.name ()
26212 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26213 obtained.
26214 @end defun
26215
26216 @defun Frame.architecture ()
26217 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26218 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26219 @end defun
26220
26221 @defun Frame.type ()
26222 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26223 @table @code
26224 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26225 An ordinary stack frame.
26226
26227 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26228 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26229 inferior function call.
26230
26231 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26232 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26233 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26234
26235 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26236 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26237
26238 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26239 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26240 it calls into a signal handler.
26241
26242 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26243 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26244
26245 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26246 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26247 newest frame.
26248 @end table
26249 @end defun
26250
26251 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26252 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26253 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26254 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26255 function to a string. The value can be one of:
26256
26257 @table @code
26258 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26259 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26260
26261 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26262 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
26263
26264 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26265 This frame is the outermost.
26266
26267 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26268 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26269 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26270
26271 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26272 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26273 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26274 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26275
26276 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26277 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26278 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26279 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26280 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26281 stack corruption.
26282
26283 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26284 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26285 one to unwind further.
26286
26287 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26288 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26289 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26290 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26291 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26292 versions. Using it, you could write:
26293 @smallexample
26294 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26295 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26296 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26297 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26298 @end smallexample
26299 @end table
26300
26301 @end defun
26302
26303 @defun Frame.pc ()
26304 Returns the frame's resume address.
26305 @end defun
26306
26307 @defun Frame.block ()
26308 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26309 @end defun
26310
26311 @defun Frame.function ()
26312 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26313 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
26314 @end defun
26315
26316 @defun Frame.older ()
26317 Return the frame that called this frame.
26318 @end defun
26319
26320 @defun Frame.newer ()
26321 Return the frame called by this frame.
26322 @end defun
26323
26324 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
26325 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26326 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26327 @end defun
26328
26329 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26330 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26331 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26332 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26333 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26334 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26335 @code{gdb.Block} object.
26336 @end defun
26337
26338 @defun Frame.select ()
26339 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26340 Stack}.
26341 @end defun
26342
26343 @node Blocks In Python
26344 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26345
26346 @cindex blocks in python
26347 @tindex gdb.Block
26348
26349 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26350 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26351 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26352 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26353 available.
26354
26355 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26356 in-depth discussion of frames.
26357
26358 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26359 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26360
26361 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26362 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26363 functions.
26364
26365 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26366 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26367 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26368 Python}).
26369
26370 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26371
26372 @smallexample
26373 /* This is in the global block. */
26374 int global;
26375
26376 /* This is in the static block. */
26377 static int file_scope;
26378
26379 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26380 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26381 int function (int argument)
26382 @{
26383 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26384 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26385 int local;
26386
26387 @{
26388 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26389 'local'. */
26390 int inner;
26391
26392 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26393 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26394 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26395 inline_function ();
26396 @}
26397 @}
26398 @end smallexample
26399
26400 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26401 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26402 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26403 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26404 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26405 table.
26406
26407 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26408 module:
26409
26410 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
26411 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26412 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26413 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26414 the function will return @code{None}.
26415 @end defun
26416
26417 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26418
26419 @defun Block.is_valid ()
26420 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26421 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26422 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26423 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26424 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26425 during iteration over symbols of the block.
26426 @end defun
26427
26428 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26429
26430 @defvar Block.start
26431 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26432 @end defvar
26433
26434 @defvar Block.end
26435 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26436 @end defvar
26437
26438 @defvar Block.function
26439 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26440 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26441 attribute is not writable.
26442
26443 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26444 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26445 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26446 happens for an inlined function.
26447 @end defvar
26448
26449 @defvar Block.superblock
26450 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26451 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26452 @end defvar
26453
26454 @defvar Block.global_block
26455 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26456 writable.
26457 @end defvar
26458
26459 @defvar Block.static_block
26460 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26461 writable.
26462 @end defvar
26463
26464 @defvar Block.is_global
26465 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26466 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26467 writable.
26468 @end defvar
26469
26470 @defvar Block.is_static
26471 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26472 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26473 @end defvar
26474
26475 @node Symbols In Python
26476 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26477
26478 @cindex symbols in python
26479 @tindex gdb.Symbol
26480
26481 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26482 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26483 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26484 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26485
26486 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26487 module:
26488
26489 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26490 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26491 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26492 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26493 arguments.
26494
26495 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26496 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26497 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26498 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26499 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26500 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26501 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26502 in this chapter.
26503
26504 The result is a tuple of two elements.
26505 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26506 is not found.
26507 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26508 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26509 otherwise it is @code{False}.
26510 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26511 @end defun
26512
26513 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26514 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26515 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26516 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26517
26518 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26519 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26520 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26521 module and described later in this chapter.
26522
26523 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26524 is not found.
26525 @end defun
26526
26527 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26528
26529 @defvar Symbol.type
26530 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26531 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26532 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26533 @end defvar
26534
26535 @defvar Symbol.symtab
26536 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26537 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26538 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26539 @end defvar
26540
26541 @defvar Symbol.line
26542 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26543 This is an integer.
26544 @end defvar
26545
26546 @defvar Symbol.name
26547 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26548 @end defvar
26549
26550 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26551 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26552 This attribute is not writable.
26553 @end defvar
26554
26555 @defvar Symbol.print_name
26556 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26557 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26558 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26559 @end defvar
26560
26561 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
26562 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26563 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26564 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26565 @end defvar
26566
26567 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26568 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26569 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26570 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26571 @end defvar
26572
26573 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
26574 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26575 @end defvar
26576
26577 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
26578 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26579 @end defvar
26580
26581 @defvar Symbol.is_function
26582 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26583 @end defvar
26584
26585 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
26586 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26587 @end defvar
26588
26589 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26590
26591 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26592 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26593 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26594 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26595 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26596 invalid at the time the method is called.
26597 @end defun
26598
26599 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26600 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26601 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26602 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26603 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26604 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26605 exception.
26606 @end defun
26607
26608 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26609 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26610
26611 @table @code
26612 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26613 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26614 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26615 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26616 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26617 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26618 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26619 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26620 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26621 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26622 type values.
26623 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26624 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26625 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26626 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26627 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26628 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26629 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26630 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26631 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26632 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26633 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26634 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26635 contains everything minus functions and types.
26636 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26637 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26638 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26639 This domain contains all functions.
26640 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26641 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26642 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26643 This domain contains all types.
26644 @end table
26645
26646 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26647 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26648
26649 @table @code
26650 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26651 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26652 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26653 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
26654 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26655 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26656 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26657 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26658 Value is constant int.
26659 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26660 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26661 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26662 Value is at a fixed address.
26663 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26664 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26665 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26666 Value is in a register.
26667 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26668 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26669 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26670 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
26671 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
26672 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26673 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26674 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26675 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
26676 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
26677 offset, not the value itself.
26678 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26679 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26680 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26681 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
26682 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
26683 itself.
26684 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26685 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26686 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26687 Value is a local variable.
26688 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26689 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26690 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26691 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
26692 have this class.
26693 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26694 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26695 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26696 Value is a block.
26697 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26698 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26699 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26700 Value is a byte-sequence.
26701 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26702 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26703 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26704 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
26705 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
26706 referenced.
26707 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26708 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26709 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26710 The value does not actually exist in the program.
26711 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26712 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26713 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26714 The value's address is a computed location.
26715 @end table
26716
26717 @node Symbol Tables In Python
26718 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
26719
26720 @cindex symbol tables in python
26721 @tindex gdb.Symtab
26722 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
26723
26724 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
26725 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
26726 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
26727 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
26728 @xref{Frames In Python}.
26729
26730 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
26731 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
26732
26733 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
26734
26735 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
26736 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
26737 This attribute is not writable.
26738 @end defvar
26739
26740 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
26741 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
26742 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
26743 @end defvar
26744
26745 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
26746 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
26747 source line. This attribute is not writable.
26748 @end defvar
26749
26750 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
26751 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
26752 attribute is not writable.
26753 @end defvar
26754
26755 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
26756
26757 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
26758 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
26759 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
26760 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
26761 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
26762 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
26763 invalid at the time the method is called.
26764 @end defun
26765
26766 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
26767
26768 @defvar Symtab.filename
26769 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
26770 @end defvar
26771
26772 @defvar Symtab.objfile
26773 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26774 This attribute is not writable.
26775 @end defvar
26776
26777 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
26778
26779 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
26780 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
26781 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
26782 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
26783 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
26784 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26785 @end defun
26786
26787 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
26788 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
26789 @end defun
26790
26791 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
26792 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
26793 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26794 @end defun
26795
26796 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
26797 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
26798 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26799 @end defun
26800
26801 @node Breakpoints In Python
26802 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
26803
26804 @cindex breakpoints in python
26805 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
26806
26807 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
26808 class.
26809
26810 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
26811 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
26812 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
26813 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
26814 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
26815 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
26816 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
26817 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
26818 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
26819 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
26820 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
26821 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
26822 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
26823 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
26824 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
26825 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
26826 @end defun
26827
26828 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
26829 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
26830 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
26831 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
26832 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
26833 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
26834 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
26835 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
26836
26837 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
26838 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
26839 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
26840 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
26841 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
26842 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
26843
26844 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
26845 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
26846 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
26847 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
26848 at this time.
26849
26850 Example @code{stop} implementation:
26851
26852 @smallexample
26853 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
26854 def stop (self):
26855 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
26856 if inf_val == 3:
26857 return True
26858 return False
26859 @end smallexample
26860 @end defun
26861
26862 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
26863 @code{gdb} module:
26864
26865 @table @code
26866 @findex WP_READ
26867 @findex gdb.WP_READ
26868 @item gdb.WP_READ
26869 Read only watchpoint.
26870
26871 @findex WP_WRITE
26872 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
26873 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
26874 Write only watchpoint.
26875
26876 @findex WP_ACCESS
26877 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
26878 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
26879 Read/Write watchpoint.
26880 @end table
26881
26882 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
26883 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
26884 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
26885 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
26886 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
26887 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
26888 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
26889 @end defun
26890
26891 @defun Breakpoint.delete
26892 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
26893 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
26894 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
26895 @end defun
26896
26897 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
26898 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
26899 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26900 @end defvar
26901
26902 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
26903 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
26904 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26905
26906 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
26907 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
26908 @code{silent} attribute.
26909 @end defvar
26910
26911 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
26912 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
26913 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
26914 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26915 @end defvar
26916
26917 @defvar Breakpoint.task
26918 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
26919 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
26920 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
26921 is writable.
26922 @end defvar
26923
26924 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
26925 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26926 This attribute is writable.
26927 @end defvar
26928
26929 @defvar Breakpoint.number
26930 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
26931 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
26932 @end defvar
26933
26934 @defvar Breakpoint.type
26935 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
26936 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
26937 writable.
26938 @end defvar
26939
26940 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
26941 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
26942 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
26943 attribute is not writable.
26944 @end defvar
26945
26946 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26947 module:
26948
26949 @table @code
26950 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
26951 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26952 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26953 Normal code breakpoint.
26954
26955 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
26956 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26957 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26958 Watchpoint breakpoint.
26959
26960 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26961 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26962 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26963 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
26964
26965 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26966 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26967 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26968 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
26969
26970 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26971 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26972 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26973 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
26974 @end table
26975
26976 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
26977 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26978 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
26979 @end defvar
26980
26981 @defvar Breakpoint.location
26982 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
26983 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
26984 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
26985 attribute is not writable.
26986 @end defvar
26987
26988 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
26989 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
26990 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
26991 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
26992 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26993 @end defvar
26994
26995 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
26996 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
26997 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
26998 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26999 @end defvar
27000
27001 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
27002 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27003 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27004 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27005 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27006 @end defvar
27007
27008 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27009 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27010
27011 @cindex python finish breakpoints
27012 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27013
27014 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27015 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27016 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27017 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27018 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27019 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27020 thread selected.
27021
27022 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27023 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27024 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27025 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27026 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27027 details about this argument.
27028 @end defun
27029
27030 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27031 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27032 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27033 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27034 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27035
27036 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27037 method:
27038
27039 @smallexample
27040 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27041 def stop (self):
27042 print "normal finish"
27043 return True
27044
27045 def out_of_scope ():
27046 print "abnormal finish"
27047 @end smallexample
27048 @end defun
27049
27050 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27051 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27052 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27053 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27054 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27055 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27056 is not writable.
27057 @end defvar
27058
27059 @node Lazy Strings In Python
27060 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27061
27062 @cindex lazy strings in python
27063 @tindex gdb.LazyString
27064
27065 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27066 encoded until it is needed.
27067
27068 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27069 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27070 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27071 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27072 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27073 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27074 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27075 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27076 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27077
27078 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27079
27080 @defun LazyString.value ()
27081 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27082 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27083 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27084 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
27085 @end defun
27086
27087 @defvar LazyString.address
27088 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27089 writable.
27090 @end defvar
27091
27092 @defvar LazyString.length
27093 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27094 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27095 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27096 @end defvar
27097
27098 @defvar LazyString.encoding
27099 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27100 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27101 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27102 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27103 is not writable.
27104 @end defvar
27105
27106 @defvar LazyString.type
27107 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27108 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27109 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27110 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27111 writable.
27112 @end defvar
27113
27114 @node Architectures In Python
27115 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27116 @cindex Python architectures
27117
27118 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27119 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27120 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27121
27122 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27123
27124 @defun Architecture.name ()
27125 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27126 @end defun
27127
27128 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27129 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27130 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27131 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27132 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27133 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27134 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27135 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27136 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27137 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27138 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27139 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27140 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27141 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27142 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27143 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27144
27145 @table @code
27146
27147 @item addr
27148 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27149 the memory address of the instruction.
27150
27151 @item asm
27152 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27153 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27154 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27155 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27156
27157 @item length
27158 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27159 instruction in bytes.
27160
27161 @end table
27162 @end defun
27163
27164 @node Python Auto-loading
27165 @subsection Python Auto-loading
27166 @cindex Python auto-loading
27167
27168 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27169 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27170 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27171 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27172 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27173 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27174
27175 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27176 debugging commands and scripts.
27177
27178 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27179 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27180
27181 @table @code
27182 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27183 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27184 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27185 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27186
27187 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27188 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27189 @item show auto-load python-scripts
27190 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27191
27192 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27193 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27194 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27195 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27196 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27197
27198 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27199 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27200 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27201 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27202 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27203 an error message for each one is problematic.
27204
27205 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27206
27207 Example:
27208
27209 @smallexample
27210 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27211 Loaded Script
27212 Yes py-section-script.py
27213 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27214 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27215 @end smallexample
27216 @end table
27217
27218 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27219 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27220 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27221 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27222
27223 @menu
27224 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27225 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27226 * Which flavor to choose?::
27227 @end menu
27228
27229 @node objfile-gdb.py file
27230 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27231 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27232
27233 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27234 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27235 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27236 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27237 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27238 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27239
27240 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27241 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27242
27243 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27244 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27245
27246 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27247 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27248 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27249 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27250 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27251 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27252
27253 @table @code
27254 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27255 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27256 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27257 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27258 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27259 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27260
27261 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27262 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27263
27264 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27265 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27266 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27267 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27268
27269 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27270 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27271 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27272 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27273 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27274 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27275 platform.
27276
27277 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27278 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27279 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27280
27281 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27282 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27283 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
27284 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27285 @end table
27286
27287 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27288 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27289 @var{objfile} is opened.
27290 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27291 is evaluated more than once.
27292
27293 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27294 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27295 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27296
27297 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27298 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27299 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27300 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27301
27302 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27303 current directory and then along the source search path
27304 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27305 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27306 directory is not relevant to scripts.
27307
27308 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27309 for example, this GCC macro:
27310
27311 @example
27312 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27313 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27314 asm("\
27315 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27316 .byte 1\n\
27317 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27318 .popsection \n\
27319 ");
27320 @end example
27321
27322 @noindent
27323 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27324
27325 @example
27326 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27327 @end example
27328
27329 The script name may include directories if desired.
27330
27331 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27332 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27333
27334 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27335 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27336
27337 @node Which flavor to choose?
27338 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27339
27340 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27341 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27342
27343 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27344
27345 @itemize @bullet
27346 @item
27347 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27348
27349 @item
27350 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27351
27352 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27353 in the source search path.
27354 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27355 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27356
27357 @item
27358 Doesn't require source code additions.
27359 @end itemize
27360
27361 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27362
27363 @itemize @bullet
27364 @item
27365 Works with static linking.
27366
27367 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27368 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27369 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27370 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27371
27372 @item
27373 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27374
27375 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27376 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27377
27378 @item
27379 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27380
27381 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27382 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27383 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27384 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27385 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27386 top of the source tree to the source search path.
27387 @end itemize
27388
27389 @node Python modules
27390 @subsection Python modules
27391 @cindex python modules
27392
27393 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27394
27395 @menu
27396 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27397 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27398 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27399 @end menu
27400
27401 @node gdb.printing
27402 @subsubsection gdb.printing
27403 @cindex gdb.printing
27404
27405 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27406 pretty-printers.
27407
27408 @table @code
27409 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27410 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27411 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27412 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27413
27414 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27415 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27416 corresponding API for the subprinters.
27417
27418 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27419 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27420 regular expressions.
27421 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27422
27423 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27424 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27425 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27426 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27427 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27428 the @code{enum} type to look up.
27429
27430 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27431 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27432 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27433 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27434 if a printer with the same name already exists.
27435 @end table
27436
27437 @node gdb.types
27438 @subsubsection gdb.types
27439 @cindex gdb.types
27440
27441 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27442 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
27443
27444 @table @code
27445 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27446 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27447 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27448
27449 C@t{++} example:
27450
27451 @smallexample
27452 typedef const int const_int;
27453 const_int foo (3);
27454 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27455 int main () @{ return 0; @}
27456 @end smallexample
27457
27458 Then in gdb:
27459
27460 @smallexample
27461 (gdb) start
27462 (gdb) python import gdb.types
27463 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27464 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27465 int
27466 @end smallexample
27467
27468 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27469 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27470 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27471
27472 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27473 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27474
27475 @item deep_items (@var{type})
27476 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27477 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27478 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27479 union fields. For example:
27480
27481 @smallexample
27482 struct A
27483 @{
27484 int a;
27485 union @{
27486 int b0;
27487 int b1;
27488 @};
27489 @};
27490 @end smallexample
27491
27492 @noindent
27493 Then in @value{GDBN}:
27494 @smallexample
27495 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27496 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27497 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27498 @{['a', '']@}
27499 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27500 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27501 @end smallexample
27502
27503 @item get_type_recognizers ()
27504 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27505 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27506 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27507
27508 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27509 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27510 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27511 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27512 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27513 API}).
27514
27515 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27516 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27517 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27518 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27519 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27520 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27521 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27522 registered globally.
27523
27524 @item TypePrinter
27525 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27526 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27527 It defines a constructor:
27528
27529 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27530 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27531 starts in the enabled state.
27532 @end defmethod
27533
27534 @end table
27535
27536 @node gdb.prompt
27537 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
27538 @cindex gdb.prompt
27539
27540 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27541
27542 @table @code
27543 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27544 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27545 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27546 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27547
27548 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27549
27550 @table @code
27551 @item \\
27552 Substitute a backslash.
27553 @item \e
27554 Substitute an ESC character.
27555 @item \f
27556 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27557 @item \n
27558 Substitute a newline.
27559 @item \p
27560 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27561 @item \r
27562 Substitute a carriage return.
27563 @item \t
27564 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27565 @item \v
27566 Substitute the version of GDB.
27567 @item \w
27568 Substitute the current working directory.
27569 @item \[
27570 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27571 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27572 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27573 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27574 @item \]
27575 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27576 @end table
27577
27578 For example:
27579
27580 @smallexample
27581 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27582 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27583 @end smallexample
27584
27585 @exdent will return the string:
27586
27587 @smallexample
27588 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27589 @end smallexample
27590 @end table
27591
27592 @node Aliases
27593 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
27594 @cindex aliases for commands
27595
27596 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
27597 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
27598 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
27599 that involves less typing.
27600
27601 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
27602 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
27603 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
27604
27605 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
27606 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
27607 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
27608
27609 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
27610
27611 @table @code
27612
27613 @kindex alias
27614 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
27615
27616 @end table
27617
27618 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
27619 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
27620 underscores.
27621
27622 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
27623 that is being aliased.
27624
27625 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
27626 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
27627 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
27628
27629 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
27630 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
27631
27632 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
27633 of a command so that there is less to type.
27634 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
27635 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
27636 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
27637 The following will accomplish this.
27638
27639 @smallexample
27640 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
27641 @end smallexample
27642
27643 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
27644 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
27645 for it with the @samp{document} command.
27646 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
27647
27648 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
27649 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
27650 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
27651 of a command.
27652
27653 @smallexample
27654 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
27655 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
27656 (gdb) set p elms 20
27657 (gdb) show p elms
27658 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
27659 @end smallexample
27660
27661 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
27662 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
27663 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
27664
27665 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
27666 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
27667
27668 @smallexample
27669 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
27670 @end smallexample
27671
27672 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
27673 alias for a more complex command.
27674 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
27675
27676 @smallexample
27677 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
27678 (gdb) spe 20
27679 @end smallexample
27680
27681 @node Interpreters
27682 @chapter Command Interpreters
27683 @cindex command interpreters
27684
27685 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
27686 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
27687 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
27688
27689 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
27690 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
27691 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
27692 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
27693
27694 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
27695 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
27696 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
27697 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
27698
27699 @table @code
27700 @item console
27701 @cindex console interpreter
27702 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
27703 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
27704 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
27705
27706 @item mi
27707 @cindex mi interpreter
27708 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
27709 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
27710 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
27711 Interface}.
27712
27713 @item mi2
27714 @cindex mi2 interpreter
27715 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
27716
27717 @item mi1
27718 @cindex mi1 interpreter
27719 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
27720
27721 @end table
27722
27723 @cindex invoke another interpreter
27724 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
27725 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
27726 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
27727 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
27728 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
27729 the IDE inoperable!
27730
27731 @kindex interpreter-exec
27732 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
27733 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
27734 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
27735 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
27736
27737 @smallexample
27738 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
27739 @end smallexample
27740
27741 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
27742 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
27743
27744 @node TUI
27745 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
27746 @cindex TUI
27747 @cindex Text User Interface
27748
27749 @menu
27750 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
27751 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
27752 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
27753 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
27754 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
27755 @end menu
27756
27757 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
27758 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
27759 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
27760 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
27761 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
27762 is available.
27763
27764 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
27765 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
27766 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
27767 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
27768 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
27769
27770 @node TUI Overview
27771 @section TUI Overview
27772
27773 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
27774
27775 @table @emph
27776 @item command
27777 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
27778 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
27779 managed using readline.
27780
27781 @item source
27782 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
27783 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
27784
27785 @item assembly
27786 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
27787
27788 @item register
27789 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
27790 when their values change.
27791 @end table
27792
27793 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
27794 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
27795 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
27796 indicates the breakpoint type:
27797
27798 @table @code
27799 @item B
27800 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27801
27802 @item b
27803 Breakpoint which was never hit.
27804
27805 @item H
27806 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27807
27808 @item h
27809 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
27810 @end table
27811
27812 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
27813
27814 @table @code
27815 @item +
27816 Breakpoint is enabled.
27817
27818 @item -
27819 Breakpoint is disabled.
27820 @end table
27821
27822 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
27823 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
27824 changes.
27825
27826 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
27827 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
27828 layouts:
27829
27830 @itemize @bullet
27831 @item
27832 source only,
27833
27834 @item
27835 assembly only,
27836
27837 @item
27838 source and assembly,
27839
27840 @item
27841 source and registers, or
27842
27843 @item
27844 assembly and registers.
27845 @end itemize
27846
27847 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
27848
27849 @table @emph
27850 @item target
27851 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
27852 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
27853
27854 @item process
27855 Gives the current process or thread number.
27856 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
27857
27858 @item function
27859 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
27860 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
27861 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
27862 the string @code{??} is displayed.
27863
27864 @item line
27865 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
27866 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
27867
27868 @item pc
27869 Indicates the current program counter address.
27870 @end table
27871
27872 @node TUI Keys
27873 @section TUI Key Bindings
27874 @cindex TUI key bindings
27875
27876 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
27877 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
27878 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
27879 @end ifset
27880 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
27881 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
27882 @end ifclear
27883 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
27884 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
27885
27886 @table @kbd
27887 @kindex C-x C-a
27888 @item C-x C-a
27889 @kindex C-x a
27890 @itemx C-x a
27891 @kindex C-x A
27892 @itemx C-x A
27893 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
27894 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
27895 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
27896 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
27897 The screen is then refreshed.
27898
27899 @kindex C-x 1
27900 @item C-x 1
27901 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
27902 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
27903 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
27904
27905 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
27906
27907 @kindex C-x 2
27908 @item C-x 2
27909 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
27910 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
27911 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
27912 previous layout and the new one.
27913
27914 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
27915
27916 @kindex C-x o
27917 @item C-x o
27918 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
27919 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
27920 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
27921
27922 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
27923
27924 @kindex C-x s
27925 @item C-x s
27926 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
27927 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
27928 @end table
27929
27930 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
27931
27932 @table @asis
27933 @kindex PgUp
27934 @item @key{PgUp}
27935 Scroll the active window one page up.
27936
27937 @kindex PgDn
27938 @item @key{PgDn}
27939 Scroll the active window one page down.
27940
27941 @kindex Up
27942 @item @key{Up}
27943 Scroll the active window one line up.
27944
27945 @kindex Down
27946 @item @key{Down}
27947 Scroll the active window one line down.
27948
27949 @kindex Left
27950 @item @key{Left}
27951 Scroll the active window one column left.
27952
27953 @kindex Right
27954 @item @key{Right}
27955 Scroll the active window one column right.
27956
27957 @kindex C-L
27958 @item @kbd{C-L}
27959 Refresh the screen.
27960 @end table
27961
27962 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
27963 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
27964 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
27965 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
27966 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
27967
27968 @node TUI Single Key Mode
27969 @section TUI Single Key Mode
27970 @cindex TUI single key mode
27971
27972 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
27973 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
27974 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
27975
27976 @table @kbd
27977 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27978 @item c
27979 continue
27980
27981 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27982 @item d
27983 down
27984
27985 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27986 @item f
27987 finish
27988
27989 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27990 @item n
27991 next
27992
27993 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27994 @item q
27995 exit the SingleKey mode.
27996
27997 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27998 @item r
27999 run
28000
28001 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28002 @item s
28003 step
28004
28005 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28006 @item u
28007 up
28008
28009 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28010 @item v
28011 info locals
28012
28013 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28014 @item w
28015 where
28016 @end table
28017
28018 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28019 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28020 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28021 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28022 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28023 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28024
28025
28026 @node TUI Commands
28027 @section TUI-specific Commands
28028 @cindex TUI commands
28029
28030 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28031 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28032 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28033 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28034
28035 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28036 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28037 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28038 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28039 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28040
28041 @table @code
28042 @item info win
28043 @kindex info win
28044 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28045
28046 @item layout next
28047 @kindex layout
28048 Display the next layout.
28049
28050 @item layout prev
28051 Display the previous layout.
28052
28053 @item layout src
28054 Display the source window only.
28055
28056 @item layout asm
28057 Display the assembly window only.
28058
28059 @item layout split
28060 Display the source and assembly window.
28061
28062 @item layout regs
28063 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28064
28065 @item focus next
28066 @kindex focus
28067 Make the next window active for scrolling.
28068
28069 @item focus prev
28070 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28071
28072 @item focus src
28073 Make the source window active for scrolling.
28074
28075 @item focus asm
28076 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28077
28078 @item focus regs
28079 Make the register window active for scrolling.
28080
28081 @item focus cmd
28082 Make the command window active for scrolling.
28083
28084 @item refresh
28085 @kindex refresh
28086 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28087
28088 @item tui reg float
28089 @kindex tui reg
28090 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28091
28092 @item tui reg general
28093 Show the general registers in the register window.
28094
28095 @item tui reg next
28096 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28097 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28098 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28099 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28100
28101 @item tui reg system
28102 Show the system registers in the register window.
28103
28104 @item update
28105 @kindex update
28106 Update the source window and the current execution point.
28107
28108 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28109 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28110 @kindex winheight
28111 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28112 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28113 decrease it.
28114
28115 @item tabset @var{nchars}
28116 @kindex tabset
28117 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28118 @end table
28119
28120 @node TUI Configuration
28121 @section TUI Configuration Variables
28122 @cindex TUI configuration variables
28123
28124 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28125
28126 @table @code
28127 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28128 @kindex set tui border-kind
28129 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28130 The possible values are the following:
28131 @table @code
28132 @item space
28133 Use a space character to draw the border.
28134
28135 @item ascii
28136 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28137
28138 @item acs
28139 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28140 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28141 @end table
28142
28143 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28144 @kindex set tui border-mode
28145 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28146 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
28147 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28148 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28149 @table @code
28150 @item normal
28151 Use normal attributes to display the border.
28152
28153 @item standout
28154 Use standout mode.
28155
28156 @item reverse
28157 Use reverse video mode.
28158
28159 @item half
28160 Use half bright mode.
28161
28162 @item half-standout
28163 Use half bright and standout mode.
28164
28165 @item bold
28166 Use extra bright or bold mode.
28167
28168 @item bold-standout
28169 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28170 @end table
28171 @end table
28172
28173 @node Emacs
28174 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28175
28176 @cindex Emacs
28177 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28178 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28179 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28180 @value{GDBN}.
28181
28182 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28183 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28184 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28185 created Emacs buffer.
28186 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28187
28188 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28189 things:
28190
28191 @itemize @bullet
28192 @item
28193 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28194 the GUD buffer.
28195
28196 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28197 and output done by the program you are debugging.
28198
28199 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28200 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28201 in this way.
28202
28203 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28204 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28205 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28206 stop.
28207
28208 @item
28209 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28210
28211 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28212 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28213 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28214 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28215 and the source.
28216
28217 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28218 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28219 @end itemize
28220
28221 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28222 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28223 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28224 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28225
28226 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28227 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28228 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28229 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28230 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28231 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28232 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28233 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28234 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28235
28236 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28237 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28238 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28239 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
28240
28241 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28242 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28243 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28244 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28245 one you want.
28246
28247 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28248 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28249
28250 @table @kbd
28251 @item C-h m
28252 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28253
28254 @item C-c C-s
28255 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28256 update the display window to show the current file and location.
28257
28258 @item C-c C-n
28259 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28260 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28261 to show the current file and location.
28262
28263 @item C-c C-i
28264 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28265 display window accordingly.
28266
28267 @item C-c C-f
28268 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28269 @code{finish} command.
28270
28271 @item C-c C-r
28272 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28273 command.
28274
28275 @item C-c <
28276 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28277 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28278 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28279
28280 @item C-c >
28281 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28282 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28283 @end table
28284
28285 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28286 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28287
28288 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28289 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28290 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28291 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28292 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28293 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28294 speedbar displays watch expressions.
28295
28296 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28297 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28298 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28299 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28300 frame.
28301
28302 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28303 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28304 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28305 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28306 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28307 to correspond properly with the code.
28308
28309 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28310 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28311 Emacs Manual}).
28312
28313 @node GDB/MI
28314 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28315
28316 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28317
28318 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28319 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28320 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28321 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28322 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28323 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28324
28325 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28326 in the form of a reference manual.
28327
28328 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28329 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28330 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28331
28332 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28333
28334 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28335 This chapter uses the following notation:
28336
28337 @itemize @bullet
28338 @item
28339 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
28340
28341 @item
28342 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28343 it may or may not be given.
28344
28345 @item
28346 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28347 may repeat zero or more times.
28348
28349 @item
28350 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28351 may repeat one or more times.
28352
28353 @item
28354 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28355 @end itemize
28356
28357 @ignore
28358 @heading Dependencies
28359 @end ignore
28360
28361 @menu
28362 * GDB/MI General Design::
28363 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28364 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28365 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28366 * GDB/MI Output Records::
28367 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28368 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28369 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28370 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28371 * GDB/MI Program Context::
28372 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28373 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28374 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
28375 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28376 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28377 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28378 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28379 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28380 * GDB/MI File Commands::
28381 @ignore
28382 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28383 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28384 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28385 @end ignore
28386 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28387 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28388 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28389 @end menu
28390
28391 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28392 @node GDB/MI General Design
28393 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28394 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
28395
28396 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28397 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28398 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28399 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28400 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28401 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28402 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28403 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28404 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28405 a command and reported as part of that command response.
28406
28407 The important examples of notifications are:
28408 @itemize @bullet
28409
28410 @item
28411 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28412 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28413 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28414 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28415 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28416 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28417 command itself was successfully executed.
28418
28419 @item
28420 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28421 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28422 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28423 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28424 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28425 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28426
28427 @item
28428 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28429 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28430 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28431 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28432 orthogonal frontend design.
28433
28434 @end itemize
28435
28436 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28437 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28438 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28439 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28440 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28441 the user interface.
28442
28443
28444 @menu
28445 * Context management::
28446 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28447 * Thread groups::
28448 @end menu
28449
28450 @node Context management
28451 @subsection Context management
28452
28453 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28454 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28455 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28456 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28457 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28458 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28459 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28460 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28461 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28462
28463 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28464 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28465 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28466 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28467 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28468 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28469 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28470 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28471 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28472 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28473 for thread and frame to operate on.
28474
28475 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28476 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28477 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28478 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28479 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28480 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28481 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28482 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28483 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28484 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28485
28486 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28487 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28488 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28489 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28490 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28491 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28492 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28493 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28494 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28495 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28496 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28497 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28498 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28499 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28500 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28501 @samp{--frame} options.
28502
28503 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28504 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28505
28506 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28507 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28508 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28509 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28510 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28511 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28512 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28513 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28514 @code{-list-target-features} command.
28515
28516 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28517 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28518 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28519 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28520 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28521 are running.
28522
28523 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28524 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28525 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28526 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28527 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28528 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28529 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28530 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28531 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28532 @samp{--thread} option).
28533
28534 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
28535 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
28536 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
28537 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
28538
28539 @node Thread groups
28540 @subsection Thread groups
28541 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
28542 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
28543 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
28544 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
28545 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
28546
28547 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
28548 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
28549 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
28550 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
28551 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
28552 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
28553 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
28554 into processes.
28555
28556 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
28557 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
28558 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
28559 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
28560 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
28561 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
28562 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
28563 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
28564 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
28565 the members of specific thread group.
28566
28567 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
28568 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
28569 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
28570 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
28571 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
28572 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
28573 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
28574 after attaching to that thread group.
28575
28576 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
28577 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
28578 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
28579 such thread groups.
28580
28581 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28582 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
28583 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
28584
28585 @menu
28586 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
28587 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
28588 @end menu
28589
28590 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
28591 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
28592
28593 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
28594 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
28595 @table @code
28596 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
28597 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
28598
28599 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
28600 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
28601 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
28602
28603 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
28604 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
28605 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
28606
28607 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28608 "any sequence of digits"
28609
28610 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
28611 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
28612
28613 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
28614 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
28615
28616 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
28617 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
28618
28619 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
28620 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
28621 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
28622
28623 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
28624 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
28625
28626 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28627 @code{CR | CR-LF}
28628 @end table
28629
28630 @noindent
28631 Notes:
28632
28633 @itemize @bullet
28634 @item
28635 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
28636 output is described below.
28637
28638 @item
28639 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
28640 finishes.
28641
28642 @item
28643 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
28644 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
28645 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
28646 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
28647 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
28648 @end itemize
28649
28650 Pragmatics:
28651
28652 @itemize @bullet
28653 @item
28654 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
28655
28656 @item
28657 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
28658 @end itemize
28659
28660 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
28661 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
28662
28663 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
28664 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
28665 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
28666 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
28667 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
28668 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
28669
28670 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
28671 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
28672 @var{token}.
28673
28674 @table @code
28675 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
28676 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
28677
28678 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
28679 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28680
28681 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
28682 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
28683
28684 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
28685 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
28686
28687 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
28688 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
28689
28690 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
28691 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
28692
28693 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
28694 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
28695
28696 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
28697 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28698
28699 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
28700 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
28701
28702 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
28703 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
28704 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
28705
28706 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
28707 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
28708
28709 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
28710 @code{ @var{string} }
28711
28712 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
28713 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
28714
28715 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
28716 @code{@var{c-string}}
28717
28718 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
28719 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
28720
28721 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
28722 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
28723 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
28724
28725 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
28726 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
28727
28728 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
28729 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
28730
28731 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
28732 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
28733
28734 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
28735 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
28736
28737 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28738 @code{CR | CR-LF}
28739
28740 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28741 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
28742 @end table
28743
28744 @noindent
28745 Notes:
28746
28747 @itemize @bullet
28748 @item
28749 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
28750
28751 @item
28752 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
28753 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
28754 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
28755 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
28756 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
28757 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
28758 prior command.
28759
28760 @item
28761 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28762 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
28763 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
28764 prefixed by @samp{+}.
28765
28766 @item
28767 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28768 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
28769 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
28770 @samp{*}.
28771
28772 @item
28773 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28774 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
28775 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
28776 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
28777
28778 @item
28779 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28780 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
28781 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
28782 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
28783
28784 @item
28785 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28786 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
28787 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
28788
28789 @item
28790 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28791 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
28792 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
28793 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
28794
28795 @item
28796 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28797 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
28798 @var{values}.
28799
28800
28801 @end itemize
28802
28803 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
28804 details about the various output records.
28805
28806 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28807 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
28808 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
28809
28810 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
28811 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
28812
28813 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
28814 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
28815 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
28816 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
28817 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
28818 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
28819
28820 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
28821 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
28822 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
28823
28824 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28825 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
28826 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
28827 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
28828
28829 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
28830 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
28831
28832 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
28833 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
28834 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
28835 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
28836 might change.
28837
28838 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
28839 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
28840 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
28841 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
28842
28843 @itemize @bullet
28844 @item
28845 New MI commands may be added.
28846
28847 @item
28848 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
28849
28850 @item
28851 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
28852 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
28853
28854 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
28855 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
28856
28857 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
28858 @c resolve inconsistencies.
28859 @end itemize
28860
28861 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
28862 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
28863 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
28864 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
28865 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
28866
28867 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
28868 @c version?
28869
28870 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
28871 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
28872 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
28873 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
28874 @cindex mailing lists
28875
28876 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28877 @node GDB/MI Output Records
28878 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
28879
28880 @menu
28881 * GDB/MI Result Records::
28882 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
28883 * GDB/MI Async Records::
28884 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
28885 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
28886 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
28887 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
28888 @end menu
28889
28890 @node GDB/MI Result Records
28891 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
28892
28893 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28894 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
28895 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
28896 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
28897
28898 @table @code
28899 @findex ^done
28900 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
28901 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
28902 values.
28903
28904 @item "^running"
28905 @findex ^running
28906 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
28907 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
28908 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
28909 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
28910 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
28911 which threads are resumed.
28912
28913 @item "^connected"
28914 @findex ^connected
28915 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
28916
28917 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
28918 @findex ^error
28919 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
28920 error message.
28921
28922 @item "^exit"
28923 @findex ^exit
28924 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
28925
28926 @end table
28927
28928 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
28929 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
28930
28931 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
28932 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28933 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
28934 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
28935 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
28936
28937 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
28938 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
28939 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
28940 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
28941 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
28942
28943 @table @code
28944 @item "~" @var{string-output}
28945 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
28946 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
28947
28948 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
28949 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
28950 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
28951 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
28952
28953 @item "&" @var{string-output}
28954 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
28955 internals.
28956 @end table
28957
28958 @node GDB/MI Async Records
28959 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
28960
28961 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28962 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
28963 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
28964 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
28965 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
28966 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
28967
28968 The following is the list of possible async records:
28969
28970 @table @code
28971
28972 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
28973 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
28974 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
28975 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
28976 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
28977 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
28978 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
28979 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
28980 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
28981 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
28982
28983 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
28984 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
28985 following values:
28986
28987 @table @code
28988 @item breakpoint-hit
28989 A breakpoint was reached.
28990 @item watchpoint-trigger
28991 A watchpoint was triggered.
28992 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
28993 A read watchpoint was triggered.
28994 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
28995 An access watchpoint was triggered.
28996 @item function-finished
28997 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
28998 @item location-reached
28999 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29000 @item watchpoint-scope
29001 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29002 @item end-stepping-range
29003 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29004 similar CLI command was accomplished.
29005 @item exited-signalled
29006 The inferior exited because of a signal.
29007 @item exited
29008 The inferior exited.
29009 @item exited-normally
29010 The inferior exited normally.
29011 @item signal-received
29012 A signal was received by the inferior.
29013 @item solib-event
29014 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29015 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29016 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29017 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29018 @item fork
29019 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29020 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29021 @item vfork
29022 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29023 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29024 @item syscall-entry
29025 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29026 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29027 @item syscall-entry
29028 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29029 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29030 @item exec
29031 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29032 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29033 @end table
29034
29035 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29036 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29037 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29038 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29039 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29040 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29041 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29042 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29043 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29044 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29045 if such information is not available.
29046
29047 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29048 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29049 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29050 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29051 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29052 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29053 cannot be used in any way.
29054
29055 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29056 A thread group became associated with a running program,
29057 either because the program was just started or the thread group
29058 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29059 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29060 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29061
29062 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29063 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29064 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29065 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29066 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29067 only when the inferior exited with some code.
29068
29069 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29070 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29071 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29072 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29073 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29074
29075 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29076 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29077 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29078 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29079 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29080 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29081 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29082
29083 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29084 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29085 that thread.
29086
29087 @item =library-loaded,...
29088 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29089 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29090 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29091 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29092 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29093 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29094 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29095 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29096 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29097 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29098 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29099 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29100 thread groups.
29101
29102 @item =library-unloaded,...
29103 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29104 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29105 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29106 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29107 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29108 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29109 thread groups.
29110
29111 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29112 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29113 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29114 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29115 frame is @var{tpnum}.
29116
29117 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29118 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29119 initial value @var{initial}.
29120
29121 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29122 @itemx =tsv-deleted
29123 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29124 trace state variables are deleted.
29125
29126 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29127 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29128 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29129 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29130 value of trace state variable is known.
29131
29132 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29133 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29134 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29135 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29136 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29137 user.
29138
29139 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29140 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29141 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29142
29143 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29144 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29145
29146 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29147 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29148 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29149 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29150 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29151
29152 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29153 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29154 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29155 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29156 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29157 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29158
29159 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29160 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29161 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29162 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29163 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29164 executable code.
29165 @end table
29166
29167 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29168 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29169
29170 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29171 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29172 following fields:
29173
29174 @table @code
29175 @item number
29176 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29177 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29178 @samp{1.2}.
29179
29180 @item type
29181 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29182 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29183
29184 @item catch-type
29185 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29186 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29187
29188 @item disp
29189 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29190 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29191 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29192
29193 @item enabled
29194 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29195 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29196 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29197
29198 @item addr
29199 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29200 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29201 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29202 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29203 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29204
29205 @item func
29206 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29207 If not known, this field is not present.
29208
29209 @item filename
29210 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29211 If not known, this field is not present.
29212
29213 @item fullname
29214 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29215 known. If not known, this field is not present.
29216
29217 @item line
29218 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29219 If not known, this field is not present.
29220
29221 @item at
29222 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29223 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29224 by a symbol name.
29225
29226 @item pending
29227 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29228 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29229
29230 @item evaluated-by
29231 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29232 @samp{target}.
29233
29234 @item thread
29235 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29236 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29237
29238 @item task
29239 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29240 field will hold the task identifier.
29241
29242 @item cond
29243 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29244
29245 @item ignore
29246 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29247
29248 @item enable
29249 The enable count of the breakpoint.
29250
29251 @item traceframe-usage
29252 FIXME.
29253
29254 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29255 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29256
29257 @item mask
29258 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29259
29260 @item pass
29261 A tracepoint's pass count.
29262
29263 @item original-location
29264 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29265 This field is optional.
29266
29267 @item times
29268 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29269
29270 @item installed
29271 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29272 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29273 is not.
29274
29275 @item what
29276 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29277
29278 @end table
29279
29280 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29281 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29282
29283 @smallexample
29284 -> -break-insert main
29285 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29286 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29287 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29288 times="0"@}
29289 <- (gdb)
29290 @end smallexample
29291
29292 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
29293 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29294
29295 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29296 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29297 fields:
29298
29299 @table @code
29300 @item level
29301 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29302 zero. This field is always present.
29303
29304 @item func
29305 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29306 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29307
29308 @item addr
29309 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29310
29311 @item file
29312 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29313 address. This field may be absent.
29314
29315 @item line
29316 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29317 may be absent.
29318
29319 @item from
29320 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29321 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29322
29323 @end table
29324
29325 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
29326 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29327
29328 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29329 uses a tuple with the following fields:
29330
29331 @table @code
29332 @item id
29333 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29334 always present.
29335
29336 @item target-id
29337 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29338
29339 @item details
29340 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29341 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29342 frontend. This field is optional.
29343
29344 @item state
29345 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29346 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29347
29348 @item core
29349 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29350 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29351 @end table
29352
29353 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29354 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29355
29356 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29357 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29358 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29359 the @code{exception-name} field.
29360
29361 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29362 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29363 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29364 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29365
29366 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29367 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29368 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29369 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29370
29371 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29372 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29373
29374 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29375
29376 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29377 information of the breakpoint.
29378
29379 @smallexample
29380 -> -break-insert main
29381 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29382 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29383 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29384 times="0"@}
29385 <- (gdb)
29386 @end smallexample
29387
29388 @subheading Program Execution
29389
29390 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29391 reason that execution stopped.
29392
29393 @smallexample
29394 -> -exec-run
29395 <- ^running
29396 <- (gdb)
29397 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29398 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29399 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29400 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29401 <- (gdb)
29402 -> -exec-continue
29403 <- ^running
29404 <- (gdb)
29405 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29406 <- (gdb)
29407 @end smallexample
29408
29409 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29410
29411 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29412
29413 @smallexample
29414 -> (gdb)
29415 <- -gdb-exit
29416 <- ^exit
29417 @end smallexample
29418
29419 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29420 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29421 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29422 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29423 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29424 fails to exit in reasonable time.
29425
29426 @subheading A Bad Command
29427
29428 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29429
29430 @smallexample
29431 -> -rubbish
29432 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29433 <- (gdb)
29434 @end smallexample
29435
29436
29437 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29438 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29439 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29440
29441 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29442 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29443
29444 @subheading Motivation
29445
29446 The motivation for this collection of commands.
29447
29448 @subheading Introduction
29449
29450 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29451
29452 @subheading Commands
29453
29454 For each command in the block, the following is described:
29455
29456 @subsubheading Synopsis
29457
29458 @smallexample
29459 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29460 @end smallexample
29461
29462 @subsubheading Result
29463
29464 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29465
29466 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29467
29468 @subsubheading Example
29469
29470 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29471 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29472
29473
29474 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29475 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29476 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29477
29478 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29479 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29480 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29481 breakpoints.
29482
29483 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29484 @findex -break-after
29485
29486 @subsubheading Synopsis
29487
29488 @smallexample
29489 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29490 @end smallexample
29491
29492 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29493 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29494 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29495 @samp{-break-list} command below.
29496
29497 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29498
29499 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29500
29501 @subsubheading Example
29502
29503 @smallexample
29504 (gdb)
29505 -break-insert main
29506 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29507 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29508 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29509 times="0"@}
29510 (gdb)
29511 -break-after 1 3
29512 ~
29513 ^done
29514 (gdb)
29515 -break-list
29516 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29517 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29518 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29519 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29520 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29521 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29522 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29523 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29524 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29525 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29526 (gdb)
29527 @end smallexample
29528
29529 @ignore
29530 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
29531 @findex -break-catch
29532 @end ignore
29533
29534 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
29535 @findex -break-commands
29536
29537 @subsubheading Synopsis
29538
29539 @smallexample
29540 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
29541 @end smallexample
29542
29543 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
29544 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
29545 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
29546 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
29547 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
29548 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
29549
29550 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29551
29552 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
29553
29554 @subsubheading Example
29555
29556 @smallexample
29557 (gdb)
29558 -break-insert main
29559 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29560 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29561 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29562 times="0"@}
29563 (gdb)
29564 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
29565 ^done
29566 (gdb)
29567 @end smallexample
29568
29569 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
29570 @findex -break-condition
29571
29572 @subsubheading Synopsis
29573
29574 @smallexample
29575 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
29576 @end smallexample
29577
29578 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
29579 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
29580 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
29581 command below).
29582
29583 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29584
29585 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
29586
29587 @subsubheading Example
29588
29589 @smallexample
29590 (gdb)
29591 -break-condition 1 1
29592 ^done
29593 (gdb)
29594 -break-list
29595 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29596 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29597 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29598 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29599 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29600 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29601 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29602 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29603 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29604 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29605 (gdb)
29606 @end smallexample
29607
29608 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
29609 @findex -break-delete
29610
29611 @subsubheading Synopsis
29612
29613 @smallexample
29614 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29615 @end smallexample
29616
29617 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
29618 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
29619
29620 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29621
29622 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
29623
29624 @subsubheading Example
29625
29626 @smallexample
29627 (gdb)
29628 -break-delete 1
29629 ^done
29630 (gdb)
29631 -break-list
29632 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29633 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29634 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29635 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29636 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29637 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29638 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29639 body=[]@}
29640 (gdb)
29641 @end smallexample
29642
29643 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
29644 @findex -break-disable
29645
29646 @subsubheading Synopsis
29647
29648 @smallexample
29649 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29650 @end smallexample
29651
29652 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
29653 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
29654
29655 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29656
29657 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
29658
29659 @subsubheading Example
29660
29661 @smallexample
29662 (gdb)
29663 -break-disable 2
29664 ^done
29665 (gdb)
29666 -break-list
29667 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29668 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29669 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29670 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29671 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29672 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29673 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29674 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29675 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29676 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29677 (gdb)
29678 @end smallexample
29679
29680 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
29681 @findex -break-enable
29682
29683 @subsubheading Synopsis
29684
29685 @smallexample
29686 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29687 @end smallexample
29688
29689 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
29690
29691 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29692
29693 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
29694
29695 @subsubheading Example
29696
29697 @smallexample
29698 (gdb)
29699 -break-enable 2
29700 ^done
29701 (gdb)
29702 -break-list
29703 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29704 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29705 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29706 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29707 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29708 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29709 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29710 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29711 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29712 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29713 (gdb)
29714 @end smallexample
29715
29716 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
29717 @findex -break-info
29718
29719 @subsubheading Synopsis
29720
29721 @smallexample
29722 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
29723 @end smallexample
29724
29725 @c REDUNDANT???
29726 Get information about a single breakpoint.
29727
29728 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
29729 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
29730 table.
29731
29732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29733
29734 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
29735
29736 @subsubheading Example
29737 N.A.
29738
29739 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
29740 @findex -break-insert
29741
29742 @subsubheading Synopsis
29743
29744 @smallexample
29745 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
29746 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29747 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
29748 @end smallexample
29749
29750 @noindent
29751 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29752
29753 @itemize @bullet
29754 @item function
29755 @c @item +offset
29756 @c @item -offset
29757 @c @item linenum
29758 @item filename:linenum
29759 @item filename:function
29760 @item *address
29761 @end itemize
29762
29763 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29764
29765 @table @samp
29766 @item -t
29767 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29768 @item -h
29769 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
29770 @item -f
29771 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
29772 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29773 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29774 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29775 cannot be parsed.
29776 @item -d
29777 Create a disabled breakpoint.
29778 @item -a
29779 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
29780 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
29781 @item -c @var{condition}
29782 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29783 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
29784 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
29785 @item -p @var{thread-id}
29786 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29787 @end table
29788
29789 @subsubheading Result
29790
29791 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29792 resulting breakpoint.
29793
29794 Note: this format is open to change.
29795 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29796
29797 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29798
29799 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
29800 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
29801
29802 @subsubheading Example
29803
29804 @smallexample
29805 (gdb)
29806 -break-insert main
29807 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
29808 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29809 times="0"@}
29810 (gdb)
29811 -break-insert -t foo
29812 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
29813 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29814 times="0"@}
29815 (gdb)
29816 -break-list
29817 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29818 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29819 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29820 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29821 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29822 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29823 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29824 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29825 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
29826 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29827 times="0"@},
29828 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
29829 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
29830 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29831 times="0"@}]@}
29832 (gdb)
29833 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
29834 @c ~int foo(int, int);
29835 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
29836 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29837 @c times="0"@}
29838 @c (gdb)
29839 @end smallexample
29840
29841 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
29842 @findex -dprintf-insert
29843
29844 @subsubheading Synopsis
29845
29846 @smallexample
29847 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
29848 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29849 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
29850 [ @var{argument} ]
29851 @end smallexample
29852
29853 @noindent
29854 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29855
29856 @itemize @bullet
29857 @item @var{function}
29858 @c @item +offset
29859 @c @item -offset
29860 @c @item @var{linenum}
29861 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
29862 @item @var{filename}:function
29863 @item *@var{address}
29864 @end itemize
29865
29866 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29867
29868 @table @samp
29869 @item -t
29870 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29871 @item -f
29872 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
29873 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29874 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29875 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29876 cannot be parsed.
29877 @item -d
29878 Create a disabled breakpoint.
29879 @item -c @var{condition}
29880 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29881 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
29882 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
29883 to @var{ignore-count}.
29884 @item -p @var{thread-id}
29885 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29886 @end table
29887
29888 @subsubheading Result
29889
29890 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29891 resulting breakpoint.
29892
29893 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29894
29895 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29896
29897 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
29898
29899 @subsubheading Example
29900
29901 @smallexample
29902 (gdb)
29903 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
29904 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29905 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
29906 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
29907 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
29908 original-location="foo"@}
29909 (gdb)
29910 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
29911 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29912 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
29913 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
29914 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
29915 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
29916 (gdb)
29917 @end smallexample
29918
29919 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
29920 @findex -break-list
29921
29922 @subsubheading Synopsis
29923
29924 @smallexample
29925 -break-list
29926 @end smallexample
29927
29928 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
29929
29930 @table @samp
29931 @item Number
29932 number of the breakpoint
29933 @item Type
29934 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
29935 @item Disposition
29936 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
29937 or @samp{nokeep}
29938 @item Enabled
29939 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
29940 @item Address
29941 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
29942 @item What
29943 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
29944 name, line number
29945 @item Thread-groups
29946 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
29947 @item Times
29948 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
29949 @end table
29950
29951 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
29952 @code{body} field is an empty list.
29953
29954 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29955
29956 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
29957
29958 @subsubheading Example
29959
29960 @smallexample
29961 (gdb)
29962 -break-list
29963 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29964 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29965 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29966 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29967 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29968 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29969 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29970 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29971 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29972 times="0"@},
29973 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29974 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29975 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29976 (gdb)
29977 @end smallexample
29978
29979 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
29980
29981 @smallexample
29982 (gdb)
29983 -break-list
29984 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29985 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29986 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29987 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29988 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29989 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29990 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29991 body=[]@}
29992 (gdb)
29993 @end smallexample
29994
29995 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
29996 @findex -break-passcount
29997
29998 @subsubheading Synopsis
29999
30000 @smallexample
30001 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30002 @end smallexample
30003
30004 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30005 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30006 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30007 command @samp{passcount}.
30008
30009 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30010 @findex -break-watch
30011
30012 @subsubheading Synopsis
30013
30014 @smallexample
30015 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30016 @end smallexample
30017
30018 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30019 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30020 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30021 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30022 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30023 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30024 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30025 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30026
30027 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30028 breakpoints inserted.
30029
30030 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30031
30032 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30033 @samp{rwatch}.
30034
30035 @subsubheading Example
30036
30037 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30038
30039 @smallexample
30040 (gdb)
30041 -break-watch x
30042 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30043 (gdb)
30044 -exec-continue
30045 ^running
30046 (gdb)
30047 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30048 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30049 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30050 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30051 (gdb)
30052 @end smallexample
30053
30054 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30055 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30056 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30057
30058 @smallexample
30059 (gdb)
30060 -break-watch C
30061 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30062 (gdb)
30063 -exec-continue
30064 ^running
30065 (gdb)
30066 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30067 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30068 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30069 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30070 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30071 (gdb)
30072 -exec-continue
30073 ^running
30074 (gdb)
30075 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30076 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30077 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30078 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30079 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30080 (gdb)
30081 @end smallexample
30082
30083 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30084 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30085 deleted.
30086
30087 @smallexample
30088 (gdb)
30089 -break-watch C
30090 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30091 (gdb)
30092 -break-list
30093 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30094 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30095 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30096 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30097 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30098 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30099 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30100 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30101 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30102 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30103 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30104 times="1"@},
30105 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30106 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30107 (gdb)
30108 -exec-continue
30109 ^running
30110 (gdb)
30111 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30112 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30113 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30114 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30115 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30116 (gdb)
30117 -break-list
30118 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30119 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30120 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30121 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30122 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30123 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30124 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30125 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30126 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30127 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30128 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30129 times="1"@},
30130 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30131 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30132 (gdb)
30133 -exec-continue
30134 ^running
30135 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30136 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30137 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30138 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30139 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30140 (gdb)
30141 -break-list
30142 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30143 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30144 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30145 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30146 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30147 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30148 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30149 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30150 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30151 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30152 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30153 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30154 (gdb)
30155 @end smallexample
30156
30157
30158 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30159 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30160 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30161
30162 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30163 catchpoints.
30164
30165 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30166 @findex -catch-load
30167
30168 @subsubheading Synopsis
30169
30170 @smallexample
30171 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30172 @end smallexample
30173
30174 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30175 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30176 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30177 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30178 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30179
30180
30181 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30182
30183 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30184
30185 @subsubheading Example
30186
30187 @smallexample
30188 -catch-load -t foo.so
30189 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30190 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30191 (gdb)
30192 @end smallexample
30193
30194
30195 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30196 @findex -catch-unload
30197
30198 @subsubheading Synopsis
30199
30200 @smallexample
30201 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30202 @end smallexample
30203
30204 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30205 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30206 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30207 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30208 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30209
30210 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30211
30212 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30213
30214 @subsubheading Example
30215
30216 @smallexample
30217 -catch-unload -d bar.so
30218 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30219 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30220 (gdb)
30221 @end smallexample
30222
30223
30224 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30225 @node GDB/MI Program Context
30226 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30227
30228 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30229 @findex -exec-arguments
30230
30231
30232 @subsubheading Synopsis
30233
30234 @smallexample
30235 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30236 @end smallexample
30237
30238 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30239 @samp{-exec-run}.
30240
30241 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30242
30243 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30244
30245 @subsubheading Example
30246
30247 @smallexample
30248 (gdb)
30249 -exec-arguments -v word
30250 ^done
30251 (gdb)
30252 @end smallexample
30253
30254
30255 @ignore
30256 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30257 @findex -exec-show-arguments
30258
30259 @subsubheading Synopsis
30260
30261 @smallexample
30262 -exec-show-arguments
30263 @end smallexample
30264
30265 Print the arguments of the program.
30266
30267 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30268
30269 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30270
30271 @subsubheading Example
30272 N.A.
30273 @end ignore
30274
30275
30276 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30277 @findex -environment-cd
30278
30279 @subsubheading Synopsis
30280
30281 @smallexample
30282 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30283 @end smallexample
30284
30285 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30286
30287 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30288
30289 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30290
30291 @subsubheading Example
30292
30293 @smallexample
30294 (gdb)
30295 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30296 ^done
30297 (gdb)
30298 @end smallexample
30299
30300
30301 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30302 @findex -environment-directory
30303
30304 @subsubheading Synopsis
30305
30306 @smallexample
30307 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30308 @end smallexample
30309
30310 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30311 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30312 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30313 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30314 occurs as normal.
30315 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30316 multiple directories in a single command
30317 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30318 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30319 If blanks are needed as
30320 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30321 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30322 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30323 character must not be used
30324 in any directory name.
30325 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30326
30327 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30328
30329 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30330
30331 @subsubheading Example
30332
30333 @smallexample
30334 (gdb)
30335 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30336 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30337 (gdb)
30338 -environment-directory ""
30339 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30340 (gdb)
30341 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30342 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30343 (gdb)
30344 -environment-directory -r
30345 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30346 (gdb)
30347 @end smallexample
30348
30349
30350 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30351 @findex -environment-path
30352
30353 @subsubheading Synopsis
30354
30355 @smallexample
30356 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30357 @end smallexample
30358
30359 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30360 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30361 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30362 supplied in addition to the
30363 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30364 occurs as normal.
30365 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30366 multiple directories in a single command
30367 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30368 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30369 If blanks are needed as
30370 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30371 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30372 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30373 character must not be used
30374 in any directory name.
30375 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30376
30377
30378 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30379
30380 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30381
30382 @subsubheading Example
30383
30384 @smallexample
30385 (gdb)
30386 -environment-path
30387 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
30388 (gdb)
30389 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30390 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30391 (gdb)
30392 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30393 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30394 (gdb)
30395 @end smallexample
30396
30397
30398 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30399 @findex -environment-pwd
30400
30401 @subsubheading Synopsis
30402
30403 @smallexample
30404 -environment-pwd
30405 @end smallexample
30406
30407 Show the current working directory.
30408
30409 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30410
30411 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30412
30413 @subsubheading Example
30414
30415 @smallexample
30416 (gdb)
30417 -environment-pwd
30418 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30419 (gdb)
30420 @end smallexample
30421
30422 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30423 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30424 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
30425
30426
30427 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
30428 @findex -thread-info
30429
30430 @subsubheading Synopsis
30431
30432 @smallexample
30433 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
30434 @end smallexample
30435
30436 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
30437 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
30438 threads. When printing information about all threads,
30439 also reports the current thread.
30440
30441 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30442
30443 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
30444 about all threads.
30445
30446 @subsubheading Result
30447
30448 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
30449 defined for a given thread:
30450
30451 @table @samp
30452 @item current
30453 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30454
30455 @item id
30456 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
30457
30458 @item target-id
30459 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
30460
30461 @item details
30462 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
30463 field is optional.
30464
30465 @item name
30466 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
30467 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
30468 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
30469 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
30470 field is omitted.
30471
30472 @item frame
30473 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
30474
30475 @item state
30476 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
30477 values:
30478
30479 @table @code
30480 @item stopped
30481 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
30482 threads.
30483
30484 @item running
30485 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
30486 threads.
30487
30488 @end table
30489
30490 @item core
30491 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
30492 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
30493
30494 @end table
30495
30496 @subsubheading Example
30497
30498 @smallexample
30499 -thread-info
30500 ^done,threads=[
30501 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
30502 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
30503 args=[]@},state="running"@},
30504 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
30505 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
30506 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
30507 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
30508 state="running"@}],
30509 current-thread-id="1"
30510 (gdb)
30511 @end smallexample
30512
30513 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
30514 @findex -thread-list-ids
30515
30516 @subsubheading Synopsis
30517
30518 @smallexample
30519 -thread-list-ids
30520 @end smallexample
30521
30522 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
30523 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
30524
30525 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
30526 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
30527
30528 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30529
30530 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
30531
30532 @subsubheading Example
30533
30534 @smallexample
30535 (gdb)
30536 -thread-list-ids
30537 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30538 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
30539 (gdb)
30540 @end smallexample
30541
30542
30543 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
30544 @findex -thread-select
30545
30546 @subsubheading Synopsis
30547
30548 @smallexample
30549 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
30550 @end smallexample
30551
30552 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
30553 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
30554
30555 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
30556 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
30557
30558 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30559
30560 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
30561
30562 @subsubheading Example
30563
30564 @smallexample
30565 (gdb)
30566 -exec-next
30567 ^running
30568 (gdb)
30569 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
30570 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
30571 (gdb)
30572 -thread-list-ids
30573 ^done,
30574 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30575 number-of-threads="3"
30576 (gdb)
30577 -thread-select 3
30578 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
30579 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
30580 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
30581 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
30582 (gdb)
30583 @end smallexample
30584
30585 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30586 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
30587 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
30588
30589 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
30590 @findex -ada-task-info
30591
30592 @subsubheading Synopsis
30593
30594 @smallexample
30595 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
30596 @end smallexample
30597
30598 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
30599 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
30600
30601 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30602
30603 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
30604 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
30605
30606 @subsubheading Result
30607
30608 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
30609 defined for each Ada task:
30610
30611 @table @samp
30612 @item current
30613 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30614
30615 @item id
30616 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
30617
30618 @item task-id
30619 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
30620
30621 @item thread-id
30622 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
30623
30624 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
30625 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
30626 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
30627
30628 @item parent-id
30629 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
30630 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
30631
30632 @item priority
30633 The base priority of the task.
30634
30635 @item state
30636 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
30637 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
30638
30639 @item name
30640 The name of the task.
30641
30642 @end table
30643
30644 @subsubheading Example
30645
30646 @smallexample
30647 -ada-task-info
30648 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
30649 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
30650 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
30651 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
30652 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
30653 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
30654 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
30655 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
30656 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
30657 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
30658 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
30659 (gdb)
30660 @end smallexample
30661
30662 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30663 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
30664 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
30665
30666 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
30667 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
30668 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
30669 other cases.
30670
30671 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
30672 @findex -exec-continue
30673
30674 @subsubheading Synopsis
30675
30676 @smallexample
30677 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
30678 @end smallexample
30679
30680 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
30681 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
30682 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
30683 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
30684 @itemize @bullet
30685 @item
30686 breakpoints or watchpoints
30687 @item
30688 signals or exceptions
30689 @item
30690 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
30691 @item
30692 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
30693 @end itemize
30694 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
30695 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
30696 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
30697 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
30698 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
30699 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
30700
30701 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30702
30703 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
30704
30705 @subsubheading Example
30706
30707 @smallexample
30708 -exec-continue
30709 ^running
30710 (gdb)
30711 @@Hello world
30712 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
30713 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
30714 line="13"@}
30715 (gdb)
30716 @end smallexample
30717
30718
30719 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
30720 @findex -exec-finish
30721
30722 @subsubheading Synopsis
30723
30724 @smallexample
30725 -exec-finish [--reverse]
30726 @end smallexample
30727
30728 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
30729 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
30730 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
30731 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
30732 function was called.
30733
30734 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30735
30736 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
30737
30738 @subsubheading Example
30739
30740 Function returning @code{void}.
30741
30742 @smallexample
30743 -exec-finish
30744 ^running
30745 (gdb)
30746 @@hello from foo
30747 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
30748 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
30749 (gdb)
30750 @end smallexample
30751
30752 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
30753 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
30754 value itself.
30755
30756 @smallexample
30757 -exec-finish
30758 ^running
30759 (gdb)
30760 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
30761 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
30762 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30763 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
30764 (gdb)
30765 @end smallexample
30766
30767
30768 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
30769 @findex -exec-interrupt
30770
30771 @subsubheading Synopsis
30772
30773 @smallexample
30774 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
30775 @end smallexample
30776
30777 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
30778 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
30779 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
30780 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
30781 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
30782
30783 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
30784 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
30785 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
30786 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
30787
30788 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
30789 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
30790 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
30791 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
30792
30793 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30794
30795 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
30796
30797 @subsubheading Example
30798
30799 @smallexample
30800 (gdb)
30801 111-exec-continue
30802 111^running
30803
30804 (gdb)
30805 222-exec-interrupt
30806 222^done
30807 (gdb)
30808 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
30809 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30810 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
30811 (gdb)
30812
30813 (gdb)
30814 -exec-interrupt
30815 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
30816 (gdb)
30817 @end smallexample
30818
30819 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
30820 @findex -exec-jump
30821
30822 @subsubheading Synopsis
30823
30824 @smallexample
30825 -exec-jump @var{location}
30826 @end smallexample
30827
30828 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
30829 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
30830 different forms of @var{location}.
30831
30832 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30833
30834 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
30835
30836 @subsubheading Example
30837
30838 @smallexample
30839 -exec-jump foo.c:10
30840 *running,thread-id="all"
30841 ^running
30842 @end smallexample
30843
30844
30845 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
30846 @findex -exec-next
30847
30848 @subsubheading Synopsis
30849
30850 @smallexample
30851 -exec-next [--reverse]
30852 @end smallexample
30853
30854 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
30855 of the next source line is reached.
30856
30857 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
30858 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
30859 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
30860 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
30861 source line where the function was called.
30862
30863
30864 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30865
30866 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
30867
30868 @subsubheading Example
30869
30870 @smallexample
30871 -exec-next
30872 ^running
30873 (gdb)
30874 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
30875 (gdb)
30876 @end smallexample
30877
30878
30879 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
30880 @findex -exec-next-instruction
30881
30882 @subsubheading Synopsis
30883
30884 @smallexample
30885 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
30886 @end smallexample
30887
30888 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
30889 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
30890 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
30891 printed as well.
30892
30893 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
30894 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
30895 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
30896 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
30897 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
30898
30899 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30900
30901 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
30902
30903 @subsubheading Example
30904
30905 @smallexample
30906 (gdb)
30907 -exec-next-instruction
30908 ^running
30909
30910 (gdb)
30911 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30912 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
30913 (gdb)
30914 @end smallexample
30915
30916
30917 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
30918 @findex -exec-return
30919
30920 @subsubheading Synopsis
30921
30922 @smallexample
30923 -exec-return
30924 @end smallexample
30925
30926 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
30927 Displays the new current frame.
30928
30929 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30930
30931 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
30932
30933 @subsubheading Example
30934
30935 @smallexample
30936 (gdb)
30937 200-break-insert callee4
30938 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
30939 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
30940 (gdb)
30941 000-exec-run
30942 000^running
30943 (gdb)
30944 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
30945 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30946 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30947 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
30948 (gdb)
30949 205-break-delete
30950 205^done
30951 (gdb)
30952 111-exec-return
30953 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
30954 args=[@{name="strarg",
30955 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30956 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30957 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30958 (gdb)
30959 @end smallexample
30960
30961
30962 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
30963 @findex -exec-run
30964
30965 @subsubheading Synopsis
30966
30967 @smallexample
30968 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
30969 @end smallexample
30970
30971 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
30972 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
30973 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
30974 the program has exited exceptionally.
30975
30976 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
30977 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
30978 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
30979 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
30980
30981 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30982
30983 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
30984
30985 @subsubheading Examples
30986
30987 @smallexample
30988 (gdb)
30989 -break-insert main
30990 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30991 (gdb)
30992 -exec-run
30993 ^running
30994 (gdb)
30995 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
30996 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30997 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30998 (gdb)
30999 @end smallexample
31000
31001 @noindent
31002 Program exited normally:
31003
31004 @smallexample
31005 (gdb)
31006 -exec-run
31007 ^running
31008 (gdb)
31009 x = 55
31010 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31011 (gdb)
31012 @end smallexample
31013
31014 @noindent
31015 Program exited exceptionally:
31016
31017 @smallexample
31018 (gdb)
31019 -exec-run
31020 ^running
31021 (gdb)
31022 x = 55
31023 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31024 (gdb)
31025 @end smallexample
31026
31027 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31028 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31029
31030 @smallexample
31031 (gdb)
31032 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31033 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31034 @end smallexample
31035
31036
31037 @c @subheading -exec-signal
31038
31039
31040 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31041 @findex -exec-step
31042
31043 @subsubheading Synopsis
31044
31045 @smallexample
31046 -exec-step [--reverse]
31047 @end smallexample
31048
31049 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31050 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31051 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31052 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31053 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31054 previously executed source line.
31055
31056 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31057
31058 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31059
31060 @subsubheading Example
31061
31062 Stepping into a function:
31063
31064 @smallexample
31065 -exec-step
31066 ^running
31067 (gdb)
31068 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31069 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31070 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31071 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31072 (gdb)
31073 @end smallexample
31074
31075 Regular stepping:
31076
31077 @smallexample
31078 -exec-step
31079 ^running
31080 (gdb)
31081 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31082 (gdb)
31083 @end smallexample
31084
31085
31086 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31087 @findex -exec-step-instruction
31088
31089 @subsubheading Synopsis
31090
31091 @smallexample
31092 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31093 @end smallexample
31094
31095 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31096 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31097 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31098 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31099 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31100 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31101 as well.
31102
31103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31104
31105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31106
31107 @subsubheading Example
31108
31109 @smallexample
31110 (gdb)
31111 -exec-step-instruction
31112 ^running
31113
31114 (gdb)
31115 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31116 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31117 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31118 (gdb)
31119 -exec-step-instruction
31120 ^running
31121
31122 (gdb)
31123 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31124 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31125 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31126 (gdb)
31127 @end smallexample
31128
31129
31130 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31131 @findex -exec-until
31132
31133 @subsubheading Synopsis
31134
31135 @smallexample
31136 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31137 @end smallexample
31138
31139 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31140 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31141 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31142 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31143
31144 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31145
31146 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31147
31148 @subsubheading Example
31149
31150 @smallexample
31151 (gdb)
31152 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
31153 ^running
31154 (gdb)
31155 x = 55
31156 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31157 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31158 (gdb)
31159 @end smallexample
31160
31161 @ignore
31162 @subheading -file-clear
31163 Is this going away????
31164 @end ignore
31165
31166 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31167 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31168 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31169
31170 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31171 @findex -enable-frame-filters
31172
31173 @smallexample
31174 -enable-frame-filters
31175 @end smallexample
31176
31177 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31178 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31179 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31180 request that this functionality be enabled.
31181
31182 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31183
31184 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31185 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31186
31187 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31188 @findex -stack-info-frame
31189
31190 @subsubheading Synopsis
31191
31192 @smallexample
31193 -stack-info-frame
31194 @end smallexample
31195
31196 Get info on the selected frame.
31197
31198 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31199
31200 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31201 (without arguments).
31202
31203 @subsubheading Example
31204
31205 @smallexample
31206 (gdb)
31207 -stack-info-frame
31208 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31209 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31210 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31211 (gdb)
31212 @end smallexample
31213
31214 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31215 @findex -stack-info-depth
31216
31217 @subsubheading Synopsis
31218
31219 @smallexample
31220 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31221 @end smallexample
31222
31223 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31224 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31225
31226 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31227
31228 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31229
31230 @subsubheading Example
31231
31232 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31233
31234 @smallexample
31235 (gdb)
31236 -stack-info-depth
31237 ^done,depth="12"
31238 (gdb)
31239 -stack-info-depth 4
31240 ^done,depth="4"
31241 (gdb)
31242 -stack-info-depth 12
31243 ^done,depth="12"
31244 (gdb)
31245 -stack-info-depth 11
31246 ^done,depth="11"
31247 (gdb)
31248 -stack-info-depth 13
31249 ^done,depth="12"
31250 (gdb)
31251 @end smallexample
31252
31253 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31254 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31255 @findex -stack-list-arguments
31256
31257 @subsubheading Synopsis
31258
31259 @smallexample
31260 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31261 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31262 @end smallexample
31263
31264 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31265 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31266 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31267 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31268 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31269 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31270 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31271 which case only existing frames will be returned.
31272
31273 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31274 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31275 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31276 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31277 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31278 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31279
31280 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31281 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31282 are still displayed, however.
31283
31284 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31285 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31286
31287 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31288
31289 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31290 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31291 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31292
31293 @subsubheading Example
31294
31295 @smallexample
31296 (gdb)
31297 -stack-list-frames
31298 ^done,
31299 stack=[
31300 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31301 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31302 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31303 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31304 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31305 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31306 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31307 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31308 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31309 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31310 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31311 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31312 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31313 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31314 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31315 (gdb)
31316 -stack-list-arguments 0
31317 ^done,
31318 stack-args=[
31319 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31320 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31321 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31322 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31323 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31324 (gdb)
31325 -stack-list-arguments 1
31326 ^done,
31327 stack-args=[
31328 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31329 frame=@{level="1",
31330 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31331 frame=@{level="2",args=[
31332 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31333 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31334 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31335 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31336 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31337 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31338 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31339 (gdb)
31340 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31341 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31342 (gdb)
31343 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31344 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31345 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31346 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31347 (gdb)
31348 @end smallexample
31349
31350 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31351
31352
31353 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31354 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31355 @findex -stack-list-frames
31356
31357 @subsubheading Synopsis
31358
31359 @smallexample
31360 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31361 @end smallexample
31362
31363 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31364 following info:
31365
31366 @table @samp
31367 @item @var{level}
31368 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31369 @item @var{addr}
31370 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31371 @item @var{func}
31372 Function name.
31373 @item @var{file}
31374 File name of the source file where the function lives.
31375 @item @var{fullname}
31376 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31377 @item @var{line}
31378 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31379 @item @var{from}
31380 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31381 if the frame's function is not known.
31382 @end table
31383
31384 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31385 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31386 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31387 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31388 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31389 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31390 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31391 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31392 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31393
31394 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31395
31396 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31397
31398 @subsubheading Example
31399
31400 Full stack backtrace:
31401
31402 @smallexample
31403 (gdb)
31404 -stack-list-frames
31405 ^done,stack=
31406 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31407 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31408 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31409 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31410 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31411 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31412 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31413 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31414 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31415 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31416 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31417 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31418 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31419 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31420 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31421 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31422 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31423 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31424 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31425 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31426 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31427 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31428 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
31429 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
31430 (gdb)
31431 @end smallexample
31432
31433 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
31434
31435 @smallexample
31436 (gdb)
31437 -stack-list-frames 3 5
31438 ^done,stack=
31439 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31440 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31441 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31442 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31443 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31444 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31445 (gdb)
31446 @end smallexample
31447
31448 Show a single frame:
31449
31450 @smallexample
31451 (gdb)
31452 -stack-list-frames 3 3
31453 ^done,stack=
31454 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31455 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31456 (gdb)
31457 @end smallexample
31458
31459
31460 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
31461 @findex -stack-list-locals
31462 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
31463
31464 @subsubheading Synopsis
31465
31466 @smallexample
31467 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31468 @end smallexample
31469
31470 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
31471 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31472 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31473 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31474 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31475 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
31476 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
31477 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
31478 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31479 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31480
31481 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31482 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
31483 variables are still displayed, however.
31484
31485 This command is deprecated in favor of the
31486 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31487
31488 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31489
31490 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
31491
31492 @subsubheading Example
31493
31494 @smallexample
31495 (gdb)
31496 -stack-list-locals 0
31497 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
31498 (gdb)
31499 -stack-list-locals --all-values
31500 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
31501 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
31502 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
31503 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
31504 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
31505 (gdb)
31506 @end smallexample
31507
31508 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
31509 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
31510 @findex -stack-list-variables
31511
31512 @subsubheading Synopsis
31513
31514 @smallexample
31515 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31516 @end smallexample
31517
31518 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
31519 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31520 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31521 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31522 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31523 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31524 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31525
31526 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31527 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
31528 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
31529
31530 @subsubheading Example
31531
31532 @smallexample
31533 (gdb)
31534 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
31535 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
31536 (gdb)
31537 @end smallexample
31538
31539
31540 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
31541 @findex -stack-select-frame
31542
31543 @subsubheading Synopsis
31544
31545 @smallexample
31546 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
31547 @end smallexample
31548
31549 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
31550 the stack.
31551
31552 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
31553 option to every command.
31554
31555 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31556
31557 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
31558 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
31559
31560 @subsubheading Example
31561
31562 @smallexample
31563 (gdb)
31564 -stack-select-frame 2
31565 ^done
31566 (gdb)
31567 @end smallexample
31568
31569 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31570 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
31571 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
31572
31573 @ignore
31574
31575 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31576
31577 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
31578 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
31579 used by @code{Insight}.
31580
31581 The two main reasons for that are:
31582
31583 @enumerate 1
31584 @item
31585 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
31586
31587 @item
31588 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
31589 now).
31590 @end enumerate
31591
31592 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
31593 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
31594 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
31595 hints about their use.
31596
31597 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
31598 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
31599 least, the following operations:
31600
31601 @itemize @bullet
31602 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
31603 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
31604 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
31605 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
31606 @end itemize
31607
31608 @end ignore
31609
31610 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
31611
31612 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31613
31614 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
31615 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
31616 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
31617 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
31618 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
31619 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
31620 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
31621 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
31622 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
31623 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
31624 object, or to change display format.
31625
31626 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
31627 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
31628 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
31629 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
31630 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
31631 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
31632 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
31633 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
31634 child will be created.
31635
31636 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
31637 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
31638 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
31639 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
31640 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
31641
31642 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
31643 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
31644 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
31645 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
31646 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
31647 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
31648 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
31649 variables that frontend has created.
31650
31651 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
31652 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
31653 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
31654 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
31655 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
31656 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
31657 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
31658 implicitly updated.
31659
31660 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
31661 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
31662 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
31663 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
31664 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
31665 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
31666 frame. Consider this example:
31667
31668 @smallexample
31669 void do_work(...)
31670 @{
31671 struct work_state state;
31672
31673 if (...)
31674 do_work(...);
31675 @}
31676 @end smallexample
31677
31678 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
31679 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
31680 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
31681 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
31682 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
31683
31684 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
31685 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
31686 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
31687 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
31688 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
31689 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
31690
31691 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
31692 access this functionality:
31693
31694 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
31695 @item @strong{Operation}
31696 @tab @strong{Description}
31697
31698 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
31699 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
31700 @item @code{-var-create}
31701 @tab create a variable object
31702 @item @code{-var-delete}
31703 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
31704 @item @code{-var-set-format}
31705 @tab set the display format of this variable
31706 @item @code{-var-show-format}
31707 @tab show the display format of this variable
31708 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
31709 @tab tells how many children this object has
31710 @item @code{-var-list-children}
31711 @tab return a list of the object's children
31712 @item @code{-var-info-type}
31713 @tab show the type of this variable object
31714 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
31715 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
31716 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
31717 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
31718 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
31719 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
31720 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
31721 @tab get the value of this variable
31722 @item @code{-var-assign}
31723 @tab set the value of this variable
31724 @item @code{-var-update}
31725 @tab update the variable and its children
31726 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
31727 @tab set frozeness attribute
31728 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
31729 @tab set range of children to display on update
31730 @end multitable
31731
31732 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
31733 how it can be used.
31734
31735 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
31736
31737 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
31738 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
31739
31740 @smallexample
31741 -enable-pretty-printing
31742 @end smallexample
31743
31744 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
31745 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
31746 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31747 request that this functionality be enabled.
31748
31749 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31750
31751 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31752 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31753
31754 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
31755 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
31756
31757 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
31758 @findex -var-create
31759
31760 @subsubheading Synopsis
31761
31762 @smallexample
31763 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
31764 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
31765 @end smallexample
31766
31767 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
31768 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
31769 register.
31770
31771 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
31772 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
31773 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
31774 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
31775 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
31776
31777 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
31778 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
31779 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
31780 object must be created.
31781
31782 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
31783 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
31784
31785 @itemize @bullet
31786 @item
31787 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
31788
31789 @item
31790 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
31791
31792 @item
31793 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
31794 @end itemize
31795
31796 @cindex dynamic varobj
31797 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
31798 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
31799 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
31800 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
31801 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
31802 compatibility for existing clients.
31803
31804 @subsubheading Result
31805
31806 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
31807 are:
31808
31809 @table @samp
31810 @item name
31811 The name of the varobj.
31812
31813 @item numchild
31814 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
31815 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
31816 @samp{has_more} attribute.
31817
31818 @item value
31819 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
31820 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
31821 will not be interesting.
31822
31823 @item type
31824 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
31825 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
31826 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
31827 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
31828 @emph{declared} one.
31829
31830 @item thread-id
31831 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
31832 thread's identifier.
31833
31834 @item has_more
31835 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
31836 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
31837
31838 @item dynamic
31839 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
31840 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
31841 then this attribute will not be present.
31842
31843 @item displayhint
31844 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
31845 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
31846 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
31847 @end table
31848
31849 Typical output will look like this:
31850
31851 @smallexample
31852 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
31853 has_more="@var{has_more}"
31854 @end smallexample
31855
31856
31857 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
31858 @findex -var-delete
31859
31860 @subsubheading Synopsis
31861
31862 @smallexample
31863 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
31864 @end smallexample
31865
31866 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
31867 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
31868
31869 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
31870
31871
31872 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
31873 @findex -var-set-format
31874
31875 @subsubheading Synopsis
31876
31877 @smallexample
31878 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
31879 @end smallexample
31880
31881 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
31882 @var{format-spec}.
31883
31884 @anchor{-var-set-format}
31885 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
31886
31887 @smallexample
31888 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
31889 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
31890 @end smallexample
31891
31892 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
31893 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
31894 for pointers, etc.).
31895
31896 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
31897 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
31898
31899 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
31900 @findex -var-show-format
31901
31902 @subsubheading Synopsis
31903
31904 @smallexample
31905 -var-show-format @var{name}
31906 @end smallexample
31907
31908 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
31909
31910 @smallexample
31911 @var{format} @expansion{}
31912 @var{format-spec}
31913 @end smallexample
31914
31915
31916 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
31917 @findex -var-info-num-children
31918
31919 @subsubheading Synopsis
31920
31921 @smallexample
31922 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
31923 @end smallexample
31924
31925 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
31926
31927 @smallexample
31928 numchild=@var{n}
31929 @end smallexample
31930
31931 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
31932 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
31933 be available.
31934
31935
31936 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
31937 @findex -var-list-children
31938
31939 @subsubheading Synopsis
31940
31941 @smallexample
31942 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
31943 @end smallexample
31944 @anchor{-var-list-children}
31945
31946 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
31947 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
31948 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
31949 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
31950 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
31951 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
31952 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
31953 and unions.
31954
31955 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
31956 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
31957 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
31958 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
31959 reported.
31960
31961 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
31962 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
31963 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
31964 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
31965 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
31966 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
31967 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
31968 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
31969 the visible items.
31970
31971 For each child the following results are returned:
31972
31973 @table @var
31974
31975 @item name
31976 Name of the variable object created for this child.
31977
31978 @item exp
31979 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
31980 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
31981
31982 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
31983 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
31984
31985 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
31986 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
31987 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
31988 type and value are not present.
31989
31990 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
31991 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
31992 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
31993
31994 @item numchild
31995 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
31996 0.
31997
31998 @item type
31999 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32000 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32001 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32002 @emph{declared} one.
32003
32004 @item value
32005 If values were requested, this is the value.
32006
32007 @item thread-id
32008 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32009 Otherwise this result is not present.
32010
32011 @item frozen
32012 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32013 @end table
32014
32015 The result may have its own attributes:
32016
32017 @table @samp
32018 @item displayhint
32019 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32020 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32021 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32022
32023 @item has_more
32024 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32025 remaining after the end of the selected range.
32026 @end table
32027
32028 @subsubheading Example
32029
32030 @smallexample
32031 (gdb)
32032 -var-list-children n
32033 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32034 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32035 (gdb)
32036 -var-list-children --all-values n
32037 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32038 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32039 @end smallexample
32040
32041
32042 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32043 @findex -var-info-type
32044
32045 @subsubheading Synopsis
32046
32047 @smallexample
32048 -var-info-type @var{name}
32049 @end smallexample
32050
32051 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32052 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32053 @value{GDBN} CLI:
32054
32055 @smallexample
32056 type=@var{typename}
32057 @end smallexample
32058
32059
32060 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32061 @findex -var-info-expression
32062
32063 @subsubheading Synopsis
32064
32065 @smallexample
32066 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32067 @end smallexample
32068
32069 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32070 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32071 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32072
32073 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32074 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32075
32076 @smallexample
32077 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32078 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32079 @end smallexample
32080
32081 @noindent
32082 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
32083
32084 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32085 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32086 is of limited use.
32087
32088 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32089 @findex -var-info-path-expression
32090
32091 @subsubheading Synopsis
32092
32093 @smallexample
32094 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32095 @end smallexample
32096
32097 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32098 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32099 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32100 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32101 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32102 watchpoint from a variable object.
32103
32104 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32105 and will give an error when invoked on one.
32106
32107 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32108 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32109 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32110 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32111 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32112 @smallexample
32113 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32114 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32115 @end smallexample
32116
32117 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32118 @findex -var-show-attributes
32119
32120 @subsubheading Synopsis
32121
32122 @smallexample
32123 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32124 @end smallexample
32125
32126 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32127
32128 @smallexample
32129 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32130 @end smallexample
32131
32132 @noindent
32133 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32134
32135 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32136 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
32137
32138 @subsubheading Synopsis
32139
32140 @smallexample
32141 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32142 @end smallexample
32143
32144 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32145 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32146 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32147 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32148 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32149 the current display format will be used. The current display format
32150 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32151
32152 @smallexample
32153 value=@var{value}
32154 @end smallexample
32155
32156 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32157 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32158
32159 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32160 @findex -var-assign
32161
32162 @subsubheading Synopsis
32163
32164 @smallexample
32165 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32166 @end smallexample
32167
32168 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32169 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32170 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32171 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32172
32173 @subsubheading Example
32174
32175 @smallexample
32176 (gdb)
32177 -var-assign var1 3
32178 ^done,value="3"
32179 (gdb)
32180 -var-update *
32181 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32182 (gdb)
32183 @end smallexample
32184
32185 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32186 @findex -var-update
32187
32188 @subsubheading Synopsis
32189
32190 @smallexample
32191 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32192 @end smallexample
32193
32194 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32195 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32196 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32197 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32198 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32199 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32200 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32201 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32202 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32203 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32204 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32205 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32206 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32207
32208 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32209 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32210 diagnostic.
32211
32212 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32213 only the selected range of children will be reported.
32214
32215 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32216 @samp{changelist}.
32217
32218 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32219
32220 @table @samp
32221 @item name
32222 The name of the varobj.
32223
32224 @item value
32225 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32226 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32227
32228 @item in_scope
32229 @anchor{-var-update}
32230 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32231
32232 @table @code
32233 @item "true"
32234 The variable object's current value is valid.
32235
32236 @item "false"
32237 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32238 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32239 scope.
32240
32241 @item "invalid"
32242 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32243 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32244 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32245 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32246 objects.
32247 @end table
32248
32249 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32250 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32251
32252 @item type_changed
32253 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32254 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32255 be @samp{false}.
32256
32257 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32258 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32259 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32260 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32261 unset.
32262
32263 @item new_type
32264 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32265 hold the new type.
32266
32267 @item new_num_children
32268 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32269 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32270
32271 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32272 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32273 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32274 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32275 children which may be available.
32276
32277 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32278 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32279 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32280 only happen at the end of the update range).
32281
32282 @item displayhint
32283 The display hint, if any.
32284
32285 @item has_more
32286 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32287 available outside the varobj's update range.
32288
32289 @item dynamic
32290 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32291 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32292 then this attribute will not be present.
32293
32294 @item new_children
32295 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32296 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32297 be listed in this attribute.
32298 @end table
32299
32300 @subsubheading Example
32301
32302 @smallexample
32303 (gdb)
32304 -var-assign var1 3
32305 ^done,value="3"
32306 (gdb)
32307 -var-update --all-values var1
32308 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32309 type_changed="false"@}]
32310 (gdb)
32311 @end smallexample
32312
32313 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32314 @findex -var-set-frozen
32315 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32316
32317 @subsubheading Synopsis
32318
32319 @smallexample
32320 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32321 @end smallexample
32322
32323 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32324 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32325 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32326 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32327 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32328 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32329 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32330 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32331 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32332 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32333 @code{-var-update} does.
32334
32335 @subsubheading Example
32336
32337 @smallexample
32338 (gdb)
32339 -var-set-frozen V 1
32340 ^done
32341 (gdb)
32342 @end smallexample
32343
32344 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32345 @findex -var-set-update-range
32346 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32347
32348 @subsubheading Synopsis
32349
32350 @smallexample
32351 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32352 @end smallexample
32353
32354 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32355 @code{-var-update}.
32356
32357 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32358 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32359 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32360 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32361
32362 @subsubheading Example
32363
32364 @smallexample
32365 (gdb)
32366 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
32367 ^done
32368 @end smallexample
32369
32370 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32371 @findex -var-set-visualizer
32372 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32373
32374 @subsubheading Synopsis
32375
32376 @smallexample
32377 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32378 @end smallexample
32379
32380 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32381
32382 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32383 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32384
32385 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32386 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32387 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32388 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32389 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32390 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32391 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32392
32393 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32394 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32395 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32396 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32397
32398 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32399 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32400 can be used to check this.
32401
32402 @subsubheading Example
32403
32404 Resetting the visualizer:
32405
32406 @smallexample
32407 (gdb)
32408 -var-set-visualizer V None
32409 ^done
32410 @end smallexample
32411
32412 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
32413
32414 @smallexample
32415 (gdb)
32416 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
32417 ^done
32418 @end smallexample
32419
32420 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
32421 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
32422
32423 @smallexample
32424 (gdb)
32425 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
32426 ^done
32427 @end smallexample
32428
32429 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32430 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
32431 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
32432
32433 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
32434 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
32435 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
32436 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
32437
32438 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
32439 @c @subheading -data-assign
32440 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
32441 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
32442 @c set variable
32443 @c @subsubheading Example
32444 @c N.A.
32445
32446 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
32447 @findex -data-disassemble
32448
32449 @subsubheading Synopsis
32450
32451 @smallexample
32452 -data-disassemble
32453 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
32454 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
32455 -- @var{mode}
32456 @end smallexample
32457
32458 @noindent
32459 Where:
32460
32461 @table @samp
32462 @item @var{start-addr}
32463 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
32464 @item @var{end-addr}
32465 is the end address
32466 @item @var{filename}
32467 is the name of the file to disassemble
32468 @item @var{linenum}
32469 is the line number to disassemble around
32470 @item @var{lines}
32471 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
32472 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
32473 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
32474 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
32475 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
32476 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
32477 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
32478 are displayed.
32479 @item @var{mode}
32480 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
32481 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
32482 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
32483 @end table
32484
32485 @subsubheading Result
32486
32487 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
32488 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
32489 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
32490
32491 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
32492 following fields:
32493
32494 @table @code
32495 @item address
32496 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
32497
32498 @item func-name
32499 The name of the function this instruction is within.
32500
32501 @item offset
32502 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
32503
32504 @item inst
32505 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
32506
32507 @item opcodes
32508 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
32509 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
32510
32511 @end table
32512
32513 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
32514 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
32515
32516 @table @code
32517 @item line
32518 The line number within @samp{file}.
32519
32520 @item file
32521 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
32522 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
32523 used.
32524
32525 @item fullname
32526 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
32527 using the source file search path
32528 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
32529 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
32530
32531 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
32532 present in the debug information.
32533
32534 @item line_asm_insn
32535 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
32536 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
32537 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
32538 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
32539 @samp{opcodes}.
32540
32541 @end table
32542
32543 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
32544 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
32545 adjust its format.
32546
32547 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32548
32549 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
32550
32551 @subsubheading Example
32552
32553 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
32554
32555 @smallexample
32556 (gdb)
32557 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
32558 ^done,
32559 asm_insns=[
32560 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32561 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32562 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32563 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32564 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
32565 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
32566 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
32567 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32568 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
32569 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
32570 (gdb)
32571 @end smallexample
32572
32573 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
32574 @code{main}.
32575
32576 @smallexample
32577 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
32578 ^done,asm_insns=[
32579 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32580 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32581 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32582 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32583 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32584 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32585 [@dots{}]
32586 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
32587 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
32588 (gdb)
32589 @end smallexample
32590
32591 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
32592
32593 @smallexample
32594 (gdb)
32595 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
32596 ^done,asm_insns=[
32597 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32598 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32599 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32600 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32601 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32602 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
32603 (gdb)
32604 @end smallexample
32605
32606 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
32607
32608 @smallexample
32609 (gdb)
32610 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
32611 ^done,asm_insns=[
32612 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
32613 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32614 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32615 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
32616 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
32617 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
32618 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32619 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32620 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
32621 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32622 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32623 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
32624 (gdb)
32625 @end smallexample
32626
32627
32628 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
32629 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
32630
32631 @subsubheading Synopsis
32632
32633 @smallexample
32634 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
32635 @end smallexample
32636
32637 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
32638 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
32639 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
32640
32641 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32642
32643 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
32644 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
32645 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
32646
32647 @subsubheading Example
32648
32649 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
32650 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
32651 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
32652 output.
32653
32654 @smallexample
32655 211-data-evaluate-expression A
32656 211^done,value="1"
32657 (gdb)
32658 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
32659 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
32660 (gdb)
32661 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
32662 411^done,value="4"
32663 (gdb)
32664 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
32665 511^done,value="4"
32666 (gdb)
32667 @end smallexample
32668
32669
32670 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
32671 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
32672
32673 @subsubheading Synopsis
32674
32675 @smallexample
32676 -data-list-changed-registers
32677 @end smallexample
32678
32679 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
32680
32681 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32682
32683 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
32684 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
32685
32686 @subsubheading Example
32687
32688 On a PPC MBX board:
32689
32690 @smallexample
32691 (gdb)
32692 -exec-continue
32693 ^running
32694
32695 (gdb)
32696 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
32697 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
32698 line="5"@}
32699 (gdb)
32700 -data-list-changed-registers
32701 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
32702 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
32703 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
32704 (gdb)
32705 @end smallexample
32706
32707
32708 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
32709 @findex -data-list-register-names
32710
32711 @subsubheading Synopsis
32712
32713 @smallexample
32714 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
32715 @end smallexample
32716
32717 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
32718 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
32719 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
32720 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
32721 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
32722 include empty register names.
32723
32724 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32725
32726 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
32727 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
32728 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
32729
32730 @subsubheading Example
32731
32732 For the PPC MBX board:
32733 @smallexample
32734 (gdb)
32735 -data-list-register-names
32736 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
32737 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
32738 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
32739 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
32740 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
32741 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
32742 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
32743 (gdb)
32744 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
32745 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
32746 (gdb)
32747 @end smallexample
32748
32749 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
32750 @findex -data-list-register-values
32751
32752 @subsubheading Synopsis
32753
32754 @smallexample
32755 -data-list-register-values
32756 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
32757 @end smallexample
32758
32759 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
32760 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
32761 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
32762 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
32763 returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
32764 the available registers are to be returned.
32765
32766 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
32767
32768 @table @code
32769 @item x
32770 Hexadecimal
32771 @item o
32772 Octal
32773 @item t
32774 Binary
32775 @item d
32776 Decimal
32777 @item r
32778 Raw
32779 @item N
32780 Natural
32781 @end table
32782
32783 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32784
32785 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
32786 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
32787
32788 @subsubheading Example
32789
32790 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
32791 don't appear in the actual output):
32792
32793 @smallexample
32794 (gdb)
32795 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
32796 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
32797 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
32798 (gdb)
32799 -data-list-register-values x
32800 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
32801 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32802 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
32803 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
32804 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
32805 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
32806 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
32807 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
32808 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
32809 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32810 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
32811 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
32812 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
32813 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
32814 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
32815 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
32816 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
32817 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
32818 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
32819 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
32820 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
32821 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
32822 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
32823 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
32824 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
32825 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
32826 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
32827 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
32828 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
32829 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
32830 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
32831 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
32832 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
32833 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
32834 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
32835 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
32836 (gdb)
32837 @end smallexample
32838
32839
32840 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
32841 @findex -data-read-memory
32842
32843 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
32844
32845 @subsubheading Synopsis
32846
32847 @smallexample
32848 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
32849 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
32850 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
32851 @end smallexample
32852
32853 @noindent
32854 where:
32855
32856 @table @samp
32857 @item @var{address}
32858 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
32859 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
32860 quoted using the C convention.
32861
32862 @item @var{word-format}
32863 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
32864 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
32865 ,Output Formats}).
32866
32867 @item @var{word-size}
32868 The size of each memory word in bytes.
32869
32870 @item @var{nr-rows}
32871 The number of rows in the output table.
32872
32873 @item @var{nr-cols}
32874 The number of columns in the output table.
32875
32876 @item @var{aschar}
32877 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
32878 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
32879 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
32880 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
32881
32882 @item @var{byte-offset}
32883 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
32884 @end table
32885
32886 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
32887 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
32888 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
32889 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
32890 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
32891 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
32892 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
32893 @samp{addr}.
32894
32895 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
32896 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
32897 @samp{prev-page}.
32898
32899 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32900
32901 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
32902 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
32903
32904 @subsubheading Example
32905
32906 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
32907 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
32908 word. Display each word in hex.
32909
32910 @smallexample
32911 (gdb)
32912 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
32913 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
32914 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
32915 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
32916 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
32917 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
32918 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
32919 (gdb)
32920 @end smallexample
32921
32922 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
32923 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
32924
32925 @smallexample
32926 (gdb)
32927 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
32928 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
32929 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
32930 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
32931 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
32932 (gdb)
32933 @end smallexample
32934
32935 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
32936 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
32937 used as the non-printable character.
32938
32939 @smallexample
32940 (gdb)
32941 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
32942 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
32943 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
32944 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
32945 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32946 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32947 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32948 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32949 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
32950 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
32951 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
32952 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
32953 (gdb)
32954 @end smallexample
32955
32956 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
32957 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
32958
32959 @subsubheading Synopsis
32960
32961 @smallexample
32962 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
32963 @var{address} @var{count}
32964 @end smallexample
32965
32966 @noindent
32967 where:
32968
32969 @table @samp
32970 @item @var{address}
32971 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
32972 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
32973 quoted using the C convention.
32974
32975 @item @var{count}
32976 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
32977
32978 @item @var{byte-offset}
32979 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
32980 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
32981 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
32982 perform address arithmetics itself.
32983
32984 @end table
32985
32986 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
32987 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
32988 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
32989 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
32990 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
32991 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
32992
32993 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
32994 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
32995 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
32996 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
32997 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
32998 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
32999 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33000 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
33001
33002 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33003 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33004 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33005 and has the following fields:
33006
33007 @table @code
33008 @item begin
33009 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33010
33011 @item end
33012 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33013
33014 @item offset
33015 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33016 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33017
33018 @item contents
33019 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33020
33021 @end table
33022
33023
33024
33025 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33026
33027 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33028
33029 @subsubheading Example
33030
33031 @smallexample
33032 (gdb)
33033 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33034 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33035 end="0xbffff15e",
33036 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33037 (gdb)
33038 @end smallexample
33039
33040
33041 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33042 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33043
33044 @subsubheading Synopsis
33045
33046 @smallexample
33047 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33048 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33049 @end smallexample
33050
33051 @noindent
33052 where:
33053
33054 @table @samp
33055 @item @var{address}
33056 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33057 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33058 quoted using the C convention.
33059
33060 @item @var{contents}
33061 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33062
33063 @item @var{count}
33064 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33065 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33066 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33067
33068 @end table
33069
33070 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33071
33072 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33073
33074 @subsubheading Example
33075
33076 @smallexample
33077 (gdb)
33078 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33079 ^done
33080 (gdb)
33081 @end smallexample
33082
33083 @smallexample
33084 (gdb)
33085 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33086 ^done
33087 (gdb)
33088 @end smallexample
33089
33090 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33091 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33092 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33093
33094 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33095 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33096
33097 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33098 @findex -trace-find
33099
33100 @subsubheading Synopsis
33101
33102 @smallexample
33103 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33104 @end smallexample
33105
33106 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33107 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33108 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33109
33110 @table @samp
33111
33112 @item none
33113 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33114
33115 @item frame-number
33116 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33117 that index.
33118
33119 @item tracepoint-number
33120 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33121 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33122
33123 @item pc
33124 An address is required as parameter. Finds
33125 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33126 address.
33127
33128 @item pc-inside-range
33129 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33130 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33131 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33132
33133 @item pc-outside-range
33134 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33135 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33136 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33137
33138 @item line
33139 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33140 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33141 the specified location.
33142
33143 @end table
33144
33145 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33146 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33147
33148 @table @samp
33149 @item found
33150 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33151 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33152
33153 @item traceframe
33154 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33155 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33156
33157 @item tracepoint
33158 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33159 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33160
33161 @item frame
33162 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33163 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33164 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33165
33166 @end table
33167
33168 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33169
33170 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33171
33172 @subheading -trace-define-variable
33173 @findex -trace-define-variable
33174
33175 @subsubheading Synopsis
33176
33177 @smallexample
33178 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33179 @end smallexample
33180
33181 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33182 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33183 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33184 with the @samp{$} character.
33185
33186 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33187
33188 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33189
33190 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33191 @findex -trace-frame-collected
33192
33193 @subsubheading Synopsis
33194
33195 @smallexample
33196 -trace-frame-collected
33197 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33198 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33199 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33200 [--memory-contents]
33201 @end smallexample
33202
33203 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33204 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33205 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33206 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33207 See the output description table below for more details.
33208
33209 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33210 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33211 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33212 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33213 memory range and which is a computed expression.
33214
33215 For instance, if the actions were
33216 @smallexample
33217 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33218 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33219 @end smallexample
33220
33221 @noindent
33222 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33223 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33224 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33225 objects would be computed expressions.
33226
33227 An example output would be:
33228
33229 @smallexample
33230 (gdb)
33231 -trace-frame-collected
33232 ^done,
33233 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33234 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33235 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33236 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33237 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33238 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33239 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33240 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33241 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33242 ...
33243 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33244 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33245 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33246 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33247 (gdb)
33248 @end smallexample
33249
33250 Where:
33251
33252 @table @code
33253 @item explicit-variables
33254 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33255 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33256 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33257 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33258 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33259 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33260 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33261 arrays, structures and unions.
33262
33263 @item computed-expressions
33264 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33265 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33266 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33267 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33268
33269 @item registers
33270 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33271 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33272 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33273 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33274 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33275
33276 @item tvars
33277 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
33278 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
33279 current value are returned.
33280
33281 @item memory
33282 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
33283 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
33284 collected memory range and has the following fields:
33285
33286 @table @code
33287 @item address
33288 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
33289
33290 @item length
33291 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
33292
33293 @item contents
33294 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
33295 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
33296
33297 @end table
33298
33299 @end table
33300
33301 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33302
33303 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33304
33305 @subsubheading Example
33306
33307 @subheading -trace-list-variables
33308 @findex -trace-list-variables
33309
33310 @subsubheading Synopsis
33311
33312 @smallexample
33313 -trace-list-variables
33314 @end smallexample
33315
33316 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33317 table has the following fields:
33318
33319 @table @samp
33320 @item name
33321 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33322
33323 @item initial
33324 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33325 field is always present.
33326
33327 @item current
33328 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33329 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33330 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33331 presently running.
33332
33333 @end table
33334
33335 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33336
33337 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33338
33339 @subsubheading Example
33340
33341 @smallexample
33342 (gdb)
33343 -trace-list-variables
33344 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33345 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33346 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33347 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33348 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33349 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33350 (gdb)
33351 @end smallexample
33352
33353 @subheading -trace-save
33354 @findex -trace-save
33355
33356 @subsubheading Synopsis
33357
33358 @smallexample
33359 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33360 @end smallexample
33361
33362 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33363 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33364 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33365 to perform the save.
33366
33367 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33368
33369 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33370
33371
33372 @subheading -trace-start
33373 @findex -trace-start
33374
33375 @subsubheading Synopsis
33376
33377 @smallexample
33378 -trace-start
33379 @end smallexample
33380
33381 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33382 have any fields.
33383
33384 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33385
33386 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33387
33388 @subheading -trace-status
33389 @findex -trace-status
33390
33391 @subsubheading Synopsis
33392
33393 @smallexample
33394 -trace-status
33395 @end smallexample
33396
33397 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33398 the following fields:
33399
33400 @table @samp
33401
33402 @item supported
33403 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33404 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33405 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33406 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
33407 started. This field is always present.
33408
33409 @item running
33410 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
33411 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
33412 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33413
33414 @item stop-reason
33415 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
33416 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
33417 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
33418 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
33419 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
33420 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
33421 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
33422 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
33423 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33424
33425 @item stopping-tracepoint
33426 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
33427 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
33428 @samp{passcount}.
33429
33430 @item frames
33431 @itemx frames-created
33432 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
33433 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
33434 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
33435 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
33436
33437 @item buffer-size
33438 @itemx buffer-free
33439 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
33440 remaining space. These fields are optional.
33441
33442 @item circular
33443 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33444 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33445 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33446 and may fill up.
33447
33448 @item disconnected
33449 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33450 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33451 that the trace run will stop.
33452
33453 @item trace-file
33454 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
33455 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
33456
33457 @end table
33458
33459 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33460
33461 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
33462
33463 @subheading -trace-stop
33464 @findex -trace-stop
33465
33466 @subsubheading Synopsis
33467
33468 @smallexample
33469 -trace-stop
33470 @end smallexample
33471
33472 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
33473 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
33474 @samp{running} fields are not output.
33475
33476 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33477
33478 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
33479
33480
33481 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33482 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
33483 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
33484
33485
33486 @ignore
33487 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
33488 @findex -symbol-info-address
33489
33490 @subsubheading Synopsis
33491
33492 @smallexample
33493 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
33494 @end smallexample
33495
33496 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
33497
33498 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33499
33500 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
33501
33502 @subsubheading Example
33503 N.A.
33504
33505
33506 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
33507 @findex -symbol-info-file
33508
33509 @subsubheading Synopsis
33510
33511 @smallexample
33512 -symbol-info-file
33513 @end smallexample
33514
33515 Show the file for the symbol.
33516
33517 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33518
33519 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
33520 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
33521
33522 @subsubheading Example
33523 N.A.
33524
33525
33526 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
33527 @findex -symbol-info-function
33528
33529 @subsubheading Synopsis
33530
33531 @smallexample
33532 -symbol-info-function
33533 @end smallexample
33534
33535 Show which function the symbol lives in.
33536
33537 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33538
33539 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
33540
33541 @subsubheading Example
33542 N.A.
33543
33544
33545 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
33546 @findex -symbol-info-line
33547
33548 @subsubheading Synopsis
33549
33550 @smallexample
33551 -symbol-info-line
33552 @end smallexample
33553
33554 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
33555
33556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33557
33558 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
33559 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
33560
33561 @subsubheading Example
33562 N.A.
33563
33564
33565 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
33566 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
33567
33568 @subsubheading Synopsis
33569
33570 @smallexample
33571 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
33572 @end smallexample
33573
33574 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
33575
33576 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33577
33578 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
33579
33580 @subsubheading Example
33581 N.A.
33582
33583
33584 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
33585 @findex -symbol-list-functions
33586
33587 @subsubheading Synopsis
33588
33589 @smallexample
33590 -symbol-list-functions
33591 @end smallexample
33592
33593 List the functions in the executable.
33594
33595 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33596
33597 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
33598 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33599
33600 @subsubheading Example
33601 N.A.
33602 @end ignore
33603
33604
33605 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
33606 @findex -symbol-list-lines
33607
33608 @subsubheading Synopsis
33609
33610 @smallexample
33611 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
33612 @end smallexample
33613
33614 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
33615 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
33616 ascending PC order.
33617
33618 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33619
33620 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33621
33622 @subsubheading Example
33623 @smallexample
33624 (gdb)
33625 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
33626 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
33627 (gdb)
33628 @end smallexample
33629
33630
33631 @ignore
33632 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
33633 @findex -symbol-list-types
33634
33635 @subsubheading Synopsis
33636
33637 @smallexample
33638 -symbol-list-types
33639 @end smallexample
33640
33641 List all the type names.
33642
33643 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33644
33645 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
33646 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33647
33648 @subsubheading Example
33649 N.A.
33650
33651
33652 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
33653 @findex -symbol-list-variables
33654
33655 @subsubheading Synopsis
33656
33657 @smallexample
33658 -symbol-list-variables
33659 @end smallexample
33660
33661 List all the global and static variable names.
33662
33663 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33664
33665 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33666
33667 @subsubheading Example
33668 N.A.
33669
33670
33671 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
33672 @findex -symbol-locate
33673
33674 @subsubheading Synopsis
33675
33676 @smallexample
33677 -symbol-locate
33678 @end smallexample
33679
33680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33681
33682 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
33683
33684 @subsubheading Example
33685 N.A.
33686
33687
33688 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
33689 @findex -symbol-type
33690
33691 @subsubheading Synopsis
33692
33693 @smallexample
33694 -symbol-type @var{variable}
33695 @end smallexample
33696
33697 Show type of @var{variable}.
33698
33699 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33700
33701 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
33702 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
33703
33704 @subsubheading Example
33705 N.A.
33706 @end ignore
33707
33708
33709 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33710 @node GDB/MI File Commands
33711 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
33712
33713 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
33714 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
33715
33716 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
33717 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
33718
33719 @subsubheading Synopsis
33720
33721 @smallexample
33722 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
33723 @end smallexample
33724
33725 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
33726 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
33727 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
33728 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
33729 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
33730 notification.
33731
33732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33733
33734 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
33735
33736 @subsubheading Example
33737
33738 @smallexample
33739 (gdb)
33740 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33741 ^done
33742 (gdb)
33743 @end smallexample
33744
33745
33746 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
33747 @findex -file-exec-file
33748
33749 @subsubheading Synopsis
33750
33751 @smallexample
33752 -file-exec-file @var{file}
33753 @end smallexample
33754
33755 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
33756 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
33757 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
33758 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
33759 notification.
33760
33761 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33762
33763 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
33764
33765 @subsubheading Example
33766
33767 @smallexample
33768 (gdb)
33769 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33770 ^done
33771 (gdb)
33772 @end smallexample
33773
33774
33775 @ignore
33776 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
33777 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
33778
33779 @subsubheading Synopsis
33780
33781 @smallexample
33782 -file-list-exec-sections
33783 @end smallexample
33784
33785 List the sections of the current executable file.
33786
33787 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33788
33789 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
33790 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
33791 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
33792
33793 @subsubheading Example
33794 N.A.
33795 @end ignore
33796
33797
33798 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
33799 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
33800
33801 @subsubheading Synopsis
33802
33803 @smallexample
33804 -file-list-exec-source-file
33805 @end smallexample
33806
33807 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
33808 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
33809 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
33810 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
33811
33812 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33813
33814 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
33815
33816 @subsubheading Example
33817
33818 @smallexample
33819 (gdb)
33820 123-file-list-exec-source-file
33821 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
33822 (gdb)
33823 @end smallexample
33824
33825
33826 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
33827 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
33828
33829 @subsubheading Synopsis
33830
33831 @smallexample
33832 -file-list-exec-source-files
33833 @end smallexample
33834
33835 List the source files for the current executable.
33836
33837 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
33838 name) of a source file.
33839
33840 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33841
33842 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
33843 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
33844
33845 @subsubheading Example
33846 @smallexample
33847 (gdb)
33848 -file-list-exec-source-files
33849 ^done,files=[
33850 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
33851 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
33852 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
33853 (gdb)
33854 @end smallexample
33855
33856 @ignore
33857 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
33858 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
33859
33860 @subsubheading Synopsis
33861
33862 @smallexample
33863 -file-list-shared-libraries
33864 @end smallexample
33865
33866 List the shared libraries in the program.
33867
33868 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33869
33870 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
33871
33872 @subsubheading Example
33873 N.A.
33874
33875
33876 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
33877 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
33878
33879 @subsubheading Synopsis
33880
33881 @smallexample
33882 -file-list-symbol-files
33883 @end smallexample
33884
33885 List symbol files.
33886
33887 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33888
33889 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
33890
33891 @subsubheading Example
33892 N.A.
33893 @end ignore
33894
33895
33896 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
33897 @findex -file-symbol-file
33898
33899 @subsubheading Synopsis
33900
33901 @smallexample
33902 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
33903 @end smallexample
33904
33905 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
33906 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
33907 produced, except for a completion notification.
33908
33909 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33910
33911 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
33912
33913 @subsubheading Example
33914
33915 @smallexample
33916 (gdb)
33917 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33918 ^done
33919 (gdb)
33920 @end smallexample
33921
33922 @ignore
33923 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33924 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
33925 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
33926
33927 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
33928
33929 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
33930
33931 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
33932
33933 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
33934
33935 @c @subheading -overlay-map
33936
33937 @c @subheading -overlay-off
33938
33939 @c @subheading -overlay-on
33940
33941 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
33942
33943 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33944 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
33945 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
33946
33947 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
33948
33949 @c @subheading -signal-handle
33950
33951 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
33952
33953 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
33954 @end ignore
33955
33956
33957 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33958 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
33959 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
33960
33961
33962 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
33963 @findex -target-attach
33964
33965 @subsubheading Synopsis
33966
33967 @smallexample
33968 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
33969 @end smallexample
33970
33971 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
33972 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
33973 group, the id previously returned by
33974 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
33975
33976 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33977
33978 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
33979
33980 @subsubheading Example
33981 @smallexample
33982 (gdb)
33983 -target-attach 34
33984 =thread-created,id="1"
33985 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
33986 ^done
33987 (gdb)
33988 @end smallexample
33989
33990 @ignore
33991 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
33992 @findex -target-compare-sections
33993
33994 @subsubheading Synopsis
33995
33996 @smallexample
33997 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
33998 @end smallexample
33999
34000 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34001 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34002
34003 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34004
34005 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34006
34007 @subsubheading Example
34008 N.A.
34009 @end ignore
34010
34011
34012 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34013 @findex -target-detach
34014
34015 @subsubheading Synopsis
34016
34017 @smallexample
34018 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34019 @end smallexample
34020
34021 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34022 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34023 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34024
34025 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34026
34027 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34028
34029 @subsubheading Example
34030
34031 @smallexample
34032 (gdb)
34033 -target-detach
34034 ^done
34035 (gdb)
34036 @end smallexample
34037
34038
34039 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34040 @findex -target-disconnect
34041
34042 @subsubheading Synopsis
34043
34044 @smallexample
34045 -target-disconnect
34046 @end smallexample
34047
34048 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34049 generally not resumed.
34050
34051 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34052
34053 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34054
34055 @subsubheading Example
34056
34057 @smallexample
34058 (gdb)
34059 -target-disconnect
34060 ^done
34061 (gdb)
34062 @end smallexample
34063
34064
34065 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34066 @findex -target-download
34067
34068 @subsubheading Synopsis
34069
34070 @smallexample
34071 -target-download
34072 @end smallexample
34073
34074 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34075 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34076
34077 @table @samp
34078 @item section
34079 The name of the section.
34080 @item section-sent
34081 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34082 @item section-size
34083 The size of the section.
34084 @item total-sent
34085 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34086 @item total-size
34087 The size of the overall executable to download.
34088 @end table
34089
34090 @noindent
34091 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34092 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34093
34094 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34095 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34096
34097 @table @samp
34098 @item section
34099 The name of the section.
34100 @item section-size
34101 The size of the section.
34102 @item total-size
34103 The size of the overall executable to download.
34104 @end table
34105
34106 @noindent
34107 At the end, a summary is printed.
34108
34109 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34110
34111 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34112
34113 @subsubheading Example
34114
34115 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34116 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34117
34118 @smallexample
34119 (gdb)
34120 -target-download
34121 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34122 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34123 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34124 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34125 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34126 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34127 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34128 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34129 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34130 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34131 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34132 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34133 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34134 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34135 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34136 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34137 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34138 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34139 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34140 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34141 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34142 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34143 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34144 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34145 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34146 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34147 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34148 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34149 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34150 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34151 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34152 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34153 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34154 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34155 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34156 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34157 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34158 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34159 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34160 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34161 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34162 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34163 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34164 write-rate="429"
34165 (gdb)
34166 @end smallexample
34167
34168
34169 @ignore
34170 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34171 @findex -target-exec-status
34172
34173 @subsubheading Synopsis
34174
34175 @smallexample
34176 -target-exec-status
34177 @end smallexample
34178
34179 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34180 not, for instance).
34181
34182 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34183
34184 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34185
34186 @subsubheading Example
34187 N.A.
34188
34189
34190 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34191 @findex -target-list-available-targets
34192
34193 @subsubheading Synopsis
34194
34195 @smallexample
34196 -target-list-available-targets
34197 @end smallexample
34198
34199 List the possible targets to connect to.
34200
34201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34202
34203 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34204
34205 @subsubheading Example
34206 N.A.
34207
34208
34209 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34210 @findex -target-list-current-targets
34211
34212 @subsubheading Synopsis
34213
34214 @smallexample
34215 -target-list-current-targets
34216 @end smallexample
34217
34218 Describe the current target.
34219
34220 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34221
34222 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34223 other things).
34224
34225 @subsubheading Example
34226 N.A.
34227
34228
34229 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34230 @findex -target-list-parameters
34231
34232 @subsubheading Synopsis
34233
34234 @smallexample
34235 -target-list-parameters
34236 @end smallexample
34237
34238 @c ????
34239 @end ignore
34240
34241 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34242
34243 No equivalent.
34244
34245 @subsubheading Example
34246 N.A.
34247
34248
34249 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34250 @findex -target-select
34251
34252 @subsubheading Synopsis
34253
34254 @smallexample
34255 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34256 @end smallexample
34257
34258 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34259
34260 @table @samp
34261 @item @var{type}
34262 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34263 @item @var{parameters}
34264 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34265 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34266 @end table
34267
34268 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34269 which the target program is, in the following form:
34270
34271 @smallexample
34272 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34273 args=[@var{arg list}]
34274 @end smallexample
34275
34276 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34277
34278 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34279
34280 @subsubheading Example
34281
34282 @smallexample
34283 (gdb)
34284 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
34285 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34286 (gdb)
34287 @end smallexample
34288
34289 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34290 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34291 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34292
34293
34294 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34295 @findex -target-file-put
34296
34297 @subsubheading Synopsis
34298
34299 @smallexample
34300 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34301 @end smallexample
34302
34303 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34304 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34305
34306 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34307
34308 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34309
34310 @subsubheading Example
34311
34312 @smallexample
34313 (gdb)
34314 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
34315 ^done
34316 (gdb)
34317 @end smallexample
34318
34319
34320 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34321 @findex -target-file-get
34322
34323 @subsubheading Synopsis
34324
34325 @smallexample
34326 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34327 @end smallexample
34328
34329 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34330 on the host system.
34331
34332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34333
34334 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34335
34336 @subsubheading Example
34337
34338 @smallexample
34339 (gdb)
34340 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
34341 ^done
34342 (gdb)
34343 @end smallexample
34344
34345
34346 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34347 @findex -target-file-delete
34348
34349 @subsubheading Synopsis
34350
34351 @smallexample
34352 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34353 @end smallexample
34354
34355 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34356
34357 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34358
34359 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34360
34361 @subsubheading Example
34362
34363 @smallexample
34364 (gdb)
34365 -target-file-delete remotefile
34366 ^done
34367 (gdb)
34368 @end smallexample
34369
34370
34371 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34372 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
34373 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34374
34375 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
34376
34377 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
34378 @findex -gdb-exit
34379
34380 @subsubheading Synopsis
34381
34382 @smallexample
34383 -gdb-exit
34384 @end smallexample
34385
34386 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
34387
34388 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34389
34390 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
34391
34392 @subsubheading Example
34393
34394 @smallexample
34395 (gdb)
34396 -gdb-exit
34397 ^exit
34398 @end smallexample
34399
34400
34401 @ignore
34402 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
34403 @findex -exec-abort
34404
34405 @subsubheading Synopsis
34406
34407 @smallexample
34408 -exec-abort
34409 @end smallexample
34410
34411 Kill the inferior running program.
34412
34413 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34414
34415 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
34416
34417 @subsubheading Example
34418 N.A.
34419 @end ignore
34420
34421
34422 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
34423 @findex -gdb-set
34424
34425 @subsubheading Synopsis
34426
34427 @smallexample
34428 -gdb-set
34429 @end smallexample
34430
34431 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
34432 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
34433
34434 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34435
34436 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
34437
34438 @subsubheading Example
34439
34440 @smallexample
34441 (gdb)
34442 -gdb-set $foo=3
34443 ^done
34444 (gdb)
34445 @end smallexample
34446
34447
34448 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
34449 @findex -gdb-show
34450
34451 @subsubheading Synopsis
34452
34453 @smallexample
34454 -gdb-show
34455 @end smallexample
34456
34457 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
34458
34459 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34460
34461 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
34462
34463 @subsubheading Example
34464
34465 @smallexample
34466 (gdb)
34467 -gdb-show annotate
34468 ^done,value="0"
34469 (gdb)
34470 @end smallexample
34471
34472 @c @subheading -gdb-source
34473
34474
34475 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
34476 @findex -gdb-version
34477
34478 @subsubheading Synopsis
34479
34480 @smallexample
34481 -gdb-version
34482 @end smallexample
34483
34484 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
34485
34486 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34487
34488 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
34489 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
34490
34491 @subsubheading Example
34492
34493 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
34494 @c box in TeX.
34495 @smallexample
34496 (gdb)
34497 -gdb-version
34498 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
34499 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34500 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
34501 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
34502 ~ certain conditions.
34503 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
34504 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
34505 ~ details.
34506 ~This GDB was configured as
34507 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
34508 ^done
34509 (gdb)
34510 @end smallexample
34511
34512 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
34513 @findex -list-features
34514
34515 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
34516 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
34517 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
34518 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
34519 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
34520 startup.
34521
34522 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
34523 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
34524 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
34525 is given below.
34526
34527 Example output:
34528
34529 @smallexample
34530 (gdb) -list-features
34531 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
34532 @end smallexample
34533
34534 The current list of features is:
34535
34536 @table @samp
34537 @item frozen-varobjs
34538 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
34539 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
34540 of @code{-varobj-create}.
34541 @item pending-breakpoints
34542 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
34543 command.
34544 @item python
34545 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
34546 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
34547 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
34548 @item thread-info
34549 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
34550 @item data-read-memory-bytes
34551 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
34552 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
34553 @item breakpoint-notifications
34554 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
34555 CLI will be announced via async records.
34556 @item ada-task-info
34557 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
34558 @end table
34559
34560 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
34561 @findex -list-target-features
34562
34563 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
34564 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
34565 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
34566 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
34567 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
34568 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
34569 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
34570 Example output:
34571
34572 @smallexample
34573 (gdb) -list-features
34574 ^done,result=["async"]
34575 @end smallexample
34576
34577 The current list of features is:
34578
34579 @table @samp
34580 @item async
34581 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
34582 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
34583 while the target is running.
34584
34585 @item reverse
34586 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
34587 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34588
34589 @end table
34590
34591 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
34592 @findex -list-thread-groups
34593
34594 @subheading Synopsis
34595
34596 @smallexample
34597 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
34598 @end smallexample
34599
34600 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
34601 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
34602 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
34603 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
34604 top-level thread groups.
34605
34606 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
34607 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
34608 available on the target.
34609
34610 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
34611 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
34612 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
34613 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
34614 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
34615 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
34616 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
34617 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
34618
34619 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
34620 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
34621 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
34622 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
34623 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
34624 @samp{threads} field.
34625
34626 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
34627 the following caveats:
34628
34629 @itemize @bullet
34630 @item
34631 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
34632 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
34633 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
34634
34635 @item
34636 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
34637 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
34638 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
34639 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
34640 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
34641 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
34642
34643 @end itemize
34644
34645 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
34646 have the following fields:
34647
34648 @table @code
34649 @item id
34650 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
34651 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
34652 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
34653
34654 @item type
34655 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
34656 valid type.
34657
34658 @item pid
34659 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
34660 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
34661
34662 @item num_children
34663 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
34664 absent for an available thread group.
34665
34666 @item threads
34667 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
34668 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
34669 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
34670
34671 @item cores
34672 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
34673 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
34674 such information is not available.
34675
34676 @item executable
34677 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
34678 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
34679 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
34680
34681 @end table
34682
34683 @subheading Example
34684
34685 @smallexample
34686 @value{GDBP}
34687 -list-thread-groups
34688 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
34689 -list-thread-groups 17
34690 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
34691 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
34692 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
34693 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
34694 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
34695 -list-thread-groups --available
34696 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
34697 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
34698 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34699 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34700 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
34701 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
34702 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34703 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34704 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
34705 @end smallexample
34706
34707 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
34708 @findex -info-os
34709
34710 @subsubheading Synopsis
34711
34712 @smallexample
34713 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
34714 @end smallexample
34715
34716 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
34717 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
34718 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
34719 of data of that type.
34720
34721 The types of information available depend on the target operating
34722 system.
34723
34724 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34725
34726 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
34727
34728 @subsubheading Example
34729
34730 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
34731 like this:
34732
34733 @smallexample
34734 @value{GDBP}
34735 -info-os
34736 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
34737 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
34738 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
34739 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
34740 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
34741 col2="Processes"@},
34742 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
34743 col2="Process groups"@},
34744 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
34745 col2="Threads"@},
34746 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
34747 col2="File descriptors"@},
34748 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
34749 col2="Sockets"@},
34750 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
34751 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
34752 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
34753 col2="Semaphores"@},
34754 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
34755 col2="Message queues"@},
34756 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
34757 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
34758 @value{GDBP}
34759 -info-os processes
34760 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
34761 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
34762 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
34763 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
34764 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
34765 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
34766 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
34767 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
34768 ...
34769 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
34770 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
34771 (gdb)
34772 @end smallexample
34773
34774 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
34775 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
34776 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
34777 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
34778 @code{info os} omits it.)
34779
34780 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
34781 @findex -add-inferior
34782
34783 @subheading Synopsis
34784
34785 @smallexample
34786 -add-inferior
34787 @end smallexample
34788
34789 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
34790 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
34791 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
34792 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
34793 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
34794 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
34795
34796 @subheading Example
34797
34798 @smallexample
34799 @value{GDBP}
34800 -add-inferior
34801 ^done,inferior="i3"
34802 @end smallexample
34803
34804 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
34805 @findex -interpreter-exec
34806
34807 @subheading Synopsis
34808
34809 @smallexample
34810 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
34811 @end smallexample
34812 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
34813
34814 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
34815
34816 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34817
34818 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
34819
34820 @subheading Example
34821
34822 @smallexample
34823 (gdb)
34824 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
34825 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
34826 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
34827 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
34828 ^done
34829 (gdb)
34830 @end smallexample
34831
34832 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
34833 @findex -inferior-tty-set
34834
34835 @subheading Synopsis
34836
34837 @smallexample
34838 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34839 @end smallexample
34840
34841 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
34842
34843 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34844
34845 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
34846
34847 @subheading Example
34848
34849 @smallexample
34850 (gdb)
34851 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34852 ^done
34853 (gdb)
34854 @end smallexample
34855
34856 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
34857 @findex -inferior-tty-show
34858
34859 @subheading Synopsis
34860
34861 @smallexample
34862 -inferior-tty-show
34863 @end smallexample
34864
34865 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
34866
34867 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34868
34869 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
34870
34871 @subheading Example
34872
34873 @smallexample
34874 (gdb)
34875 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34876 ^done
34877 (gdb)
34878 -inferior-tty-show
34879 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
34880 (gdb)
34881 @end smallexample
34882
34883 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
34884 @findex -enable-timings
34885
34886 @subheading Synopsis
34887
34888 @smallexample
34889 -enable-timings [yes | no]
34890 @end smallexample
34891
34892 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
34893 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
34894 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
34895 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
34896
34897 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34898
34899 No equivalent.
34900
34901 @subheading Example
34902
34903 @smallexample
34904 (gdb)
34905 -enable-timings
34906 ^done
34907 (gdb)
34908 -break-insert main
34909 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
34910 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
34911 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
34912 times="0"@},
34913 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
34914 (gdb)
34915 -enable-timings no
34916 ^done
34917 (gdb)
34918 -exec-run
34919 ^running
34920 (gdb)
34921 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
34922 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
34923 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
34924 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
34925 (gdb)
34926 @end smallexample
34927
34928 @node Annotations
34929 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
34930
34931 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
34932 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
34933 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
34934 relatively high level.
34935
34936 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
34937 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
34938
34939 @ignore
34940 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
34941 @end ignore
34942
34943 @menu
34944 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
34945 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
34946 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
34947 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
34948 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
34949 * Annotations for Running::
34950 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
34951 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
34952 @end menu
34953
34954 @node Annotations Overview
34955 @section What is an Annotation?
34956 @cindex annotations
34957
34958 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
34959 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
34960 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
34961 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
34962 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
34963 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
34964 cannot contain newline characters.
34965
34966 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
34967 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
34968 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
34969 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
34970 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
34971 means those three characters as output.
34972
34973 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
34974 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
34975 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
34976 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
34977 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
34978 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
34979 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
34980 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
34981 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
34982
34983 @table @code
34984 @kindex set annotate
34985 @item set annotate @var{level}
34986 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
34987 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
34988
34989 @item show annotate
34990 @kindex show annotate
34991 Show the current annotation level.
34992 @end table
34993
34994 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
34995
34996 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
34997
34998 @smallexample
34999 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35000 GNU gdb 6.0
35001 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35002 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35003 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35004 under certain conditions.
35005 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35006 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35007 for details.
35008 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35009
35010 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
35011 (@value{GDBP})
35012 ^Z^Zprompt
35013 @kbd{quit}
35014
35015 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
35016 $
35017 @end smallexample
35018
35019 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35020 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35021 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35022 output from @value{GDBN}.
35023
35024 @node Server Prefix
35025 @section The Server Prefix
35026 @cindex server prefix
35027
35028 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35029 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35030 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35031 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35032 a transparent manner.
35033
35034 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35035 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35036 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35037 @code{print} command.
35038
35039 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35040 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35041
35042 @node Prompting
35043 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35044
35045 @cindex annotations for prompts
35046 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35047 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35048 over, etc.
35049
35050 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35051 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35052 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35053 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35054 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35055 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35056 features the following annotations:
35057
35058 @smallexample
35059 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
35060 ^Z^Zprompt
35061 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
35062 @end smallexample
35063
35064 The input types are
35065
35066 @table @code
35067 @findex pre-prompt annotation
35068 @findex prompt annotation
35069 @findex post-prompt annotation
35070 @item prompt
35071 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35072
35073 @findex pre-commands annotation
35074 @findex commands annotation
35075 @findex post-commands annotation
35076 @item commands
35077 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35078 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35079
35080 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35081 @findex overload-choice annotation
35082 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
35083 @item overload-choice
35084 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35085
35086 @findex pre-query annotation
35087 @findex query annotation
35088 @findex post-query annotation
35089 @item query
35090 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35091
35092 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35093 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35094 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35095 @item prompt-for-continue
35096 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35097 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35098 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35099 presence of annotations.
35100 @end table
35101
35102 @node Errors
35103 @section Errors
35104 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35105
35106 @findex quit annotation
35107 @smallexample
35108 ^Z^Zquit
35109 @end smallexample
35110
35111 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35112
35113 @findex error annotation
35114 @smallexample
35115 ^Z^Zerror
35116 @end smallexample
35117
35118 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35119
35120 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35121 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35122 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35123 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35124 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35125 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35126 to the top level.
35127
35128 @findex error-begin annotation
35129 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35130
35131 @smallexample
35132 ^Z^Zerror-begin
35133 @end smallexample
35134
35135 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35136 message.
35137
35138 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35139 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35140 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35141
35142 @node Invalidation
35143 @section Invalidation Notices
35144
35145 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35146 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35147 changed.
35148
35149 @table @code
35150 @findex frames-invalid annotation
35151 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35152
35153 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35154 have changed.
35155
35156 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35157 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35158
35159 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35160 deleted a breakpoint.
35161 @end table
35162
35163 @node Annotations for Running
35164 @section Running the Program
35165 @cindex annotations for running programs
35166
35167 @findex starting annotation
35168 @findex stopping annotation
35169 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35170 @code{step} or @code{continue},
35171
35172 @smallexample
35173 ^Z^Zstarting
35174 @end smallexample
35175
35176 is output. When the program stops,
35177
35178 @smallexample
35179 ^Z^Zstopped
35180 @end smallexample
35181
35182 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35183 annotations describe how the program stopped.
35184
35185 @table @code
35186 @findex exited annotation
35187 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35188 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35189 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35190
35191 @findex signalled annotation
35192 @findex signal-name annotation
35193 @findex signal-name-end annotation
35194 @findex signal-string annotation
35195 @findex signal-string-end annotation
35196 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
35197 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35198 annotation continues:
35199
35200 @smallexample
35201 @var{intro-text}
35202 ^Z^Zsignal-name
35203 @var{name}
35204 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35205 @var{middle-text}
35206 ^Z^Zsignal-string
35207 @var{string}
35208 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35209 @var{end-text}
35210 @end smallexample
35211
35212 @noindent
35213 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35214 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35215 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35216 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35217 user's benefit and have no particular format.
35218
35219 @findex signal annotation
35220 @item ^Z^Zsignal
35221 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35222 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35223 terminated with it.
35224
35225 @findex breakpoint annotation
35226 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35227 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35228
35229 @findex watchpoint annotation
35230 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35231 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35232 @end table
35233
35234 @node Source Annotations
35235 @section Displaying Source
35236 @cindex annotations for source display
35237
35238 @findex source annotation
35239 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35240
35241 @smallexample
35242 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35243 @end smallexample
35244
35245 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35246 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35247 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35248 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35249 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35250 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35251 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35252 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35253 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35254 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35255 depend on the language).
35256
35257 @node JIT Interface
35258 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35259 @cindex just-in-time compilation
35260 @cindex JIT compilation interface
35261
35262 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35263 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35264 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35265 performance while maintaining platform independence.
35266
35267 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35268 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35269 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35270 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35271 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35272 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35273
35274 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35275 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35276 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35277 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35278 LLVM JIT.
35279
35280 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35281 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35282 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35283 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35284 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35285 out about additional code.
35286
35287 @menu
35288 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35289 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35290 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35291 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
35292 @end menu
35293
35294 @node Declarations
35295 @section JIT Declarations
35296
35297 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
35298 implement the interface:
35299
35300 @smallexample
35301 typedef enum
35302 @{
35303 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
35304 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
35305 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
35306 @} jit_actions_t;
35307
35308 struct jit_code_entry
35309 @{
35310 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
35311 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
35312 const char *symfile_addr;
35313 uint64_t symfile_size;
35314 @};
35315
35316 struct jit_descriptor
35317 @{
35318 uint32_t version;
35319 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
35320 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
35321 uint32_t action_flag;
35322 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
35323 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
35324 @};
35325
35326 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
35327 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
35328
35329 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
35330 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
35331 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
35332 @end smallexample
35333
35334 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
35335 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
35336 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
35337
35338 @node Registering Code
35339 @section Registering Code
35340
35341 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
35342
35343 @itemize @bullet
35344 @item
35345 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
35346 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
35347
35348 @item
35349 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
35350 file.
35351
35352 @item
35353 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
35354
35355 @item
35356 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
35357
35358 @item
35359 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
35360 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35361 @end itemize
35362
35363 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
35364 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
35365 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
35366 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
35367
35368 @node Unregistering Code
35369 @section Unregistering Code
35370
35371 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
35372
35373 @itemize @bullet
35374 @item
35375 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
35376
35377 @item
35378 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
35379
35380 @item
35381 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
35382 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35383 @end itemize
35384
35385 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
35386 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
35387
35388 @node Custom Debug Info
35389 @section Custom Debug Info
35390 @cindex custom JIT debug info
35391 @cindex JIT debug info reader
35392
35393 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
35394 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
35395 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
35396 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
35397 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
35398 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
35399 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
35400 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
35401 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
35402
35403 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
35404 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
35405 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
35406 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
35407 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
35408 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
35409 compiler.
35410
35411 @menu
35412 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
35413 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
35414 @end menu
35415
35416 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35417 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35418 @kindex jit-reader-load
35419 @kindex jit-reader-unload
35420
35421 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
35422 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
35423
35424 @table @code
35425 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
35426 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
35427 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
35428 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
35429 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
35430 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
35431 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
35432
35433 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
35434 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
35435 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
35436 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
35437 @code{jit-reader-load}.
35438
35439 @item jit-reader-unload
35440 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
35441
35442 @end table
35443
35444 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35445 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35446 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
35447
35448 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
35449 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
35450
35451 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
35452 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
35453 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
35454 the system include directory.
35455
35456 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
35457 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
35458 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
35459
35460 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
35461 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
35462
35463 @findex gdb_init_reader
35464 @smallexample
35465 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
35466 @end smallexample
35467
35468 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
35469
35470 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
35471 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
35472 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
35473 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
35474 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
35475 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
35476
35477 @smallexample
35478 struct gdb_reader_funcs
35479 @{
35480 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
35481 int reader_version;
35482
35483 /* For use by the reader. */
35484 void *priv_data;
35485
35486 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
35487 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
35488 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
35489 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
35490 @};
35491 @end smallexample
35492
35493 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
35494 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
35495
35496 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
35497 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
35498 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
35499 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
35500 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
35501 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
35502 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
35503 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
35504 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
35505 target's address space.
35506
35507 @node In-Process Agent
35508 @chapter In-Process Agent
35509 @cindex debugging agent
35510 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
35511 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
35512 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
35513 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
35514 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
35515 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
35516 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
35517 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
35518 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
35519 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
35520 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
35521 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
35522 behavior without interrupting it.
35523
35524 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
35525 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
35526 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
35527 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
35528 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
35529 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
35530 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
35531 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
35532 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
35533
35534 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
35535 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
35536 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
35537 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
35538
35539 @anchor{Control Agent}
35540 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
35541 debugging with the following commands:
35542
35543 @table @code
35544 @kindex set agent on
35545 @item set agent on
35546 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
35547 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
35548 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
35549 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
35550 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
35551 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
35552
35553 @kindex set agent off
35554 @item set agent off
35555 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
35556 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
35557
35558 @kindex show agent
35559 @item show agent
35560 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
35561 the in-process agent.
35562 @end table
35563
35564 @menu
35565 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
35566 @end menu
35567
35568 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
35569 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
35570 @cindex in-process agent protocol
35571
35572 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
35573 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
35574 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
35575 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
35576 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
35577 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
35578 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
35579 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
35580 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
35581
35582 @menu
35583 * IPA Protocol Objects::
35584 * IPA Protocol Commands::
35585 @end menu
35586
35587 @node IPA Protocol Objects
35588 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
35589 @cindex ipa protocol objects
35590
35591 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
35592 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
35593
35594 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
35595 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
35596 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
35597 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
35598
35599 @enumerate
35600 @item
35601 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
35602 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
35603 @item
35604 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
35605 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
35606 the other one.
35607 @end enumerate
35608
35609 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
35610
35611 @enumerate
35612 @item
35613 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
35614 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
35615 @anchor{agent expression object}
35616 @item
35617 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
35618 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
35619 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
35620 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
35621 @item
35622 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35623 @anchor{tracepoint object}
35624
35625 @end enumerate
35626
35627 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
35628 object:
35629
35630 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
35631 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
35632 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
35633 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
35634 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
35635 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
35636 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35637 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
35638 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
35639 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
35640 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
35641 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
35642 memory address for collecting.
35643 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
35644 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35645 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
35646 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35647 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
35648 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35649 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
35650 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
35651 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
35652 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
35653 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
35654 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
35655 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
35656 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
35657 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
35658 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
35659 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
35660 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
35661 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
35662 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
35663 @ref{agent expression object}
35664 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
35665 @ref{agent expression object}
35666 @item actions @tab variable
35667 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
35668 @end multitable
35669
35670 @node IPA Protocol Commands
35671 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
35672 @cindex ipa protocol commands
35673
35674 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
35675 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
35676
35677 @table @samp
35678
35679 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
35680 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
35681 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
35682 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
35683 in IPA finally.
35684
35685 Replies:
35686 @table @samp
35687 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
35688 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
35689 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
35690 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
35691 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
35692 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
35693 @item E @var{NN}
35694 for an error
35695
35696 @end table
35697
35698 @item close
35699 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
35700 is about to kill inferiors.
35701
35702 @item qTfSTM
35703 @xref{qTfSTM}.
35704 @item qTsSTM
35705 @xref{qTsSTM}.
35706 @item qTSTMat
35707 @xref{qTSTMat}.
35708 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
35709 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
35710
35711 Replies:
35712 @table @samp
35713 @item E @var{NN}
35714 for an error
35715 @end table
35716 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
35717 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
35718 @end table
35719
35720 @node GDB Bugs
35721 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
35722 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
35723 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
35724
35725 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
35726
35727 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
35728 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
35729 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
35730 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
35731
35732 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
35733 information that enables us to fix the bug.
35734
35735 @menu
35736 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
35737 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
35738 @end menu
35739
35740 @node Bug Criteria
35741 @section Have You Found a Bug?
35742 @cindex bug criteria
35743
35744 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
35745
35746 @itemize @bullet
35747 @cindex fatal signal
35748 @cindex debugger crash
35749 @cindex crash of debugger
35750 @item
35751 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
35752 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
35753
35754 @cindex error on valid input
35755 @item
35756 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
35757 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
35758 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
35759
35760 @cindex invalid input
35761 @item
35762 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
35763 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
35764 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
35765 for traditional practice''.
35766
35767 @item
35768 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
35769 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
35770 @end itemize
35771
35772 @node Bug Reporting
35773 @section How to Report Bugs
35774 @cindex bug reports
35775 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
35776
35777 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
35778 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
35779 contact that organization first.
35780
35781 You can find contact information for many support companies and
35782 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
35783 distribution.
35784 @c should add a web page ref...
35785
35786 @ifset BUGURL
35787 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
35788 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35789 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
35790 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
35791 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
35792 be used.
35793
35794 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
35795 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
35796 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
35797 @samp{bug-gdb}.
35798
35799 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
35800 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
35801 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
35802 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
35803 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
35804 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
35805 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
35806 bug reports to the mailing list.
35807 @end ifset
35808 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
35809 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35810 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
35811 @end ifclear
35812 @end ifset
35813
35814 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
35815 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
35816 fact or leave it out, state it!
35817
35818 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
35819 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
35820 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
35821 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
35822 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
35823 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
35824 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
35825 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
35826 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
35827
35828 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
35829 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
35830 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
35831 self-contained.
35832
35833 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
35834 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
35835 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
35836 bugs properly.
35837
35838 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
35839
35840 @itemize @bullet
35841 @item
35842 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
35843 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
35844 version}.
35845
35846 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
35847 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
35848
35849 @item
35850 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
35851 version number.
35852
35853 @item
35854 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
35855 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
35856 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
35857 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
35858
35859 @item
35860 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
35861 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
35862
35863 @item
35864 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
35865 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
35866 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
35867 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
35868 those compilers.
35869
35870 @item
35871 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
35872 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
35873 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
35874 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
35875
35876 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
35877 and then we might not encounter the bug.
35878
35879 @item
35880 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
35881 reproduce the bug.
35882
35883 @item
35884 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
35885 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
35886
35887 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
35888 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
35889 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
35890 a chance to make a mistake.
35891
35892 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
35893 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
35894 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
35895 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
35896 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
35897 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
35898 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
35899 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
35900
35901 @pindex script
35902 @cindex recording a session script
35903 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
35904 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
35905 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
35906 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
35907
35908 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
35909 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
35910
35911 @item
35912 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
35913 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
35914 it by context, not by line number.
35915
35916 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
35917 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
35918
35919 @end itemize
35920
35921 Here are some things that are not necessary:
35922
35923 @itemize @bullet
35924 @item
35925 A description of the envelope of the bug.
35926
35927 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
35928 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
35929 changes will not affect it.
35930
35931 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
35932 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
35933 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
35934 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
35935
35936 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
35937 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
35938 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
35939 less time, and so on.
35940
35941 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
35942 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
35943
35944 @item
35945 A patch for the bug.
35946
35947 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
35948 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
35949 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
35950 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
35951
35952 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
35953 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
35954 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
35955 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
35956
35957 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
35958 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
35959 help us to understand.
35960
35961 @item
35962 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
35963
35964 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
35965 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
35966 @end itemize
35967
35968 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
35969 @c and consists of the two following files:
35970 @c rluser.texi
35971 @c hsuser.texi
35972 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
35973 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
35974 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
35975 @include rluser.texi
35976 @include hsuser.texi
35977 @end ifclear
35978
35979 @node In Memoriam
35980 @appendix In Memoriam
35981
35982 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
35983 contributors:
35984
35985 @table @code
35986 @item Fred Fish
35987 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
35988 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
35989 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
35990
35991 @item Michael Snyder
35992 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
35993 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
35994 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
35995 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
35996 @end table
35997
35998 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
35999 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36000
36001 @node Formatting Documentation
36002 @appendix Formatting Documentation
36003
36004 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36005 @cindex reference card
36006 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36007 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36008 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36009 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36010 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36011 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36012
36013 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36014 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36015
36016 @smallexample
36017 make refcard.dvi
36018 @end smallexample
36019
36020 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36021 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36022 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36023 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36024 your @sc{dvi} output program.
36025
36026 @cindex documentation
36027
36028 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36029 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36030 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36031 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36032 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36033 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36034
36035 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36036 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36037 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36038 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36039 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36040 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36041 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36042 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36043
36044 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36045 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36046 @code{makeinfo}.
36047
36048 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36049 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36050 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36051
36052 @smallexample
36053 cd gdb
36054 make gdb.info
36055 @end smallexample
36056
36057 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36058 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36059 Texinfo definitions file.
36060
36061 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36062 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36063 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36064 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36065 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36066 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36067 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36068
36069 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36070 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36071 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36072 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36073 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36074 directory.
36075
36076 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36077 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36078 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36079 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36080
36081 @smallexample
36082 make gdb.dvi
36083 @end smallexample
36084
36085 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36086
36087 @node Installing GDB
36088 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36089 @cindex installation
36090
36091 @menu
36092 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36093 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36094 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36095 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36096 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36097 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36098 @end menu
36099
36100 @node Requirements
36101 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36102 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36103
36104 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36105 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36106
36107 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36108 @table @asis
36109 @item ISO C90 compiler
36110 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36111 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36112
36113 @end table
36114
36115 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36116 @table @asis
36117 @item Expat
36118 @anchor{Expat}
36119 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36120 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36121 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36122 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36123 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36124 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36125
36126 Expat is used for:
36127
36128 @itemize @bullet
36129 @item
36130 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36131 @item
36132 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36133 @item
36134 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36135 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36136 @item
36137 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36138 @item
36139 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36140 @item
36141 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36142 @end itemize
36143
36144 @item zlib
36145 @cindex compressed debug sections
36146 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36147 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36148 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36149 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36150 information in such binaries.
36151
36152 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36153 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36154 @url{http://zlib.net}.
36155
36156 @item iconv
36157 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36158 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36159 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36160 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36161
36162 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36163 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36164 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36165 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36166
36167 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36168 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36169 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36170
36171 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36172 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36173 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36174 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36175 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36176 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36177 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36178 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36179 @end table
36180
36181 @node Running Configure
36182 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36183 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36184 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36185 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36186 build the @code{gdb} program.
36187 @iftex
36188 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36189 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36190 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36191 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36192 @end iftex
36193
36194 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36195 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36196 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36197
36198 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36199 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36200
36201 @table @code
36202 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36203 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36204
36205 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36206 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36207
36208 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36209 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36210
36211 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36212 @sc{gnu} include files
36213
36214 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36215 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36216
36217 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36218 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36219
36220 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36221 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36222
36223 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36224 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36225
36226 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36227 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36228 @end table
36229
36230 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36231 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36232 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36233
36234 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36235 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36236 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36237 argument.
36238
36239 For example:
36240
36241 @smallexample
36242 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36243 ./configure @var{host}
36244 make
36245 @end smallexample
36246
36247 @noindent
36248 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36249 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36250 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36251 correct value by examining your system.)
36252
36253 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36254 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36255 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36256 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36257
36258 @need 750
36259 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36260 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36261 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36262
36263 @smallexample
36264 sh configure @var{host}
36265 @end smallexample
36266
36267 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36268 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36269 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36270 @file{configure}
36271 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36272 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36273
36274 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36275 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36276 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36277 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36278 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36279 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36280 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36281 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36282 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36283
36284 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36285 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36286 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36287 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36288 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36289
36290 @node Separate Objdir
36291 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36292
36293 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
36294 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
36295 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
36296 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
36297 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
36298 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
36299 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
36300 program specified there.
36301
36302 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
36303 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
36304 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
36305 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
36306 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
36307 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
36308
36309 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
36310 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
36311
36312 @smallexample
36313 @group
36314 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36315 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
36316 cd ../gdb-sun4
36317 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
36318 make
36319 @end group
36320 @end smallexample
36321
36322 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
36323 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
36324 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
36325 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
36326 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
36327 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
36328
36329 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
36330 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
36331 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
36332 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
36333 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36334
36335 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
36336 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
36337 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
36338 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
36339 You specify a cross-debugging target by
36340 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
36341
36342 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
36343 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
36344 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
36345
36346 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
36347 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
36348 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
36349 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
36350 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
36351
36352 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
36353 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
36354 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
36355 with each other.
36356
36357 @node Config Names
36358 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
36359
36360 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
36361 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
36362 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
36363 of information in the following pattern:
36364
36365 @smallexample
36366 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
36367 @end smallexample
36368
36369 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
36370 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
36371 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
36372
36373 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
36374 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
36375 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
36376 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
36377 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
36378 abbreviations---for example:
36379
36380 @smallexample
36381 % sh config.sub i386-linux
36382 i386-pc-linux-gnu
36383 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
36384 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
36385 % sh config.sub hp9k700
36386 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
36387 % sh config.sub sun4
36388 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
36389 % sh config.sub sun3
36390 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
36391 % sh config.sub i986v
36392 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
36393 @end smallexample
36394
36395 @noindent
36396 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
36397 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
36398
36399 @node Configure Options
36400 @section @file{configure} Options
36401
36402 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
36403 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
36404 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
36405 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
36406
36407 @smallexample
36408 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
36409 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36410 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36411 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
36412 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
36413 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
36414 @var{host}
36415 @end smallexample
36416
36417 @noindent
36418 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
36419 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
36420 @samp{--}.
36421
36422 @table @code
36423 @item --help
36424 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
36425
36426 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
36427 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
36428 @file{@var{dir}}.
36429
36430 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
36431 Configure the source to install programs under directory
36432 @file{@var{dir}}.
36433
36434 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
36435 @need 2000
36436 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
36437 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
36438 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
36439 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
36440 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
36441 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
36442 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
36443 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
36444 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
36445 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
36446 @var{dirname}.
36447
36448 @item --norecursion
36449 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
36450 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
36451
36452 @item --target=@var{target}
36453 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
36454 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
36455 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
36456
36457 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
36458
36459 @item @var{host} @dots{}
36460 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
36461
36462 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
36463 @end table
36464
36465 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
36466 needed for special purposes only.
36467
36468 @node System-wide configuration
36469 @section System-wide configuration and settings
36470 @cindex system-wide init file
36471
36472 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
36473 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
36474 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
36475
36476 Here is the corresponding configure option:
36477
36478 @table @code
36479 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
36480 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
36481 @var{file}.
36482 @end table
36483
36484 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
36485 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
36486
36487 @itemize @bullet
36488 @item
36489 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
36490 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
36491 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
36492 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
36493 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
36494 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
36495
36496 @item
36497 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
36498 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
36499 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36500 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36501 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
36502 @end itemize
36503
36504 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
36505 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
36506 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
36507 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
36508 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
36509 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
36510 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
36511 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
36512 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
36513 reread.
36514
36515 @menu
36516 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36517 @end menu
36518
36519 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
36520 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36521 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
36522
36523 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
36524 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
36525 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
36526 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
36527 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
36528 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
36529
36530 The following scripts are currently available:
36531 @itemize @bullet
36532
36533 @item @file{elinos.py}
36534 @pindex elinos.py
36535 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
36536 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
36537 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
36538 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
36539 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
36540 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
36541
36542 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
36543 @pindex wrs-linux.py
36544 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
36545 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
36546 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
36547 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
36548
36549 @end itemize
36550
36551 @node Maintenance Commands
36552 @appendix Maintenance Commands
36553 @cindex maintenance commands
36554 @cindex internal commands
36555
36556 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
36557 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
36558 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
36559 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
36560 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
36561
36562 @table @code
36563 @kindex maint agent
36564 @kindex maint agent-eval
36565 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36566 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36567 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
36568 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
36569 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
36570 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
36571 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
36572 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
36573 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
36574 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
36575 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
36576 addition and return the sum.
36577 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
36578 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
36579
36580 @kindex maint agent-printf
36581 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
36582 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
36583 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
36584 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
36585 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
36586
36587 @kindex maint info breakpoints
36588 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
36589 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
36590 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
36591 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
36592 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
36593 is shown:
36594
36595 @table @code
36596 @item breakpoint
36597 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
36598
36599 @item watchpoint
36600 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
36601
36602 @item longjmp
36603 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
36604 @code{longjmp} calls.
36605
36606 @item longjmp resume
36607 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
36608
36609 @item until
36610 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
36611
36612 @item finish
36613 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
36614
36615 @item shlib events
36616 Shared library events.
36617
36618 @end table
36619
36620 @kindex maint info bfds
36621 @item maint info bfds
36622 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
36623 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
36624
36625 @kindex set displaced-stepping
36626 @kindex show displaced-stepping
36627 @cindex displaced stepping support
36628 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
36629 @item set displaced-stepping
36630 @itemx show displaced-stepping
36631 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
36632 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
36633 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
36634 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
36635 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
36636
36637 @table @code
36638 @item set displaced-stepping on
36639 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
36640 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
36641
36642 @item set displaced-stepping off
36643 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
36644 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
36645
36646 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
36647 @item set displaced-stepping auto
36648 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
36649 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
36650 architecture supports displaced stepping.
36651 @end table
36652
36653 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
36654 @item maint check-psymtabs
36655 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
36656 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
36657
36658 @kindex maint check-symtabs
36659 @item maint check-symtabs
36660 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
36661
36662 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
36663 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
36664 Expand symbol tables.
36665 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
36666 names matching @var{regexp}.
36667
36668 @kindex maint cplus first_component
36669 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
36670 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
36671
36672 @kindex maint cplus namespace
36673 @item maint cplus namespace
36674 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
36675
36676 @kindex maint demangle
36677 @item maint demangle @var{name}
36678 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
36679
36680 @kindex maint deprecate
36681 @kindex maint undeprecate
36682 @cindex deprecated commands
36683 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
36684 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
36685 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
36686 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
36687 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
36688 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
36689 the replacement as part of the warning.
36690
36691 @kindex maint dump-me
36692 @item maint dump-me
36693 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
36694 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
36695 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
36696 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
36697
36698 @kindex maint internal-error
36699 @kindex maint internal-warning
36700 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36701 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36702 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
36703 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
36704 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
36705 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
36706 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
36707 @value{GDBN} session.
36708
36709 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
36710 used as the text of the error or warning message.
36711
36712 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
36713
36714 @smallexample
36715 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
36716 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
36717 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
36718 debugging may prove unreliable.
36719 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36720 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36721 (@value{GDBP})
36722 @end smallexample
36723
36724 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
36725 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
36726
36727 @kindex maint set internal-error
36728 @kindex maint show internal-error
36729 @kindex maint set internal-warning
36730 @kindex maint show internal-warning
36731 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36732 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
36733 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36734 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
36735 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
36736 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
36737 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
36738 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
36739 described in the table below.
36740
36741 @table @samp
36742 @item quit
36743 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36744 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36745
36746 @item corefile
36747 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36748 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36749 @end table
36750
36751 @kindex maint packet
36752 @item maint packet @var{text}
36753 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
36754 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
36755 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
36756 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
36757 checksum.
36758
36759 @kindex maint print architecture
36760 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36761 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
36762 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
36763
36764 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
36765 @item maint print c-tdesc
36766 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
36767 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
36768 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
36769
36770 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
36771 @item maint print dummy-frames
36772 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
36773
36774 @smallexample
36775 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
36776 @dots{}
36777 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
36778 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
36779 58 return (a + b);
36780 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
36781 @dots{}
36782 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
36783 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
36784 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
36785 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
36786 (@value{GDBP})
36787 @end smallexample
36788
36789 Takes an optional file parameter.
36790
36791 @kindex maint print registers
36792 @kindex maint print raw-registers
36793 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
36794 @kindex maint print register-groups
36795 @kindex maint print remote-registers
36796 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36797 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36798 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36799 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36800 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36801 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
36802
36803 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
36804 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
36805 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
36806 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
36807 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
36808 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
36809 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
36810 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
36811 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
36812
36813 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
36814 write the information.
36815
36816 @kindex maint print reggroups
36817 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36818 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
36819 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
36820 information.
36821
36822 The register groups info looks like this:
36823
36824 @smallexample
36825 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
36826 Group Type
36827 general user
36828 float user
36829 all user
36830 vector user
36831 system user
36832 save internal
36833 restore internal
36834 @end smallexample
36835
36836 @kindex flushregs
36837 @item flushregs
36838 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
36839
36840 @kindex maint print objfiles
36841 @cindex info for known object files
36842 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
36843 Print a dump of all known object files.
36844 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
36845 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
36846 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
36847
36848 @kindex maint print section-scripts
36849 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
36850 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
36851 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
36852 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
36853 matching @var{regexp}.
36854 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
36855 and the full path if known.
36856 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
36857
36858 @kindex maint print statistics
36859 @cindex bcache statistics
36860 @item maint print statistics
36861 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
36862 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
36863 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
36864 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
36865 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
36866 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
36867 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
36868 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
36869 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
36870 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
36871 lengths.
36872
36873 @kindex maint print target-stack
36874 @cindex target stack description
36875 @item maint print target-stack
36876 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
36877 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
36878 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
36879 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
36880 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
36881 address.
36882
36883 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
36884 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
36885
36886 @kindex maint print type
36887 @cindex type chain of a data type
36888 @item maint print type @var{expr}
36889 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
36890 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
36891 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
36892 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
36893 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
36894
36895 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
36896 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
36897 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
36898 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
36899 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
36900 information.
36901
36902 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
36903 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
36904 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
36905 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
36906 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
36907 always see the disassembly form.
36908
36909 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
36910
36911 @smallexample
36912 (gdb) info addr argc
36913 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
36914 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
36915 @end smallexample
36916
36917 For more information on these expressions, see
36918 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
36919
36920 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
36921 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
36922 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
36923 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
36924 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
36925
36926 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
36927 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
36928 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
36929 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
36930 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
36931 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
36932 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
36933 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
36934 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
36935
36936 @kindex maint set profile
36937 @kindex maint show profile
36938 @cindex profiling GDB
36939 @item maint set profile
36940 @itemx maint show profile
36941 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
36942
36943 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
36944 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
36945 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
36946 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
36947 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
36948 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
36949 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
36950
36951 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
36952 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
36953
36954 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
36955 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
36956 @cindex hardware debug registers
36957 @item maint set show-debug-regs
36958 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
36959 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
36960 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
36961 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
36962 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
36963 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
36964
36965 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
36966 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
36967 @item maint set show-all-tib
36968 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
36969 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
36970 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
36971 command.
36972
36973 @kindex maint set per-command
36974 @kindex maint show per-command
36975 @item maint set per-command
36976 @itemx maint show per-command
36977 @cindex resources used by commands
36978
36979 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
36980 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
36981
36982 @table @code
36983 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
36984 @itemx maint show per-command space
36985 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
36986 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
36987 took, following the command's own output.
36988 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
36989 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
36990
36991 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
36992 @itemx maint show per-command time
36993 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
36994 for each command.
36995 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
36996 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
36997 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
36998 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
36999 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37000 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37001 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37002 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37003 spent by the program been debugged.
37004 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37005 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37006
37007 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37008 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
37009 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37010 for each command.
37011 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37012
37013 @enumerate a
37014 @item
37015 number of symbol tables
37016 @item
37017 number of primary symbol tables
37018 @item
37019 number of blocks in the blockvector
37020 @end enumerate
37021 @end table
37022
37023 @kindex maint space
37024 @cindex memory used by commands
37025 @item maint space @var{value}
37026 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37027 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37028
37029 @kindex maint time
37030 @cindex time of command execution
37031 @item maint time @var{value}
37032 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37033 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37034
37035 @kindex maint translate-address
37036 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37037 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37038 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37039 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37040 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37041 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37042 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37043
37044 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37045 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37046 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37047
37048 @end table
37049
37050 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37051 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37052
37053 @table @code
37054 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37055 @kindex set watchdog
37056 @cindex watchdog timer
37057 @cindex timeout for commands
37058 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37059 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37060 reports and error and the command is aborted.
37061
37062 @item show watchdog
37063 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37064 @end table
37065
37066 @node Remote Protocol
37067 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37068
37069 @menu
37070 * Overview::
37071 * Packets::
37072 * Stop Reply Packets::
37073 * General Query Packets::
37074 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37075 * Tracepoint Packets::
37076 * Host I/O Packets::
37077 * Interrupts::
37078 * Notification Packets::
37079 * Remote Non-Stop::
37080 * Packet Acknowledgment::
37081 * Examples::
37082 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37083 * Library List Format::
37084 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37085 * Memory Map Format::
37086 * Thread List Format::
37087 * Traceframe Info Format::
37088 * Branch Trace Format::
37089 @end menu
37090
37091 @node Overview
37092 @section Overview
37093
37094 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37095 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37096 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37097 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37098
37099 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37100 transmitted and received data, respectively.
37101
37102 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37103 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37104 @cindex remote serial protocol
37105 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37106 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37107 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37108 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37109 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37110
37111 @smallexample
37112 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37113 @end smallexample
37114 @noindent
37115
37116 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37117 @noindent
37118 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37119 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37120 eight bit unsigned checksum).
37121
37122 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37123 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37124
37125 @smallexample
37126 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37127 @end smallexample
37128
37129 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37130 @noindent
37131 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37132 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37133 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37134
37135 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37136 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37137 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37138 retransmission):
37139
37140 @smallexample
37141 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37142 <- @code{+}
37143 @end smallexample
37144 @noindent
37145
37146 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37147 once a connection is established.
37148 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37149
37150 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37151 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37152 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37153 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37154 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37155 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37156 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37157
37158 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37159 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37160 exceptions).
37161
37162 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
37163 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37164 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37165 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37166
37167 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37168 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37169 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37170
37171 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
37172 @anchor{Binary Data}
37173 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37174 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37175 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37176 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37177 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37178 binary data.
37179
37180 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37181 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37182 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37183 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37184 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37185 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37186 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37187 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37188 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37189 (described next).
37190
37191 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37192 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37193 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37194 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37195 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37196 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37197 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37198 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37199 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37200 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37201 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
37202 3}} more times.
37203
37204 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37205 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37206 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37207 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37208 @samp{0*"00}.
37209
37210 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37211 error number. That number is not well defined.
37212
37213 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37214 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37215 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37216 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37217 on that response.
37218
37219 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37220 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37221 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37222 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37223 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37224 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37225
37226 @node Packets
37227 @section Packets
37228
37229 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37230 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37231 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37232 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37233
37234 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37235 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37236 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37237 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37238 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37239 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37240 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37241 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37242 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37243 @var{baz}.
37244
37245 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37246 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
37247 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37248 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37249 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37250 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37251 pick any thread.
37252
37253 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37254 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37255 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37256 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37257 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37258 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37259 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37260 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37261 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37262 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37263 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37264 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37265 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37266
37267 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37268 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37269 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37270 more information.
37271
37272 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37273 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37274
37275 Here are the packet descriptions.
37276
37277 @table @samp
37278
37279 @item !
37280 @cindex @samp{!} packet
37281 @anchor{extended mode}
37282 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37283 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37284 debugged.
37285
37286 Reply:
37287 @table @samp
37288 @item OK
37289 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37290 @end table
37291
37292 @item ?
37293 @cindex @samp{?} packet
37294 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
37295 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
37296 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
37297
37298 Reply:
37299 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37300
37301 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
37302 @cindex @samp{A} packet
37303 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
37304 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
37305 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
37306
37307 Reply:
37308 @table @samp
37309 @item OK
37310 The arguments were set.
37311 @item E @var{NN}
37312 An error occurred.
37313 @end table
37314
37315 @item b @var{baud}
37316 @cindex @samp{b} packet
37317 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
37318 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
37319
37320 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
37321 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
37322 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
37323
37324 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
37325 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
37326 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
37327 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
37328 of view, nothing actually happened.}
37329
37330 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
37331 @cindex @samp{B} packet
37332 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
37333 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
37334
37335 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
37336 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
37337
37338 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
37339 @anchor{bc}
37340 @item bc
37341 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
37342 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37343
37344 Reply:
37345 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37346
37347 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
37348 @anchor{bs}
37349 @item bs
37350 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
37351 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37352
37353 Reply:
37354 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37355
37356 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37357 @cindex @samp{c} packet
37358 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
37359 resume at current address.
37360
37361 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37362 packet}.
37363
37364 Reply:
37365 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37366
37367 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37368 @cindex @samp{C} packet
37369 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
37370 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
37371
37372 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37373 packet}.
37374
37375 Reply:
37376 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37377
37378 @item d
37379 @cindex @samp{d} packet
37380 Toggle debug flag.
37381
37382 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
37383 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
37384
37385 @item D
37386 @itemx D;@var{pid}
37387 @cindex @samp{D} packet
37388 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
37389 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
37390 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
37391
37392 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
37393 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
37394 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
37395 big-endian hex string.
37396
37397 Reply:
37398 @table @samp
37399 @item OK
37400 for success
37401 @item E @var{NN}
37402 for an error
37403 @end table
37404
37405 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
37406 @cindex @samp{F} packet
37407 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
37408 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
37409 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
37410
37411 @item g
37412 @anchor{read registers packet}
37413 @cindex @samp{g} packet
37414 Read general registers.
37415
37416 Reply:
37417 @table @samp
37418 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37419 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
37420 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
37421 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
37422 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
37423 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
37424 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
37425
37426 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
37427 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
37428 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
37429 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
37430 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
37431 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
37432 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
37433 have been collected, and both have zero value:
37434
37435 @smallexample
37436 -> @code{g}
37437 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
37438 @end smallexample
37439
37440 @item E @var{NN}
37441 for an error.
37442 @end table
37443
37444 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
37445 @cindex @samp{G} packet
37446 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
37447 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
37448
37449 Reply:
37450 @table @samp
37451 @item OK
37452 for success
37453 @item E @var{NN}
37454 for an error
37455 @end table
37456
37457 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
37458 @cindex @samp{H} packet
37459 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
37460 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
37461 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
37462 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
37463 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
37464 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
37465 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37466
37467 Reply:
37468 @table @samp
37469 @item OK
37470 for success
37471 @item E @var{NN}
37472 for an error
37473 @end table
37474
37475 @c FIXME: JTC:
37476 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
37477 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
37478 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
37479 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
37480 @c described. For example:
37481 @c
37482 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37483 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
37484 @c otherwise returns current registers.
37485 @c
37486 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37487 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
37488 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
37489
37490 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
37491 @anchor{cycle step packet}
37492 @cindex @samp{i} packet
37493 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
37494 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
37495 step starting at that address.
37496
37497 @item I
37498 @cindex @samp{I} packet
37499 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
37500 step packet}.
37501
37502 @item k
37503 @cindex @samp{k} packet
37504 Kill request.
37505
37506 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
37507 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
37508 thread?)}.
37509
37510 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
37511 @cindex @samp{m} packet
37512 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37513 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
37514
37515 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
37516 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
37517 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
37518 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
37519 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
37520 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
37521 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
37522 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
37523
37524 Reply:
37525 @table @samp
37526 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37527 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
37528 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
37529 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
37530 @item E @var{NN}
37531 @var{NN} is errno
37532 @end table
37533
37534 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37535 @cindex @samp{M} packet
37536 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37537 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
37538 hexadecimal number.
37539
37540 Reply:
37541 @table @samp
37542 @item OK
37543 for success
37544 @item E @var{NN}
37545 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
37546 written).
37547 @end table
37548
37549 @item p @var{n}
37550 @cindex @samp{p} packet
37551 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
37552 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
37553 register value is encoded.
37554
37555 Reply:
37556 @table @samp
37557 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37558 the register's value
37559 @item E @var{NN}
37560 for an error
37561 @item @w{}
37562 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
37563 @end table
37564
37565 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
37566 @anchor{write register packet}
37567 @cindex @samp{P} packet
37568 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
37569 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
37570 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
37571
37572 Reply:
37573 @table @samp
37574 @item OK
37575 for success
37576 @item E @var{NN}
37577 for an error
37578 @end table
37579
37580 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37581 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37582 @cindex @samp{q} packet
37583 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
37584 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
37585 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
37586
37587 @item r
37588 @cindex @samp{r} packet
37589 Reset the entire system.
37590
37591 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
37592
37593 @item R @var{XX}
37594 @cindex @samp{R} packet
37595 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
37596 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37597
37598 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
37599
37600 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37601 @cindex @samp{s} packet
37602 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
37603 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
37604
37605 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37606 packet}.
37607
37608 Reply:
37609 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37610
37611 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37612 @anchor{step with signal packet}
37613 @cindex @samp{S} packet
37614 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
37615 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
37616
37617 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37618 packet}.
37619
37620 Reply:
37621 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37622
37623 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
37624 @cindex @samp{t} packet
37625 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
37626 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
37627 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
37628
37629 @item T @var{thread-id}
37630 @cindex @samp{T} packet
37631 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37632
37633 Reply:
37634 @table @samp
37635 @item OK
37636 thread is still alive
37637 @item E @var{NN}
37638 thread is dead
37639 @end table
37640
37641 @item v
37642 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
37643 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
37644
37645 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
37646 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
37647 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
37648 The process ID is a
37649 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
37650 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
37651 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
37652
37653 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
37654 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
37655 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
37656 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
37657 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
37658 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
37659 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
37660 @c stopping or restarting threads.
37661
37662 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37663
37664 Reply:
37665 @table @samp
37666 @item E @var{nn}
37667 for an error
37668 @item @r{Any stop packet}
37669 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37670 @item OK
37671 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
37672 @end table
37673
37674 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
37675 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
37676 @anchor{vCont packet}
37677 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
37678 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
37679 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
37680 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
37681 in their current state in non-stop mode.
37682 Specifying multiple
37683 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
37684 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37685
37686 Currently supported actions are:
37687
37688 @table @samp
37689 @item c
37690 Continue.
37691 @item C @var{sig}
37692 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37693 @item s
37694 Step.
37695 @item S @var{sig}
37696 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37697 @item t
37698 Stop.
37699 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
37700 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
37701 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
37702 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
37703 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
37704 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
37705
37706 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
37707 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
37708 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
37709 jumps to @var{start}).
37710
37711 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
37712 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
37713 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
37714
37715 @end table
37716
37717 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
37718 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
37719 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
37720
37721 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
37722 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
37723 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
37724 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
37725 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
37726 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
37727 as an implementation detail.
37728
37729 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
37730 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
37731 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
37732 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
37733 @var{thread-id}.
37734
37735 Reply:
37736 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37737
37738 @item vCont?
37739 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
37740 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
37741
37742 Reply:
37743 @table @samp
37744 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
37745 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
37746 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
37747 @item @w{}
37748 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
37749 @end table
37750
37751 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
37752 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
37753 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
37754 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
37755
37756 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
37757 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
37758 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
37759 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
37760 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
37761 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
37762 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
37763 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
37764 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37765 packet is received.
37766
37767 Reply:
37768 @table @samp
37769 @item OK
37770 for success
37771 @item E @var{NN}
37772 for an error
37773 @end table
37774
37775 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37776 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
37777 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
37778 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
37779 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
37780 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
37781 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
37782 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
37783 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
37784 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
37785 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
37786 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
37787
37788
37789 Reply:
37790 @table @samp
37791 @item OK
37792 for success
37793 @item E.memtype
37794 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
37795 @item E @var{NN}
37796 for an error
37797 @end table
37798
37799 @item vFlashDone
37800 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
37801 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
37802 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
37803 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
37804 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
37805 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37806 request is completed.
37807
37808 @item vKill;@var{pid}
37809 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
37810 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
37811 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
37812 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
37813 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
37814
37815 Reply:
37816 @table @samp
37817 @item E @var{nn}
37818 for an error
37819 @item OK
37820 for success
37821 @end table
37822
37823 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
37824 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
37825 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
37826 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
37827 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
37828 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
37829 state.
37830
37831 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
37832
37833 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37834
37835 Reply:
37836 @table @samp
37837 @item E @var{nn}
37838 for an error
37839 @item @r{Any stop packet}
37840 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37841 @end table
37842
37843 @item vStopped
37844 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
37845 @xref{Notification Packets}.
37846
37847 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37848 @anchor{X packet}
37849 @cindex @samp{X} packet
37850 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
37851 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
37852 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37853
37854 Reply:
37855 @table @samp
37856 @item OK
37857 for success
37858 @item E @var{NN}
37859 for an error
37860 @end table
37861
37862 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
37863 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
37864 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
37865 @cindex @samp{z} packet
37866 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
37867 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
37868 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
37869
37870 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
37871 separately.
37872
37873 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
37874 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
37875 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
37876 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
37877 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
37878 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
37879
37880 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37881 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
37882 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
37883 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
37884 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
37885 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
37886
37887 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
37888 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
37889 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
37890 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
37891 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
37892 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
37893 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
37894 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
37895 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
37896 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
37897
37898 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
37899 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
37900
37901 @table @samp
37902
37903 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37904 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
37905 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
37906
37907 @end table
37908
37909 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
37910 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
37911 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
37912 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
37913 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
37914 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
37915 separators. Each expression has the following form:
37916
37917 @table @samp
37918
37919 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37920 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
37921 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
37922
37923 @end table
37924
37925 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
37926
37927 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
37928 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
37929 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
37930 target, is not defined.}
37931
37932 Reply:
37933 @table @samp
37934 @item OK
37935 success
37936 @item @w{}
37937 not supported
37938 @item E @var{NN}
37939 for an error
37940 @end table
37941
37942 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37943 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
37944 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
37945 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
37946 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
37947 address @var{addr}.
37948
37949 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
37950 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
37951 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
37952
37953 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
37954 movement.}
37955
37956 Reply:
37957 @table @samp
37958 @item OK
37959 success
37960 @item @w{}
37961 not supported
37962 @item E @var{NN}
37963 for an error
37964 @end table
37965
37966 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37967 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37968 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
37969 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
37970 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
37971 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
37972
37973 Reply:
37974 @table @samp
37975 @item OK
37976 success
37977 @item @w{}
37978 not supported
37979 @item E @var{NN}
37980 for an error
37981 @end table
37982
37983 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37984 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37985 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
37986 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
37987 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
37988 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
37989
37990 Reply:
37991 @table @samp
37992 @item OK
37993 success
37994 @item @w{}
37995 not supported
37996 @item E @var{NN}
37997 for an error
37998 @end table
37999
38000 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38001 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38002 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
38003 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38004 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38005 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38006
38007 Reply:
38008 @table @samp
38009 @item OK
38010 success
38011 @item @w{}
38012 not supported
38013 @item E @var{NN}
38014 for an error
38015 @end table
38016
38017 @end table
38018
38019 @node Stop Reply Packets
38020 @section Stop Reply Packets
38021 @cindex stop reply packets
38022
38023 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38024 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38025 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38026 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38027 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38028 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38029 @value{GDBN} source code.
38030
38031 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38032 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38033 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38034 components.
38035
38036 @table @samp
38037
38038 @item S @var{AA}
38039 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38040 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38041 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38042
38043 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38044 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38045 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38046 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38047 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38048 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38049 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38050 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38051
38052 @itemize @bullet
38053 @item
38054 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38055 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38056 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38057 two-digit hex number.
38058
38059 @item
38060 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38061 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38062
38063 @item
38064 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38065 the core on which the stop event was detected.
38066
38067 @item
38068 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38069 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38070 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38071 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38072
38073 @item
38074 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38075 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38076 future.
38077 @end itemize
38078
38079 The currently defined stop reasons are:
38080
38081 @table @samp
38082 @item watch
38083 @itemx rwatch
38084 @itemx awatch
38085 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38086 hex.
38087
38088 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
38089 @item library
38090 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38091 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38092 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38093
38094 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
38095 @item replaylog
38096 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38097 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38098 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38099 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38100 for more information.
38101 @end table
38102
38103 @item W @var{AA}
38104 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38105 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38106 applicable to certain targets.
38107
38108 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38109 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38110 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38111 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38112
38113 @item X @var{AA}
38114 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38115 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38116
38117 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38118 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38119 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38120 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38121
38122 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38123 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38124 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38125 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38126 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38127
38128 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38129 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38130 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38131 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38132 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38133 system calls.
38134
38135 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38136 this very system call.
38137
38138 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38139 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38140 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38141 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38142 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38143 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38144
38145 @end table
38146
38147 @node General Query Packets
38148 @section General Query Packets
38149 @cindex remote query requests
38150
38151 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38152 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38153 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38154 sending information to and from the stub.
38155
38156 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38157 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38158 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38159 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38160 conventions:
38161
38162 @itemize @bullet
38163 @item
38164 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38165 @item
38166 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38167 letter.
38168 @item
38169 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38170 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38171 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38172 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38173 @end itemize
38174
38175 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38176 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38177 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38178 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38179 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38180 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38181 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38182 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38183 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38184 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38185 packet.}.
38186
38187 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38188 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38189 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38190 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38191 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38192
38193 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38194
38195 @table @samp
38196
38197 @item QAgent:1
38198 @itemx QAgent:0
38199 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38200 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38201
38202 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38203 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38204 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38205 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38206 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38207 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38208 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38209 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38210 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38211 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38212 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38213
38214 @item qC
38215 @cindex current thread, remote request
38216 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
38217 Return the current thread ID.
38218
38219 Reply:
38220 @table @samp
38221 @item QC @var{thread-id}
38222 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38223 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38224 @item @r{(anything else)}
38225 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38226 @end table
38227
38228 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38229 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38230 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38231 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38232 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38233 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38234 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38235
38236 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38237 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38238 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38239 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38240 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38241 detect trailing zeros.
38242
38243 Reply:
38244 @table @samp
38245 @item E @var{NN}
38246 An error (such as memory fault)
38247 @item C @var{crc32}
38248 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38249 @end table
38250
38251 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38252 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38253 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38254 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38255 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38256 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38257 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38258 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38259 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38260 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38261 randomization.
38262
38263 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38264
38265 Reply:
38266 @table @samp
38267 @item OK
38268 The request succeeded.
38269
38270 @item E @var{nn}
38271 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38272
38273 @item @w{}
38274 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38275 by the stub.
38276 @end table
38277
38278 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38279 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38280 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38281 address space randomization.
38282
38283 @item qfThreadInfo
38284 @itemx qsThreadInfo
38285 @cindex list active threads, remote request
38286 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38287 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38288 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38289 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38290 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38291 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38292 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38293 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
38294
38295 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
38296
38297 Reply:
38298 @table @samp
38299 @item m @var{thread-id}
38300 A single thread ID
38301 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
38302 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
38303 @item l
38304 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38305 @end table
38306
38307 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38308 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
38309 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
38310 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
38311 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
38312 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
38313 fields.
38314
38315 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
38316 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
38317 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
38318 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
38319 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
38320
38321 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
38322 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38323
38324 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
38325 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
38326 information associated with the variable.)
38327
38328 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
38329 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
38330 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
38331 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
38332 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
38333 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
38334
38335 Reply:
38336 @table @samp
38337 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38338 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
38339 local storage requested.
38340
38341 @item E @var{nn}
38342 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38343
38344 @item @w{}
38345 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38346 @end table
38347
38348 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
38349 @cindex get thread information block address
38350 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
38351 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
38352
38353 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
38354
38355 Reply:
38356 @table @samp
38357 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38358 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
38359 thread information block.
38360
38361 @item E @var{nn}
38362 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
38363 address could not be retrieved.
38364
38365 @item @w{}
38366 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38367 @end table
38368
38369 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
38370 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
38371 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
38372 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
38373 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
38374 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
38375 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
38376
38377 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
38378
38379 Reply:
38380 @table @samp
38381 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
38382 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
38383 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
38384 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
38385 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
38386 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
38387 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
38388 @end table
38389
38390 @item qOffsets
38391 @cindex section offsets, remote request
38392 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
38393 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
38394 image.
38395
38396 Reply:
38397 @table @samp
38398 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
38399 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
38400 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
38401 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
38402 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
38403 segments by the supplied offsets.
38404
38405 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
38406 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
38407 to the @code{Bss} section.}
38408
38409 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
38410 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
38411 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
38412 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
38413 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
38414 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
38415 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
38416 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
38417 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
38418 @end table
38419
38420 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
38421 @cindex thread information, remote request
38422 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
38423 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
38424 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
38425 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
38426
38427 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
38428 (see below).
38429
38430 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
38431
38432 @item QNonStop:1
38433 @itemx QNonStop:0
38434 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
38435 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
38436 @anchor{QNonStop}
38437 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
38438 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
38439
38440 Reply:
38441 @table @samp
38442 @item OK
38443 The request succeeded.
38444
38445 @item E @var{nn}
38446 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38447
38448 @item @w{}
38449 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
38450 the stub.
38451 @end table
38452
38453 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38454 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38455 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
38456 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
38457
38458 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38459 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
38460 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38461 @anchor{QPassSignals}
38462 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
38463 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38464 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38465 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
38466 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
38467 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
38468 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
38469 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
38470 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
38471
38472 Reply:
38473 @table @samp
38474 @item OK
38475 The request succeeded.
38476
38477 @item E @var{nn}
38478 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38479
38480 @item @w{}
38481 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
38482 the stub.
38483 @end table
38484
38485 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
38486 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
38487 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38488 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38489
38490 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38491 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
38492 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
38493 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
38494 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
38495 Others should be silently discarded.
38496
38497 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
38498 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
38499 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
38500 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
38501 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
38502 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
38503 signals.
38504
38505 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
38506 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
38507
38508 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38509 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38510 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
38511 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
38512 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
38513
38514 Reply:
38515 @table @samp
38516 @item OK
38517 The request succeeded.
38518
38519 @item E @var{nn}
38520 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38521
38522 @item @w{}
38523 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
38524 by the stub.
38525 @end table
38526
38527 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
38528 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
38529 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38530 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38531
38532 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
38533 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
38534 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
38535 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
38536 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
38537 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
38538 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
38539 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
38540 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
38541
38542 Reply:
38543 @table @samp
38544 @item OK
38545 A command response with no output.
38546 @item @var{OUTPUT}
38547 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
38548 @item E @var{NN}
38549 Indicate a badly formed request.
38550 @item @w{}
38551 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
38552 @end table
38553
38554 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
38555 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38556 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
38557 packets.)
38558
38559 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
38560 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
38561 @ifnotinfo
38562 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
38563 @end ifnotinfo
38564 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
38565 @anchor{qSearch memory}
38566 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
38567 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
38568 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
38569
38570 Reply:
38571 @table @samp
38572 @item 0
38573 The pattern was not found.
38574 @item 1,address
38575 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
38576 @item E @var{NN}
38577 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
38578 @item @w{}
38579 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
38580 @end table
38581
38582 @item QStartNoAckMode
38583 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
38584 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
38585 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
38586 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
38587
38588 Reply:
38589 @table @samp
38590 @item OK
38591 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
38592 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
38593 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
38594 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
38595 @item @w{}
38596 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
38597 @end table
38598
38599 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
38600 @cindex supported packets, remote query
38601 @cindex features of the remote protocol
38602 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
38603 @anchor{qSupported}
38604 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
38605 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
38606 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
38607 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
38608 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
38609 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
38610 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
38611 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
38612 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
38613 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
38614 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
38615 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
38616 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
38617 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
38618
38619 Reply:
38620 @table @samp
38621 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
38622 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
38623 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
38624 possible forms).
38625 @item @w{}
38626 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
38627 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
38628 @end table
38629
38630 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
38631 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
38632 are:
38633
38634 @table @samp
38635 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
38636 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
38637 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
38638 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
38639 @item @var{name}+
38640 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
38641 need an associated value.
38642 @item @var{name}-
38643 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
38644 @item @var{name}?
38645 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
38646 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
38647 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
38648 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
38649 @end table
38650
38651 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
38652 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
38653 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
38654 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
38655 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
38656
38657 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
38658 are defined:
38659
38660 @table @samp
38661 @item multiprocess
38662 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
38663 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
38664 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
38665 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
38666 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
38667
38668 @item xmlRegisters
38669 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
38670 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
38671 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
38672 description.
38673
38674 @item qRelocInsn
38675 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
38676 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38677 instruction reply packet}).
38678 @end table
38679
38680 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
38681 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
38682 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
38683 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
38684 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
38685 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
38686 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
38687 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
38688 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
38689 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
38690 all the features it supports.
38691
38692 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
38693 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
38694
38695 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
38696 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
38697 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
38698 form response.
38699
38700 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
38701 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
38702 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
38703 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
38704
38705 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
38706 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
38707 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
38708 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
38709 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
38710
38711 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
38712
38713 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
38714 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
38715 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
38716 @item Feature Name
38717 @tab Value Required
38718 @tab Default
38719 @tab Probe Allowed
38720
38721 @item @samp{PacketSize}
38722 @tab Yes
38723 @tab @samp{-}
38724 @tab No
38725
38726 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
38727 @tab No
38728 @tab @samp{-}
38729 @tab Yes
38730
38731 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38732 @tab No
38733 @tab @samp{-}
38734 @tab Yes
38735
38736 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
38737 @tab No
38738 @tab @samp{-}
38739 @tab Yes
38740
38741 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38742 @tab No
38743 @tab @samp{-}
38744 @tab Yes
38745
38746 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
38747 @tab No
38748 @tab @samp{-}
38749 @tab Yes
38750
38751 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
38752 @tab No
38753 @tab @samp{-}
38754 @tab No
38755
38756 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38757 @tab No
38758 @tab @samp{-}
38759 @tab Yes
38760
38761 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
38762 @tab No
38763 @tab @samp{-}
38764 @tab Yes
38765
38766 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
38767 @tab No
38768 @tab @samp{-}
38769 @tab Yes
38770
38771 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
38772 @tab No
38773 @tab @samp{-}
38774 @tab Yes
38775
38776 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
38777 @tab No
38778 @tab @samp{-}
38779 @tab Yes
38780
38781 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
38782 @tab No
38783 @tab @samp{-}
38784 @tab Yes
38785
38786 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
38787 @tab No
38788 @tab @samp{-}
38789 @tab Yes
38790
38791 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38792 @tab No
38793 @tab @samp{-}
38794 @tab Yes
38795
38796 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38797 @tab No
38798 @tab @samp{-}
38799 @tab Yes
38800
38801 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38802 @tab No
38803 @tab @samp{-}
38804 @tab Yes
38805
38806 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
38807 @tab Yes
38808 @tab @samp{-}
38809 @tab Yes
38810
38811 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
38812 @tab Yes
38813 @tab @samp{-}
38814 @tab Yes
38815
38816 @item @samp{QNonStop}
38817 @tab No
38818 @tab @samp{-}
38819 @tab Yes
38820
38821 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
38822 @tab No
38823 @tab @samp{-}
38824 @tab Yes
38825
38826 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
38827 @tab No
38828 @tab @samp{-}
38829 @tab Yes
38830
38831 @item @samp{multiprocess}
38832 @tab No
38833 @tab @samp{-}
38834 @tab No
38835
38836 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
38837 @tab No
38838 @tab @samp{-}
38839 @tab No
38840
38841 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
38842 @tab No
38843 @tab @samp{-}
38844 @tab No
38845
38846 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
38847 @tab No
38848 @tab @samp{-}
38849 @tab No
38850
38851 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
38852 @tab No
38853 @tab @samp{-}
38854 @tab No
38855
38856 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
38857 @tab No
38858 @tab @samp{-}
38859 @tab No
38860
38861 @item @samp{QAgent}
38862 @tab No
38863 @tab @samp{-}
38864 @tab No
38865
38866 @item @samp{QAllow}
38867 @tab No
38868 @tab @samp{-}
38869 @tab No
38870
38871 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
38872 @tab No
38873 @tab @samp{-}
38874 @tab No
38875
38876 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
38877 @tab No
38878 @tab @samp{-}
38879 @tab No
38880
38881 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
38882 @tab No
38883 @tab @samp{-}
38884 @tab No
38885
38886 @item @samp{tracenz}
38887 @tab No
38888 @tab @samp{-}
38889 @tab No
38890
38891 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
38892 @tab No
38893 @tab @samp{-}
38894 @tab No
38895
38896 @end multitable
38897
38898 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
38899
38900 @table @samp
38901 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
38902 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
38903 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
38904 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
38905 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
38906 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
38907 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
38908 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
38909 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
38910 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
38911
38912 @item qXfer:auxv:read
38913 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
38914 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
38915
38916 @item qXfer:btrace:read
38917 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38918 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
38919
38920 @item qXfer:features:read
38921 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
38922 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
38923
38924 @item qXfer:libraries:read
38925 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
38926 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
38927
38928 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
38929 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38930 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38931
38932 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
38933 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
38934 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38935 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38936
38937 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
38938 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
38939 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
38940
38941 @item qXfer:sdata:read
38942 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
38943 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
38944
38945 @item qXfer:spu:read
38946 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
38947 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
38948
38949 @item qXfer:spu:write
38950 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
38951 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
38952
38953 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
38954 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
38955 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
38956
38957 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
38958 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
38959 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
38960
38961 @item qXfer:threads:read
38962 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
38963 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
38964
38965 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
38966 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38967 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
38968
38969 @item qXfer:uib:read
38970 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38971 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
38972
38973 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
38974 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38975 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
38976
38977 @item QNonStop
38978 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
38979 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
38980
38981 @item QPassSignals
38982 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38983 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
38984
38985 @item QStartNoAckMode
38986 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
38987 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
38988
38989 @item multiprocess
38990 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
38991 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
38992 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
38993 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
38994 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
38995 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
38996 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
38997 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
38998 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
38999 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39000 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39001
39002 @item qXfer:osdata:read
39003 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39004 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39005
39006 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
39007 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39008 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39009 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39010
39011 @item ConditionalTracepoints
39012 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39013 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39014
39015 @item ReverseContinue
39016 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39017 (@pxref{bc}).
39018
39019 @item ReverseStep
39020 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39021 (@pxref{bs}).
39022
39023 @item TracepointSource
39024 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39025 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39026
39027 @item QAgent
39028 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39029
39030 @item QAllow
39031 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39032
39033 @item QDisableRandomization
39034 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39035
39036 @item StaticTracepoint
39037 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39038 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39039
39040 @item InstallInTrace
39041 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39042 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39043
39044 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
39045 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39046 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39047 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39048
39049 @item QTBuffer:size
39050 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39051 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39052
39053 @item tracenz
39054 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39055 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39056 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39057
39058 @item BreakpointCommands
39059 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39060 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39061 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39062
39063 @item Qbtrace:off
39064 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39065
39066 @item Qbtrace:bts
39067 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39068
39069 @end table
39070
39071 @item qSymbol::
39072 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39073 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39074 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39075 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39076
39077 Reply:
39078 @table @samp
39079 @item OK
39080 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39081 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39082 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39083 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39084 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39085 below.
39086 @end table
39087
39088 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39089 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39090
39091 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39092 target has previously requested.
39093
39094 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39095 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39096 will be empty.
39097
39098 Reply:
39099 @table @samp
39100 @item OK
39101 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39102 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39103 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39104 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39105 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39106 @end table
39107
39108 @item qTBuffer
39109 @itemx QTBuffer
39110 @itemx QTDisconnected
39111 @itemx QTDP
39112 @itemx QTDPsrc
39113 @itemx QTDV
39114 @itemx qTfP
39115 @itemx qTfV
39116 @itemx QTFrame
39117 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
39118
39119 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39120
39121 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39122 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39123 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39124 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39125 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39126 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39127 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39128 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39129 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39130 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39131 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39132
39133 Reply:
39134 @table @samp
39135 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39136 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39137 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39138 the thread's attributes.
39139 @end table
39140
39141 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39142 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39143 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39144 packets.)
39145
39146 @item QTNotes
39147 @itemx qTP
39148 @itemx QTSave
39149 @itemx qTsP
39150 @itemx qTsV
39151 @itemx QTStart
39152 @itemx QTStop
39153 @itemx QTEnable
39154 @itemx QTDisable
39155 @itemx QTinit
39156 @itemx QTro
39157 @itemx qTStatus
39158 @itemx qTV
39159 @itemx qTfSTM
39160 @itemx qTsSTM
39161 @itemx qTSTMat
39162 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39163
39164 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39165 @cindex read special object, remote request
39166 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39167 @anchor{qXfer read}
39168 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39169 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39170 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39171 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39172 additional details about what data to access.
39173
39174 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39175 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39176 formats, listed below.
39177
39178 @table @samp
39179 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39180 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39181 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39182 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39183
39184 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39185 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39186
39187 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39188 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39189
39190 Return a description of the current branch trace.
39191 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39192 packet may have one of the following values:
39193
39194 @table @code
39195 @item all
39196 Returns all available branch trace.
39197
39198 @item new
39199 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39200 the last read request.
39201 @end table
39202
39203 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39204 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39205
39206 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39207 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
39208 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39209 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39210 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39211
39212 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39213 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39214
39215 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39216 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
39217 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39218 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39219 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39220
39221 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39222 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39223 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39224
39225 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39226 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39227
39228 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39229 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39230 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39231 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39232 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39233 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39234 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39235 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39236
39237 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39238 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39239
39240 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39241 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39242
39243 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39244 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39245 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39246 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39247
39248 @table @code
39249 @item start=@var{address}
39250 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39251 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39252 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39253 chosen as the starting point.
39254
39255 @item prev=@var{address}
39256 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39257 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39258 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39259 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39260 exists prior to the starting point.
39261
39262 @end table
39263
39264 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39265 ignored.
39266
39267 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39268 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39269 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39270 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39271 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39272
39273 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39274 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39275
39276 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39277 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39278
39279 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39280 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39281 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39282 Action Lists}.
39283
39284 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39285 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39286 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39287
39288 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39289 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39290 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39291 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39292 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39293
39294 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39295 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39296 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39297
39298 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39299 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
39300 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39301 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
39302 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39303 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39304 in that context to be accessed.
39305
39306 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39307 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39308 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39309
39310 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39311 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
39312 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
39313 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39314 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39315
39316 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39317 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39318
39319 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39320 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
39321
39322 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
39323 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
39324 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39325
39326 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39327 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39328
39329 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39330 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
39331
39332 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
39333 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
39334
39335 This packet is not probed by default.
39336
39337 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39338 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
39339 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
39340 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
39341 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
39342
39343 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39344 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39345
39346 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39347 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
39348 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
39349 @xref{Operating System Information}.
39350
39351 @end table
39352
39353 Reply:
39354 @table @samp
39355 @item m @var{data}
39356 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
39357 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
39358 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
39359 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
39360 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
39361 request.
39362
39363 @item l @var{data}
39364 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
39365 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
39366 than the @var{length} in the request.
39367
39368 @item l
39369 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
39370 There is no more data to be read.
39371
39372 @item E00
39373 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39374
39375 @item E @var{nn}
39376 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
39377 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39378
39379 @item @w{}
39380 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
39381 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
39382 @end table
39383
39384 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39385 @cindex write data into object, remote request
39386 @anchor{qXfer write}
39387 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
39388 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
39389 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
39390 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
39391 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
39392 to access.
39393
39394 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39395 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39396 formats, listed below.
39397
39398 @table @samp
39399 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39400 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
39401 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
39402 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39403 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
39404
39405 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39406 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39407 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39408
39409 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39410 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
39411 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39412 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
39413 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39414 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39415 in that context to be accessed.
39416
39417 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39418 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39419 @end table
39420
39421 Reply:
39422 @table @samp
39423 @item @var{nn}
39424 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
39425 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
39426
39427 @item E00
39428 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39429
39430 @item E @var{nn}
39431 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
39432 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39433
39434 @item @w{}
39435 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
39436 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
39437 @end table
39438
39439 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
39440 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
39441 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
39442 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
39443 must respond with an empty packet.
39444
39445 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
39446 @cindex query attached, remote request
39447 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
39448 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
39449 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
39450 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
39451 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
39452 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
39453 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
39454
39455 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
39456 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
39457 the @code{quit} command.
39458
39459 Reply:
39460 @table @samp
39461 @item 1
39462 The remote server attached to an existing process.
39463 @item 0
39464 The remote server created a new process.
39465 @item E @var{NN}
39466 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39467 @end table
39468
39469 @item Qbtrace:bts
39470 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
39471
39472 Reply:
39473 @table @samp
39474 @item OK
39475 Branch tracing has been enabled.
39476 @item E.errtext
39477 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39478 @end table
39479
39480 @item Qbtrace:off
39481 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
39482
39483 Reply:
39484 @table @samp
39485 @item OK
39486 Branch tracing has been disabled.
39487 @item E.errtext
39488 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39489 @end table
39490
39491 @end table
39492
39493 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39494 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39495
39496 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
39497 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
39498 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
39499
39500 @menu
39501 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
39502 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
39503 @end menu
39504
39505 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
39506 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
39507
39508 @menu
39509 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
39510 @end menu
39511
39512 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
39513 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
39514 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
39515
39516 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39517
39518 @table @r
39519
39520 @item 2
39521 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
39522
39523 @item 3
39524 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
39525
39526 @item 4
39527 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
39528
39529 @end table
39530
39531 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
39532 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
39533
39534 @menu
39535 * MIPS Register packet Format::
39536 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
39537 @end menu
39538
39539 @node MIPS Register packet Format
39540 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
39541 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
39542
39543 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
39544 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
39545 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
39546 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
39547 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
39548 most-significant -- least-significant.
39549
39550 @table @r
39551
39552 @item MIPS32
39553 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
39554 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
39555 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
39556
39557 @item MIPS64
39558 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
39559 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
39560 as @code{MIPS32}.
39561
39562 @end table
39563
39564 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
39565 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
39566 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
39567
39568 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39569
39570 @table @r
39571
39572 @item 2
39573 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
39574
39575 @item 3
39576 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39577
39578 @item 4
39579 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
39580
39581 @item 5
39582 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39583
39584 @end table
39585
39586 @node Tracepoint Packets
39587 @section Tracepoint Packets
39588 @cindex tracepoint packets
39589 @cindex packets, tracepoint
39590
39591 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
39592 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
39593
39594 @table @samp
39595
39596 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
39597 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
39598 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
39599 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
39600 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
39601 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
39602 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
39603 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
39604 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
39605 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
39606 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
39607 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
39608 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
39609 actions.
39610
39611 Replies:
39612 @table @samp
39613 @item OK
39614 The packet was understood and carried out.
39615 @item qRelocInsn
39616 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39617 @item @w{}
39618 The packet was not recognized.
39619 @end table
39620
39621 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
39622 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
39623 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
39624 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
39625 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
39626 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
39627 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
39628
39629 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
39630 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
39631 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
39632 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
39633 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
39634 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
39635 tracepoint actions.
39636
39637 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
39638 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
39639 following forms:
39640
39641 @table @samp
39642
39643 @item R @var{mask}
39644 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
39645 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
39646 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
39647 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
39648 not fit in a 32-bit word.
39649
39650 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
39651 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
39652 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
39653 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
39654 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
39655 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
39656 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
39657
39658 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
39659 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
39660 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
39661 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
39662 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
39663 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
39664 packet).
39665
39666 @end table
39667
39668 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
39669 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
39670 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
39671 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
39672 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
39673 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
39674 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
39675 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
39676
39677 Replies:
39678 @table @samp
39679 @item OK
39680 The packet was understood and carried out.
39681 @item qRelocInsn
39682 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39683 @item @w{}
39684 The packet was not recognized.
39685 @end table
39686
39687 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
39688 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
39689 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
39690 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
39691 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
39692 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
39693 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
39694 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
39695
39696 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
39697 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
39698 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
39699 fit in a single packet.
39700 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
39701 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
39702
39703 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
39704 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
39705 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
39706 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
39707
39708 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
39709 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
39710 query packets.
39711
39712 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
39713 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
39714 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
39715 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
39716 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
39717 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
39718 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
39719 be found.
39720
39721 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
39722 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
39723 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
39724 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
39725 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
39726 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
39727 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
39728 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
39729 mentioned in expressions.
39730
39731 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
39732 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
39733 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
39734 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
39735 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
39736
39737 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
39738 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
39739 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
39740 one of the following forms:
39741
39742 @table @samp
39743 @item F @var{f}
39744 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
39745 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
39746 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
39747
39748 @item T @var{t}
39749 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
39750 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
39751
39752 @end table
39753
39754 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
39755 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39756 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
39757 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
39758
39759 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
39760 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39761 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
39762 is a hexadecimal number.
39763
39764 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
39765 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39766 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
39767 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
39768 numbers.
39769
39770 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
39771 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
39772 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
39773
39774 @item qTMinFTPILen
39775 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
39776 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
39777 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
39778 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
39779 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
39780 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
39781 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
39782 arrange for that.
39783
39784 Replies:
39785
39786 @table @samp
39787 @item 0
39788 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
39789 @item @var{length}
39790 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
39791 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
39792 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
39793 @item E
39794 An error has occurred.
39795 @item @w{}
39796 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
39797 @end table
39798
39799 @item QTStart
39800 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
39801 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
39802 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
39803 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39804 instruction reply packet}).
39805
39806 @item QTStop
39807 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
39808 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
39809
39810 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39811 @anchor{QTEnable}
39812 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
39813 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39814 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
39815 of data from it will resume.
39816
39817 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39818 @anchor{QTDisable}
39819 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
39820 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39821 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
39822 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
39823
39824 @item QTinit
39825 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
39826 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
39827
39828 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
39829 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
39830 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
39831 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
39832 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
39833
39834 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
39835 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
39836 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
39837 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
39838
39839 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
39840 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
39841 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
39842 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
39843 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
39844 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
39845
39846 @item qTStatus
39847 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
39848 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
39849
39850 The reply has the form:
39851
39852 @table @samp
39853
39854 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
39855 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
39856 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
39857 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
39858
39859 @end table
39860
39861 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
39862 explanations as one of the optional fields:
39863
39864 @table @samp
39865
39866 @item tnotrun:0
39867 No trace has been run yet.
39868
39869 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
39870 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
39871 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
39872 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
39873 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
39874
39875 @item tfull:0
39876 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
39877
39878 @item tdisconnected:0
39879 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
39880
39881 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
39882 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
39883
39884 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
39885 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
39886 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
39887 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
39888 @var{text} is hex encoded.
39889
39890 @item tunknown:0
39891 The trace stopped for some other reason.
39892
39893 @end table
39894
39895 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
39896 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
39897 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
39898 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
39899 trace.
39900
39901 @table @samp
39902
39903 @item tframes:@var{n}
39904 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
39905
39906 @item tcreated:@var{n}
39907 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
39908 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
39909
39910 @item tsize:@var{n}
39911 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
39912
39913 @item tfree:@var{n}
39914 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
39915
39916 @item circular:@var{n}
39917 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
39918 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
39919 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
39920 and may fill up.
39921
39922 @item disconn:@var{n}
39923 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
39924 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
39925 that the trace run will stop.
39926
39927 @end table
39928
39929 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
39930 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
39931 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
39932 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
39933 address @var{addr}.
39934
39935 Replies:
39936 @table @samp
39937 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
39938 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
39939 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
39940 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
39941 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
39942
39943 @end table
39944
39945 @item qTV:@var{var}
39946 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
39947 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
39948 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
39949
39950 Replies:
39951 @table @samp
39952 @item V@var{value}
39953 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
39954 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
39955 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
39956 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
39957 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
39958 program is running.
39959
39960 @item U
39961 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
39962 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
39963 was not collected.
39964 @end table
39965
39966 @item qTfP
39967 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
39968 @itemx qTsP
39969 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
39970 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
39971 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
39972 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
39973 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
39974 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
39975
39976 @item qTfV
39977 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
39978 @itemx qTsV
39979 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
39980 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
39981 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
39982 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
39983 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
39984 trace state variables.
39985
39986 @item qTfSTM
39987 @itemx qTsSTM
39988 @anchor{qTfSTM}
39989 @anchor{qTsSTM}
39990 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
39991 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
39992 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
39993 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
39994 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
39995 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
39996
39997 Reply:
39998 @table @samp
39999 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40000 A single marker
40001 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40002 a comma-separated list of markers
40003 @item l
40004 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40005 @item E @var{nn}
40006 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40007 @item @w{}
40008 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40009 stub.
40010 @end table
40011
40012 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
40013 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40014
40015 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40016 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40017 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40018 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40019 @dfn{last}).
40020
40021 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40022 @anchor{qTSTMat}
40023 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40024 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40025 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40026 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40027 tracepoint markers.
40028
40029 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
40030 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40031 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40032 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40033 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40034 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40035
40036 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40037 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40038 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40039 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40040 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40041 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40042 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40043 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40044 available.
40045
40046 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40047 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40048 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40049
40050 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40051 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40052 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40053 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40054 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40055 use whatever size it prefers.
40056
40057 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40058 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40059 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40060 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40061 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40062
40063 @end table
40064
40065 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40066 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40067 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40068 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40069 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40070 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40071 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40072 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40073 it had executed in the original location.
40074
40075 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40076 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40077 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40078 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40079 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40080 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40081 format of the request is:
40082
40083 @table @samp
40084 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40085
40086 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40087 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40088 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40089 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40090 memory starting at @var{to}.
40091 @end table
40092
40093 Replies:
40094 @table @samp
40095 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40096 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40097 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40098 @item E @var{NN}
40099 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40100 relocating the instruction.
40101 @end table
40102
40103 @node Host I/O Packets
40104 @section Host I/O Packets
40105 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40106 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40107
40108 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40109 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40110 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40111 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40112 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40113 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40114 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40115 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40116 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40117 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40118
40119 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40120 its arguments. They have this format:
40121
40122 @table @samp
40123
40124 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40125 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40126 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40127 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40128 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40129 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40130 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40131 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40132 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40133
40134 @end table
40135
40136 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40137
40138 @table @samp
40139
40140 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40141 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40142 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40143 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40144 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40145 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40146 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40147 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40148 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40149 @var{attachment}.
40150
40151 @item @w{}
40152 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40153
40154 @end table
40155
40156 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40157
40158 @table @samp
40159 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40160 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40161 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40162 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40163 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40164 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40165 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40166
40167 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40168 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40169 -1 if an error occurs.
40170
40171 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40172 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40173 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40174 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40175 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40176 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40177 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40178 @var{count} was zero.
40179
40180 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40181 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40182 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40183 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40184 some characters were escaped.
40185
40186 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40187 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40188 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40189 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40190 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40191 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40192 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40193 error occurred.
40194
40195 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40196 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40197 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40198
40199 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40200 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40201 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40202
40203 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40204 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40205 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40206 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40207 some characters were escaped.
40208
40209 @end table
40210
40211 @node Interrupts
40212 @section Interrupts
40213 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40214
40215 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40216 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40217 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40218 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40219
40220 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40221 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40222 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40223 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40224 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40225
40226 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40227 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40228 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40229 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40230 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40231 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40232 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40233 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40234
40235 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40236 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40237 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40238
40239 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40240 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40241 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40242 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40243 currently-executing threads and processes.
40244 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40245 running program, it should send one of the stop
40246 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40247 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40248 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40249 Interrupts received while the
40250 program is stopped are discarded.
40251
40252 @node Notification Packets
40253 @section Notification Packets
40254 @cindex notification packets
40255 @cindex packets, notification
40256
40257 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40258 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40259 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40260 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40261 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40262 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40263 is not a problem.
40264
40265 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40266 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40267 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40268 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40269 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40270 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40271 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40272
40273 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40274 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40275
40276 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40277 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40278 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40279 not they understand it.
40280
40281 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40282 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40283 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40284 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40285 recipients.
40286
40287 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40288 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40289 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40290 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40291 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40292
40293 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
40294 @table @samp
40295 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
40296 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
40297 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
40298 carrying the specific information about the notification.
40299 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
40300 @item @var{ack}
40301 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
40302 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
40303 @end table
40304
40305 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
40306 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
40307
40308 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
40309 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
40310 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
40311 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
40312 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
40313 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
40314 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
40315 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
40316 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
40317 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
40318
40319 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
40320 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
40321 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
40322 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
40323 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
40324 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
40325
40326 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
40327 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
40328 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
40329 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
40330 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
40331
40332 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
40333 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
40334 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
40335 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
40336 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
40337 normally.
40338
40339 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
40340 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
40341 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
40342 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
40343 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
40344 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
40345 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
40346 the process shall be repeated.
40347
40348 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
40349 following example:
40350 @smallexample
40351 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
40352 @code{...}
40353 -> @code{vStopped}
40354 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
40355 -> @code{vStopped}
40356 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
40357 -> @code{vStopped}
40358 <- @code{OK}
40359 @end smallexample
40360
40361 The following notifications are defined:
40362 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
40363
40364 @item Notification
40365 @tab Ack
40366 @tab Event
40367 @tab Description
40368
40369 @item Stop
40370 @tab vStopped
40371 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
40372 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
40373 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
40374 @value{GDBN}.
40375 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
40376
40377 @end multitable
40378
40379 @node Remote Non-Stop
40380 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
40381
40382 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
40383 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
40384 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
40385 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40386
40387 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
40388 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
40389 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
40390 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
40391 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
40392 probe the target state after a mode change.
40393
40394 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
40395 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
40396 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
40397 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
40398 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
40399 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
40400 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
40401 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
40402 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
40403 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
40404 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
40405
40406 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
40407 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
40408 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
40409 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
40410 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
40411 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
40412 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
40413 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
40414 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
40415 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
40416 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
40417 @samp{OK}.
40418
40419 @node Packet Acknowledgment
40420 @section Packet Acknowledgment
40421
40422 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40423 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40424 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
40425 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
40426 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
40427 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
40428 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
40429
40430 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
40431 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
40432 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
40433 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
40434 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
40435
40436 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
40437 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
40438 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
40439 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
40440
40441 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
40442 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
40443 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
40444 @pxref{qSupported}.
40445 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
40446 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
40447 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
40448 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
40449 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
40450 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
40451 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
40452
40453 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
40454 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
40455 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
40456 connection.
40457 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
40458 new connection is established,
40459 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
40460 for the current connection, once disabled.
40461
40462 @node Examples
40463 @section Examples
40464
40465 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
40466 does not get any direct output:
40467
40468 @smallexample
40469 -> @code{R00}
40470 <- @code{+}
40471 @emph{target restarts}
40472 -> @code{?}
40473 <- @code{+}
40474 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40475 -> @code{+}
40476 @end smallexample
40477
40478 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
40479
40480 @smallexample
40481 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
40482 <- @code{+}
40483 -> @code{s}
40484 <- @code{+}
40485 @emph{time passes}
40486 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40487 -> @code{+}
40488 -> @code{g}
40489 <- @code{+}
40490 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
40491 -> @code{+}
40492 @end smallexample
40493
40494 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40495 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40496 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
40497
40498 @menu
40499 * File-I/O Overview::
40500 * Protocol Basics::
40501 * The F Request Packet::
40502 * The F Reply Packet::
40503 * The Ctrl-C Message::
40504 * Console I/O::
40505 * List of Supported Calls::
40506 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
40507 * Constants::
40508 * File-I/O Examples::
40509 @end menu
40510
40511 @node File-I/O Overview
40512 @subsection File-I/O Overview
40513 @cindex file-i/o overview
40514
40515 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
40516 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
40517 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
40518 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
40519 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
40520 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
40521
40522 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
40523 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
40524 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
40525 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
40526 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
40527
40528 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
40529 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
40530 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
40531 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
40532 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
40533 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
40534 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
40535
40536 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
40537 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
40538 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
40539 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
40540 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
40541
40542 @smallexample
40543 (@value{GDBP}) continue
40544 <- target requests 'system call X'
40545 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
40546 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
40547 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
40548 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
40549 @end smallexample
40550
40551 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
40552 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
40553 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
40554 system are not supported by this protocol.
40555
40556 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
40557
40558 @node Protocol Basics
40559 @subsection Protocol Basics
40560 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
40561
40562 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
40563 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
40564 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
40565 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
40566 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
40567 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
40568 to call the appropriate host system call:
40569
40570 @itemize @bullet
40571 @item
40572 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
40573
40574 @item
40575 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
40576 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
40577 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
40578 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
40579
40580 @end itemize
40581
40582 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
40583
40584 @itemize @bullet
40585 @item
40586 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
40587 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
40588 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
40589 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
40590 packet.
40591
40592 @item
40593 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
40594 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
40595
40596 @item
40597 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
40598
40599 @item
40600 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
40601
40602 @item
40603 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
40604 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
40605 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
40606 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
40607 packet.
40608
40609 @end itemize
40610
40611 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
40612 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
40613
40614 @itemize @bullet
40615 @item
40616 Return value.
40617
40618 @item
40619 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
40620
40621 @item
40622 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
40623
40624 @end itemize
40625
40626 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
40627 the latest continue or step action.
40628
40629 @node The F Request Packet
40630 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
40631 @cindex file-i/o request packet
40632 @cindex @code{F} request packet
40633
40634 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
40635
40636 @table @samp
40637 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
40638
40639 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
40640 This is just the name of the function.
40641
40642 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
40643 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
40644 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
40645 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
40646 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
40647 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
40648 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
40649
40650 @end table
40651
40652
40653
40654 @node The F Reply Packet
40655 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
40656 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
40657 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
40658
40659 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
40660
40661 @table @samp
40662
40663 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
40664
40665 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
40666
40667 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
40668 representation.
40669 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
40670
40671 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
40672 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
40673 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
40674
40675 @smallexample
40676 F0,0,C
40677 @end smallexample
40678
40679 @noindent
40680 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
40681
40682 @smallexample
40683 F-1,4,C
40684 @end smallexample
40685
40686 @noindent
40687 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
40688
40689 @end table
40690
40691
40692 @node The Ctrl-C Message
40693 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
40694 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
40695
40696 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
40697 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
40698 the target should behave as if it had
40699 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
40700 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
40701 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
40702 packet.
40703
40704 It's important for the target to know in which
40705 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
40706
40707 @itemize @bullet
40708 @item
40709 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
40710
40711 @item
40712 The system call on the host has been finished.
40713
40714 @end itemize
40715
40716 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
40717 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
40718 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
40719 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
40720 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
40721 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
40722
40723 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
40724 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
40725 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
40726 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
40727 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
40728 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
40729 or the full action has been completed.
40730
40731 @node Console I/O
40732 @subsection Console I/O
40733 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
40734
40735 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
40736 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
40737 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
40738 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
40739 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
40740 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
40741 conditions is met:
40742
40743 @itemize @bullet
40744 @item
40745 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
40746 @code{read}
40747 system call is treated as finished.
40748
40749 @item
40750 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
40751 newline.
40752
40753 @item
40754 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
40755 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
40756
40757 @end itemize
40758
40759 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
40760 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
40761 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
40762 is stopped at the user's request.
40763
40764
40765 @node List of Supported Calls
40766 @subsection List of Supported Calls
40767 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
40768
40769 @menu
40770 * open::
40771 * close::
40772 * read::
40773 * write::
40774 * lseek::
40775 * rename::
40776 * unlink::
40777 * stat/fstat::
40778 * gettimeofday::
40779 * isatty::
40780 * system::
40781 @end menu
40782
40783 @node open
40784 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
40785 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
40786
40787 @table @asis
40788 @item Synopsis:
40789 @smallexample
40790 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
40791 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
40792 @end smallexample
40793
40794 @item Request:
40795 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
40796
40797 @noindent
40798 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40799
40800 @table @code
40801 @item O_CREAT
40802 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
40803 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
40804 are concerned.
40805
40806 @item O_EXCL
40807 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
40808 an error and open() fails.
40809
40810 @item O_TRUNC
40811 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
40812 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
40813 truncated to zero length.
40814
40815 @item O_APPEND
40816 The file is opened in append mode.
40817
40818 @item O_RDONLY
40819 The file is opened for reading only.
40820
40821 @item O_WRONLY
40822 The file is opened for writing only.
40823
40824 @item O_RDWR
40825 The file is opened for reading and writing.
40826 @end table
40827
40828 @noindent
40829 Other bits are silently ignored.
40830
40831
40832 @noindent
40833 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40834
40835 @table @code
40836 @item S_IRUSR
40837 User has read permission.
40838
40839 @item S_IWUSR
40840 User has write permission.
40841
40842 @item S_IRGRP
40843 Group has read permission.
40844
40845 @item S_IWGRP
40846 Group has write permission.
40847
40848 @item S_IROTH
40849 Others have read permission.
40850
40851 @item S_IWOTH
40852 Others have write permission.
40853 @end table
40854
40855 @noindent
40856 Other bits are silently ignored.
40857
40858
40859 @item Return value:
40860 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
40861 occurred.
40862
40863 @item Errors:
40864
40865 @table @code
40866 @item EEXIST
40867 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
40868
40869 @item EISDIR
40870 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
40871
40872 @item EACCES
40873 The requested access is not allowed.
40874
40875 @item ENAMETOOLONG
40876 @var{pathname} was too long.
40877
40878 @item ENOENT
40879 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
40880
40881 @item ENODEV
40882 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
40883
40884 @item EROFS
40885 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
40886 write access was requested.
40887
40888 @item EFAULT
40889 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
40890
40891 @item ENOSPC
40892 No space on device to create the file.
40893
40894 @item EMFILE
40895 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
40896
40897 @item ENFILE
40898 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
40899 has been reached.
40900
40901 @item EINTR
40902 The call was interrupted by the user.
40903 @end table
40904
40905 @end table
40906
40907 @node close
40908 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
40909 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
40910
40911 @table @asis
40912 @item Synopsis:
40913 @smallexample
40914 int close(int fd);
40915 @end smallexample
40916
40917 @item Request:
40918 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
40919
40920 @item Return value:
40921 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
40922
40923 @item Errors:
40924
40925 @table @code
40926 @item EBADF
40927 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
40928
40929 @item EINTR
40930 The call was interrupted by the user.
40931 @end table
40932
40933 @end table
40934
40935 @node read
40936 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
40937 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
40938
40939 @table @asis
40940 @item Synopsis:
40941 @smallexample
40942 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
40943 @end smallexample
40944
40945 @item Request:
40946 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40947
40948 @item Return value:
40949 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
40950 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
40951 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
40952
40953 @item Errors:
40954
40955 @table @code
40956 @item EBADF
40957 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40958 reading.
40959
40960 @item EFAULT
40961 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40962
40963 @item EINTR
40964 The call was interrupted by the user.
40965 @end table
40966
40967 @end table
40968
40969 @node write
40970 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
40971 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
40972
40973 @table @asis
40974 @item Synopsis:
40975 @smallexample
40976 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
40977 @end smallexample
40978
40979 @item Request:
40980 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40981
40982 @item Return value:
40983 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
40984 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
40985 is returned.
40986
40987 @item Errors:
40988
40989 @table @code
40990 @item EBADF
40991 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40992 writing.
40993
40994 @item EFAULT
40995 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40996
40997 @item EFBIG
40998 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
40999 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41000
41001 @item ENOSPC
41002 No space on device to write the data.
41003
41004 @item EINTR
41005 The call was interrupted by the user.
41006 @end table
41007
41008 @end table
41009
41010 @node lseek
41011 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41012 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41013
41014 @table @asis
41015 @item Synopsis:
41016 @smallexample
41017 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41018 @end smallexample
41019
41020 @item Request:
41021 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41022
41023 @var{flag} is one of:
41024
41025 @table @code
41026 @item SEEK_SET
41027 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41028
41029 @item SEEK_CUR
41030 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41031 bytes.
41032
41033 @item SEEK_END
41034 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41035 bytes.
41036 @end table
41037
41038 @item Return value:
41039 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41040 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41041 value of -1 is returned.
41042
41043 @item Errors:
41044
41045 @table @code
41046 @item EBADF
41047 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41048
41049 @item ESPIPE
41050 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41051
41052 @item EINVAL
41053 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
41054
41055 @item EINTR
41056 The call was interrupted by the user.
41057 @end table
41058
41059 @end table
41060
41061 @node rename
41062 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41063 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41064
41065 @table @asis
41066 @item Synopsis:
41067 @smallexample
41068 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41069 @end smallexample
41070
41071 @item Request:
41072 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41073
41074 @item Return value:
41075 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41076
41077 @item Errors:
41078
41079 @table @code
41080 @item EISDIR
41081 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41082 directory.
41083
41084 @item EEXIST
41085 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41086
41087 @item EBUSY
41088 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41089 process.
41090
41091 @item EINVAL
41092 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41093 of itself.
41094
41095 @item ENOTDIR
41096 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41097 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41098 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41099
41100 @item EFAULT
41101 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41102
41103 @item EACCES
41104 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41105
41106 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41107
41108 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41109
41110 @item ENOENT
41111 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41112
41113 @item EROFS
41114 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41115
41116 @item ENOSPC
41117 The device containing the file has no room for the new
41118 directory entry.
41119
41120 @item EINTR
41121 The call was interrupted by the user.
41122 @end table
41123
41124 @end table
41125
41126 @node unlink
41127 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41128 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41129
41130 @table @asis
41131 @item Synopsis:
41132 @smallexample
41133 int unlink(const char *pathname);
41134 @end smallexample
41135
41136 @item Request:
41137 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41138
41139 @item Return value:
41140 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41141
41142 @item Errors:
41143
41144 @table @code
41145 @item EACCES
41146 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41147
41148 @item EPERM
41149 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41150
41151 @item EBUSY
41152 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41153 being used by another process.
41154
41155 @item EFAULT
41156 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41157
41158 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41159 @var{pathname} was too long.
41160
41161 @item ENOENT
41162 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41163
41164 @item ENOTDIR
41165 A component of the path is not a directory.
41166
41167 @item EROFS
41168 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41169
41170 @item EINTR
41171 The call was interrupted by the user.
41172 @end table
41173
41174 @end table
41175
41176 @node stat/fstat
41177 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41178 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41179 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41180
41181 @table @asis
41182 @item Synopsis:
41183 @smallexample
41184 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41185 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41186 @end smallexample
41187
41188 @item Request:
41189 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41190 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41191
41192 @item Return value:
41193 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41194
41195 @item Errors:
41196
41197 @table @code
41198 @item EBADF
41199 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41200
41201 @item ENOENT
41202 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41203 path is an empty string.
41204
41205 @item ENOTDIR
41206 A component of the path is not a directory.
41207
41208 @item EFAULT
41209 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41210
41211 @item EACCES
41212 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41213
41214 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41215 @var{pathname} was too long.
41216
41217 @item EINTR
41218 The call was interrupted by the user.
41219 @end table
41220
41221 @end table
41222
41223 @node gettimeofday
41224 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41225 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41226
41227 @table @asis
41228 @item Synopsis:
41229 @smallexample
41230 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41231 @end smallexample
41232
41233 @item Request:
41234 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41235
41236 @item Return value:
41237 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41238
41239 @item Errors:
41240
41241 @table @code
41242 @item EINVAL
41243 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41244
41245 @item EFAULT
41246 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41247 @end table
41248
41249 @end table
41250
41251 @node isatty
41252 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41253 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41254
41255 @table @asis
41256 @item Synopsis:
41257 @smallexample
41258 int isatty(int fd);
41259 @end smallexample
41260
41261 @item Request:
41262 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41263
41264 @item Return value:
41265 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41266
41267 @item Errors:
41268
41269 @table @code
41270 @item EINTR
41271 The call was interrupted by the user.
41272 @end table
41273
41274 @end table
41275
41276 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
41277 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41278 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41279 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41280 needed.
41281
41282
41283 @node system
41284 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
41285 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
41286
41287 @table @asis
41288 @item Synopsis:
41289 @smallexample
41290 int system(const char *command);
41291 @end smallexample
41292
41293 @item Request:
41294 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
41295
41296 @item Return value:
41297 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
41298 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
41299 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
41300 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
41301 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
41302 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
41303 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
41304
41305 @item Errors:
41306
41307 @table @code
41308 @item EINTR
41309 The call was interrupted by the user.
41310 @end table
41311
41312 @end table
41313
41314 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
41315 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
41316 the host is simplified before it's returned
41317 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
41318 is discarded, and the return value consists
41319 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
41320
41321 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
41322 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
41323 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
41324
41325 @table @code
41326 @item set remote system-call-allowed
41327 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
41328 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
41329 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
41330
41331 @item show remote system-call-allowed
41332 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
41333 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
41334 protocol.
41335 @end table
41336
41337 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41338 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41339 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41340
41341 @menu
41342 * Integral Datatypes::
41343 * Pointer Values::
41344 * Memory Transfer::
41345 * struct stat::
41346 * struct timeval::
41347 @end menu
41348
41349 @node Integral Datatypes
41350 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
41351 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41352
41353 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
41354 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
41355 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
41356
41357 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
41358 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
41359
41360 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
41361
41362 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
41363 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
41364
41365 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
41366
41367 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
41368 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
41369 byte order.
41370
41371 @node Pointer Values
41372 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
41373 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
41374
41375 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
41376 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
41377 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
41378 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
41379
41380 @smallexample
41381 @code{1aaf/12}
41382 @end smallexample
41383
41384 @noindent
41385 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
41386 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
41387 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
41388 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
41389
41390 @smallexample
41391 @code{123456/d}
41392 @end smallexample
41393
41394 @node Memory Transfer
41395 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
41396 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
41397
41398 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
41399 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
41400 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
41401 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
41402 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
41403 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
41404 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
41405
41406
41407 @node struct stat
41408 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
41409 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
41410
41411 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
41412 is defined as follows:
41413
41414 @smallexample
41415 struct stat @{
41416 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
41417 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
41418 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
41419 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
41420 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
41421 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
41422 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
41423 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
41424 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
41425 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
41426 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
41427 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
41428 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
41429 @};
41430 @end smallexample
41431
41432 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41433 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41434 structure is of size 64 bytes.
41435
41436 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
41437 range of values.
41438
41439 @table @code
41440
41441 @item st_dev
41442 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
41443
41444 @item st_ino
41445 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41446
41447 @item st_mode
41448 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
41449 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
41450
41451 @item st_uid
41452 @itemx st_gid
41453 @itemx st_rdev
41454 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41455
41456 @item st_atime
41457 @itemx st_mtime
41458 @itemx st_ctime
41459 These values have a host and file system dependent
41460 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
41461 support exact timing values.
41462 @end table
41463
41464 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
41465 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
41466 continuing.
41467
41468 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
41469 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
41470 get truncated on the target.
41471
41472 @node struct timeval
41473 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
41474 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
41475
41476 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
41477 is defined as follows:
41478
41479 @smallexample
41480 struct timeval @{
41481 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
41482 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
41483 @};
41484 @end smallexample
41485
41486 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41487 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41488 structure is of size 8 bytes.
41489
41490 @node Constants
41491 @subsection Constants
41492 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
41493
41494 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
41495 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
41496 values before and after the call as needed.
41497
41498 @menu
41499 * Open Flags::
41500 * mode_t Values::
41501 * Errno Values::
41502 * Lseek Flags::
41503 * Limits::
41504 @end menu
41505
41506 @node Open Flags
41507 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
41508 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
41509
41510 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
41511
41512 @smallexample
41513 O_RDONLY 0x0
41514 O_WRONLY 0x1
41515 O_RDWR 0x2
41516 O_APPEND 0x8
41517 O_CREAT 0x200
41518 O_TRUNC 0x400
41519 O_EXCL 0x800
41520 @end smallexample
41521
41522 @node mode_t Values
41523 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
41524 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
41525
41526 All values are given in octal representation.
41527
41528 @smallexample
41529 S_IFREG 0100000
41530 S_IFDIR 040000
41531 S_IRUSR 0400
41532 S_IWUSR 0200
41533 S_IXUSR 0100
41534 S_IRGRP 040
41535 S_IWGRP 020
41536 S_IXGRP 010
41537 S_IROTH 04
41538 S_IWOTH 02
41539 S_IXOTH 01
41540 @end smallexample
41541
41542 @node Errno Values
41543 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
41544 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
41545
41546 All values are given in decimal representation.
41547
41548 @smallexample
41549 EPERM 1
41550 ENOENT 2
41551 EINTR 4
41552 EBADF 9
41553 EACCES 13
41554 EFAULT 14
41555 EBUSY 16
41556 EEXIST 17
41557 ENODEV 19
41558 ENOTDIR 20
41559 EISDIR 21
41560 EINVAL 22
41561 ENFILE 23
41562 EMFILE 24
41563 EFBIG 27
41564 ENOSPC 28
41565 ESPIPE 29
41566 EROFS 30
41567 ENAMETOOLONG 91
41568 EUNKNOWN 9999
41569 @end smallexample
41570
41571 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
41572 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
41573
41574 @node Lseek Flags
41575 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
41576 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
41577
41578 @smallexample
41579 SEEK_SET 0
41580 SEEK_CUR 1
41581 SEEK_END 2
41582 @end smallexample
41583
41584 @node Limits
41585 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
41586 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
41587
41588 All values are given in decimal representation.
41589
41590 @smallexample
41591 INT_MIN -2147483648
41592 INT_MAX 2147483647
41593 UINT_MAX 4294967295
41594 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
41595 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
41596 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
41597 @end smallexample
41598
41599 @node File-I/O Examples
41600 @subsection File-I/O Examples
41601 @cindex file-i/o examples
41602
41603 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41604 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
41605
41606 @smallexample
41607 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
41608 @emph{request memory read from target}
41609 -> @code{m1234,6}
41610 <- XXXXXX
41611 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
41612 -> @code{F6}
41613 @end smallexample
41614
41615 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41616 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
41617
41618 @smallexample
41619 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41620 @emph{request memory write to target}
41621 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41622 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
41623 -> @code{F6}
41624 @end smallexample
41625
41626 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
41627 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
41628
41629 @smallexample
41630 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41631 -> @code{F-1,9}
41632 @end smallexample
41633
41634 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
41635 host is called:
41636
41637 @smallexample
41638 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41639 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
41640 <- @code{T02}
41641 @end smallexample
41642
41643 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
41644 host is called:
41645
41646 @smallexample
41647 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41648 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41649 <- @code{T02}
41650 @end smallexample
41651
41652 @node Library List Format
41653 @section Library List Format
41654 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41655
41656 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
41657 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
41658 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
41659 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
41660 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
41661 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
41662 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
41663 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
41664 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
41665 are loaded.
41666
41667 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
41668 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
41669 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
41670 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
41671
41672 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
41673 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
41674 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
41675 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
41676 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
41677 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
41678
41679 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41680 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41681
41682 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
41683 offset, looks like this:
41684
41685 @smallexample
41686 <library-list>
41687 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
41688 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
41689 </library>
41690 </library-list>
41691 @end smallexample
41692
41693 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
41694 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
41695
41696 @smallexample
41697 <library-list>
41698 <library name="sharedlib.o">
41699 <section address="0x10000000"/>
41700 <section address="0x20000000"/>
41701 <section address="0x30000000"/>
41702 </library>
41703 </library-list>
41704 @end smallexample
41705
41706 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
41707
41708 @smallexample
41709 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
41710 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
41711 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41712 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
41713 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41714 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
41715 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41716 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
41717 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41718 @end smallexample
41719
41720 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
41721 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
41722 section for each library.
41723
41724 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41725 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41726 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41727
41728 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
41729 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
41730 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
41731 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
41732
41733 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
41734 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
41735 target, the following parameters are reported:
41736
41737 @itemize @minus
41738 @item
41739 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
41740 @code{struct link_map}.
41741 @item
41742 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
41743 (Thread Local Storage) access.
41744 @item
41745 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
41746 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
41747 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
41748 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
41749 @item
41750 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
41751 @end itemize
41752
41753 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
41754 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
41755 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
41756
41757 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41758 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41759
41760 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
41761 looks like this:
41762
41763 @smallexample
41764 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
41765 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
41766 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
41767 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
41768 l_ld="0x152350"/>
41769 </library-list-svr>
41770 @end smallexample
41771
41772 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
41773
41774 @smallexample
41775 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
41776 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
41777 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41778 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
41779 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
41780 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41781 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
41782 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
41783 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
41784 @end smallexample
41785
41786 @node Memory Map Format
41787 @section Memory Map Format
41788 @cindex memory map format
41789
41790 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
41791 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
41792 memory map.
41793
41794 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
41795 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
41796 lists memory regions.
41797
41798 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41799 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
41800
41801 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41802
41803 @smallexample
41804 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41805 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
41806 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41807 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
41808 <memory-map>
41809 region...
41810 </memory-map>
41811 @end smallexample
41812
41813 Each region can be either:
41814
41815 @itemize
41816
41817 @item
41818 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
41819 bytes from there:
41820
41821 @smallexample
41822 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41823 @end smallexample
41824
41825
41826 @item
41827 A region of read-only memory:
41828
41829 @smallexample
41830 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41831 @end smallexample
41832
41833
41834 @item
41835 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
41836 bytes in length:
41837
41838 @smallexample
41839 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
41840 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
41841 </memory>
41842 @end smallexample
41843
41844 @end itemize
41845
41846 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
41847 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
41848 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
41849
41850 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
41851
41852 @smallexample
41853 <!-- ................................................... -->
41854 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
41855 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
41856 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
41857 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
41858 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
41859 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
41860 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
41861 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
41862 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
41863 and its type, or device. -->
41864 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
41865 start CDATA #REQUIRED
41866 length CDATA #REQUIRED
41867 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
41868 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
41869 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
41870 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41871 @end smallexample
41872
41873 @node Thread List Format
41874 @section Thread List Format
41875 @cindex thread list format
41876
41877 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
41878 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
41879 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
41880 the following structure:
41881
41882 @smallexample
41883 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41884 <threads>
41885 <thread id="id" core="0">
41886 ... description ...
41887 </thread>
41888 </threads>
41889 @end smallexample
41890
41891 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
41892 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
41893 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
41894 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
41895 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
41896
41897 @node Traceframe Info Format
41898 @section Traceframe Info Format
41899 @cindex traceframe info format
41900
41901 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
41902 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
41903 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
41904 collected in a traceframe.
41905
41906 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
41907 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
41908
41909 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41910 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41911
41912 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41913
41914 @smallexample
41915 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41916 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
41917 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41918 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
41919 <traceframe-info>
41920 block...
41921 </traceframe-info>
41922 @end smallexample
41923
41924 Each traceframe block can be either:
41925
41926 @itemize
41927
41928 @item
41929 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
41930 @var{length} bytes from there:
41931
41932 @smallexample
41933 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41934 @end smallexample
41935
41936 @item
41937 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
41938 collected:
41939
41940 @smallexample
41941 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
41942 @end smallexample
41943
41944 @end itemize
41945
41946 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
41947
41948 @smallexample
41949 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
41950 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41951
41952 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
41953 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
41954 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
41955 <!ELEMENT tvar>
41956 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
41957 @end smallexample
41958
41959 @node Branch Trace Format
41960 @section Branch Trace Format
41961 @cindex branch trace format
41962
41963 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
41964 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
41965 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
41966 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
41967
41968 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
41969 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
41970
41971 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41972 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41973
41974 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41975
41976 @smallexample
41977 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41978 <!DOCTYPE btrace
41979 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
41980 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
41981 <btrace>
41982 block...
41983 </btrace>
41984 @end smallexample
41985
41986 @itemize
41987
41988 @item
41989 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
41990 and ending at @var{end}:
41991
41992 @smallexample
41993 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
41994 @end smallexample
41995
41996 @end itemize
41997
41998 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
41999
42000 @smallexample
42001 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42002 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42003
42004 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42005 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42006 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42007 @end smallexample
42008
42009 @include agentexpr.texi
42010
42011 @node Target Descriptions
42012 @appendix Target Descriptions
42013 @cindex target descriptions
42014
42015 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42016 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42017 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42018 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42019 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42020 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42021 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42022
42023 @itemize @bullet
42024 @item
42025 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42026 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42027 @item
42028 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42029 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42030 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42031 @item
42032 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42033 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42034 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42035 @end itemize
42036
42037 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42038 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42039 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42040 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42041 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42042
42043 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42044 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42045
42046 @menu
42047 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42048 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42049 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42050 descriptions.
42051 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42052 @end menu
42053
42054 @node Retrieving Descriptions
42055 @section Retrieving Descriptions
42056
42057 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42058 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42059 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42060 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42061 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42062 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42063 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42064 Format}.
42065
42066 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42067 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42068 specify a file are:
42069
42070 @table @code
42071 @cindex set tdesc filename
42072 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42073 Read the target description from @var{path}.
42074
42075 @cindex unset tdesc filename
42076 @item unset tdesc filename
42077 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42078 will use the description supplied by the current target.
42079
42080 @cindex show tdesc filename
42081 @item show tdesc filename
42082 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42083 @end table
42084
42085
42086 @node Target Description Format
42087 @section Target Description Format
42088 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
42089
42090 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42091 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42092 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42093 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42094 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42095 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42096 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42097
42098 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42099 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42100 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42101 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42102 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42103
42104 Here is a simple target description:
42105
42106 @smallexample
42107 <target version="1.0">
42108 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42109 </target>
42110 @end smallexample
42111
42112 @noindent
42113 This minimal description only says that the target uses
42114 the x86-64 architecture.
42115
42116 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42117 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42118 are explained further below.
42119
42120 @smallexample
42121 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42122 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42123 <target version="1.0">
42124 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42125 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42126 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42127 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42128 </target>
42129 @end smallexample
42130
42131 @noindent
42132 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42133 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42134 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42135 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42136 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42137 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42138 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42139 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42140 the version mismatch.
42141
42142 @subsection Inclusion
42143 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42144 @cindex XInclude
42145 @ifnotinfo
42146 @cindex <xi:include>
42147 @end ifnotinfo
42148
42149 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42150 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42151 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42152 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42153 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42154
42155 @smallexample
42156 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42157 @end smallexample
42158
42159 @noindent
42160 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42161 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42162 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42163 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42164 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42165 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42166 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42167 original description.
42168
42169 @subsection Architecture
42170 @cindex <architecture>
42171
42172 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42173
42174 @smallexample
42175 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42176 @end smallexample
42177
42178 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42179 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42180
42181 @subsection OS ABI
42182 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
42183
42184 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42185 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42186
42187 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42188
42189 @smallexample
42190 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42191 @end smallexample
42192
42193 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42194 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42195
42196 @subsection Compatible Architecture
42197 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
42198
42199 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42200 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42201
42202 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42203
42204 @smallexample
42205 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42206 @end smallexample
42207
42208 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42209 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42210
42211 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42212 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42213 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42214 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42215 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42216 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42217 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42218
42219 @smallexample
42220 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42221 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42222 @end smallexample
42223
42224 @subsection Features
42225 @cindex <feature>
42226
42227 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42228 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42229 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42230 has this form:
42231
42232 @smallexample
42233 <feature name="@var{name}">
42234 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42235 @var{reg}@dots{}
42236 </feature>
42237 @end smallexample
42238
42239 @noindent
42240 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42241 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42242 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42243 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42244
42245 @subsection Types
42246
42247 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42248 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42249 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42250 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42251 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42252
42253 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42254 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42255 Types must be defined before they are used.
42256
42257 @cindex <vector>
42258 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42259 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42260 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42261 @var{count}:
42262
42263 @smallexample
42264 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42265 @end smallexample
42266
42267 @cindex <union>
42268 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42269 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42270 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42271 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42272
42273 @smallexample
42274 <union id="@var{id}">
42275 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42276 @dots{}
42277 </union>
42278 @end smallexample
42279
42280 @cindex <struct>
42281 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42282 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42283 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42284 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42285 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42286 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42287 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42288 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42289
42290 @smallexample
42291 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42292 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42293 @dots{}
42294 </struct>
42295 @end smallexample
42296
42297 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
42298 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
42299
42300 @smallexample
42301 <struct id="@var{id}">
42302 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42303 @dots{}
42304 </struct>
42305 @end smallexample
42306
42307 @cindex <flags>
42308 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
42309 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
42310 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
42311 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
42312 are supported.
42313
42314 @smallexample
42315 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42316 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42317 @dots{}
42318 </flags>
42319 @end smallexample
42320
42321 @subsection Registers
42322 @cindex <reg>
42323
42324 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
42325
42326 @smallexample
42327 <reg name="@var{name}"
42328 bitsize="@var{size}"
42329 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
42330 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
42331 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
42332 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
42333 @end smallexample
42334
42335 @noindent
42336 The components are as follows:
42337
42338 @table @var
42339
42340 @item name
42341 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
42342
42343 @item bitsize
42344 The register's size, in bits.
42345
42346 @item regnum
42347 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
42348 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
42349 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
42350 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
42351 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
42352 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
42353 in order of increasing register number.
42354
42355 @item save-restore
42356 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
42357 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
42358 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
42359 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
42360 ABI.
42361
42362 @item type
42363 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
42364 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
42365 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
42366 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
42367 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
42368 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
42369
42370 @item group
42371 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
42372 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
42373 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
42374 in @code{info registers}.
42375
42376 @end table
42377
42378 @node Predefined Target Types
42379 @section Predefined Target Types
42380 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
42381
42382 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
42383 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
42384 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
42385 types. The currently supported types are:
42386
42387 @table @code
42388
42389 @item int8
42390 @itemx int16
42391 @itemx int32
42392 @itemx int64
42393 @itemx int128
42394 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42395
42396 @item uint8
42397 @itemx uint16
42398 @itemx uint32
42399 @itemx uint64
42400 @itemx uint128
42401 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42402
42403 @item code_ptr
42404 @itemx data_ptr
42405 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42406 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42407 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42408 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42409 may be marked as data pointers.
42410
42411 @item ieee_single
42412 Single precision IEEE floating point.
42413
42414 @item ieee_double
42415 Double precision IEEE floating point.
42416
42417 @item arm_fpa_ext
42418 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
42419
42420 @item i387_ext
42421 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
42422
42423 @item i386_eflags
42424 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
42425
42426 @item i386_mxcsr
42427 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
42428
42429 @end table
42430
42431 @node Standard Target Features
42432 @section Standard Target Features
42433 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
42434
42435 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
42436 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
42437 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
42438 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
42439 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
42440 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
42441 can recognize them.
42442
42443 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
42444 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
42445 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
42446 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
42447 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
42448 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
42449 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
42450 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
42451
42452 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
42453 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
42454 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
42455
42456 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
42457 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
42458 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
42459 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
42460
42461 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
42462 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
42463 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
42464
42465 @menu
42466 * AArch64 Features::
42467 * ARM Features::
42468 * i386 Features::
42469 * MIPS Features::
42470 * M68K Features::
42471 * Nios II Features::
42472 * PowerPC Features::
42473 * TIC6x Features::
42474 @end menu
42475
42476
42477 @node AArch64 Features
42478 @subsection AArch64 Features
42479 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
42480
42481 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
42482 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
42483 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42484
42485 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42486 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
42487 and @samp{fpcr}.
42488
42489 @node ARM Features
42490 @subsection ARM Features
42491 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
42492
42493 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
42494 ARM targets.
42495 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
42496 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42497
42498 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
42499 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
42500 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
42501 and @samp{xpsr}.
42502
42503 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
42504 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
42505
42506 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
42507 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
42508 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
42509 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
42510
42511 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
42512 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
42513 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
42514 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
42515 halves of the double-precision registers.
42516
42517 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
42518 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
42519 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
42520 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
42521 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
42522 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
42523
42524 @node i386 Features
42525 @subsection i386 Features
42526 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
42527
42528 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
42529 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42530
42531 @itemize @minus
42532 @item
42533 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
42534 @item
42535 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
42536 @item
42537 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
42538 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
42539 @item
42540 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
42541 @item
42542 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
42543 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
42544 @end itemize
42545
42546 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
42547
42548 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
42549 describe registers:
42550
42551 @itemize @minus
42552 @item
42553 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
42554 @item
42555 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
42556 @item
42557 @samp{mxcsr}
42558 @end itemize
42559
42560 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
42561 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
42562 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
42563
42564 @itemize @minus
42565 @item
42566 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
42567 @item
42568 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
42569 @end itemize
42570
42571 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
42572 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
42573
42574 @node MIPS Features
42575 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
42576 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
42577
42578 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
42579 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
42580 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
42581 on the target.
42582
42583 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
42584 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
42585 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42586
42587 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
42588 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
42589 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
42590 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42591
42592 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
42593 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
42594 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
42595 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42596
42597 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
42598 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
42599 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
42600
42601 @node M68K Features
42602 @subsection M68K Features
42603 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
42604
42605 @table @code
42606 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
42607 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
42608 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
42609 One of those features must be always present.
42610 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
42611 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
42612 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
42613 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
42614
42615 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
42616 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
42617 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
42618 @samp{fpiaddr}.
42619 @end table
42620
42621 @node Nios II Features
42622 @subsection Nios II Features
42623 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
42624
42625 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
42626 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
42627 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
42628 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
42629 @samp{mpuacc}).
42630
42631 @node PowerPC Features
42632 @subsection PowerPC Features
42633 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
42634
42635 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
42636 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42637 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
42638 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42639
42640 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
42641 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
42642
42643 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
42644 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
42645 and @samp{vrsave}.
42646
42647 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
42648 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
42649 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
42650 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
42651 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
42652 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
42653
42654 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
42655 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
42656 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
42657 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
42658 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
42659 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
42660 user.
42661
42662 @node TIC6x Features
42663 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
42664 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
42665 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
42666 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
42667 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
42668 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
42669
42670 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
42671 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
42672 through @samp{B31}.
42673
42674 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
42675 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
42676
42677 @node Operating System Information
42678 @appendix Operating System Information
42679 @cindex operating system information
42680
42681 @menu
42682 * Process list::
42683 @end menu
42684
42685 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
42686 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
42687 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
42688 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
42689 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
42690 on a different aspect of target.
42691
42692 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
42693 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
42694 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
42695 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
42696
42697 @node Process list
42698 @appendixsection Process list
42699 @cindex operating system information, process list
42700
42701 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
42702 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
42703 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
42704 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
42705
42706 An example document is:
42707
42708 @smallexample
42709 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42710 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
42711 <osdata type="processes">
42712 <item>
42713 <column name="pid">1</column>
42714 <column name="user">root</column>
42715 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
42716 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
42717 </item>
42718 </osdata>
42719 @end smallexample
42720
42721 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
42722 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
42723 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
42724 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
42725 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
42726 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
42727 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
42728
42729 @node Trace File Format
42730 @appendix Trace File Format
42731 @cindex trace file format
42732
42733 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
42734 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
42735
42736 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
42737 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
42738 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
42739 in the future.
42740
42741 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
42742 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
42743 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
42744 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
42745 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
42746 of this section.
42747
42748 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
42749
42750 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
42751 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
42752 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
42753 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
42754 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
42755 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
42756 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
42757 endianness.
42758
42759 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
42760
42761 @table @code
42762 @item R @var{bytes}
42763 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
42764 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
42765 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
42766 hexadecimal encoding.
42767
42768 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
42769 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
42770 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
42771 @var{length} bytes.
42772
42773 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
42774 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
42775 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
42776
42777 @end table
42778
42779 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
42780 of blocks.
42781
42782 @node Index Section Format
42783 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
42784 @cindex .gdb_index section format
42785 @cindex index section format
42786
42787 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
42788 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
42789 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
42790 description.
42791
42792 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
42793 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
42794 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
42795 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
42796 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
42797 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
42798
42799 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
42800
42801 @enumerate
42802 @item
42803 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
42804 unless otherwise noted:
42805
42806 @enumerate
42807 @item
42808 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
42809 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
42810 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
42811 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
42812 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
42813 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
42814 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
42815
42816 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
42817 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
42818 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
42819 currently not flagged as deprecated.
42820
42821 @item
42822 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
42823
42824 @item
42825 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
42826 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
42827 to the next offset.
42828
42829 @item
42830 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
42831
42832 @item
42833 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
42834
42835 @item
42836 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
42837 @end enumerate
42838
42839 @item
42840 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
42841 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
42842 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
42843 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
42844 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
42845 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
42846 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
42847 CU indices.
42848
42849 @item
42850 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
42851 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
42852 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
42853 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
42854
42855 @item
42856 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
42857 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
42858
42859 @enumerate
42860 @item
42861 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
42862
42863 @item
42864 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
42865 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
42866
42867 @item
42868 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
42869 @end enumerate
42870
42871 @item
42872 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
42873 the hash table is always a power of 2.
42874
42875 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
42876 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
42877 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
42878 constant pool.
42879
42880 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
42881 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
42882 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
42883
42884 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
42885 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
42886 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
42887 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
42888 index version:
42889
42890 @table @asis
42891 @item Version 4
42892 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
42893
42894 @item Versions 5 to 7
42895 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
42896 @end table
42897
42898 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
42899
42900 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
42901 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
42902 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
42903 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
42904 collision.
42905
42906 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
42907 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
42908 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
42909 the code.
42910
42911 @item
42912 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
42913 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
42914 strings.
42915
42916 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
42917 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
42918 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
42919 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
42920 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
42921 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
42922
42923 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
42924 @end enumerate
42925
42926 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
42927 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
42928 CU index+attributes value for each use.
42929
42930 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
42931 (bit 0 = LSB):
42932
42933 @table @asis
42934
42935 @item Bits 0-23
42936 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
42937 @item Bits 24-27
42938 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
42939 @item Bits 28-30
42940 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
42941
42942 @table @asis
42943 @item 0
42944 This value is reserved and should not be used.
42945 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
42946 with previous versions of the index.
42947 @item 1
42948 The symbol is a type.
42949 @item 2
42950 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
42951 @item 3
42952 The symbol is a function.
42953 @item 4
42954 Any other kind of symbol.
42955 @item 5,6,7
42956 These values are reserved.
42957 @end table
42958
42959 @item Bit 31
42960 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
42961
42962 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
42963 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
42964 @value{GDBN} sources.
42965
42966 @end table
42967
42968 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
42969 global/static attributes in the index.
42970
42971 @smallexample
42972 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
42973 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
42974 switch (die->tag)
42975 @{
42976 case DW_TAG_typedef:
42977 case DW_TAG_base_type:
42978 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
42979 kind = TYPE;
42980 is_static = 1;
42981 break;
42982 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
42983 kind = VARIABLE;
42984 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
42985 break;
42986 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
42987 kind = FUNCTION;
42988 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
42989 break;
42990 case DW_TAG_constant:
42991 kind = VARIABLE;
42992 is_static = ! is_external;
42993 break;
42994 case DW_TAG_variable:
42995 kind = VARIABLE;
42996 is_static = ! is_external;
42997 break;
42998 case DW_TAG_namespace:
42999 kind = TYPE;
43000 is_static = 0;
43001 break;
43002 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43003 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43004 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43005 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43006 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43007 kind = TYPE;
43008 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43009 break;
43010 default:
43011 assert (0);
43012 @}
43013 @end smallexample
43014
43015 @node Man Pages
43016 @appendix Manual pages
43017 @cindex Man pages
43018
43019 @menu
43020 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43021 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43022 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43023 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43024 @end menu
43025
43026 @node gdb man
43027 @heading gdb man
43028
43029 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43030
43031 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43032 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43033 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43034 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43035 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43036 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43037 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43038 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43039 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43040 @c man end
43041
43042 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43043 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43044 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43045 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43046
43047 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43048 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43049
43050 @itemize @bullet
43051 @item
43052 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43053
43054 @item
43055 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43056
43057 @item
43058 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43059
43060 @item
43061 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43062 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43063 @end itemize
43064
43065 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43066 Modula-2.
43067
43068 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43069 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43070 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43071 by using the command @code{help}.
43072
43073 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43074 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43075 executable program as the argument:
43076
43077 @smallexample
43078 gdb program
43079 @end smallexample
43080
43081 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43082
43083 @smallexample
43084 gdb program core
43085 @end smallexample
43086
43087 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43088 to debug a running process:
43089
43090 @smallexample
43091 gdb program 1234
43092 gdb -p 1234
43093 @end smallexample
43094
43095 @noindent
43096 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43097 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43098 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43099
43100 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43101
43102 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43103 @table @env
43104 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
43105 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43106
43107 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43108 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43109
43110 @item bt
43111 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43112
43113 @item print @var{expr}
43114 Display the value of an expression.
43115
43116 @item c
43117 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43118
43119 @item next
43120 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43121 function calls in the line.
43122
43123 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43124 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43125
43126 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43127 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43128
43129 @item step
43130 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43131 function calls in the line.
43132
43133 @item help [@var{name}]
43134 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43135 about using @value{GDBN}.
43136
43137 @item quit
43138 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43139 @end table
43140
43141 @ifset man
43142 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43143 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43144 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43145 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43146 @end ifset
43147 @c man end
43148
43149 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43150 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43151 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43152 encountered with no
43153 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43154 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43155 Many options have
43156 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43157 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43158 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43159 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43160 more usual convention.)
43161
43162 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43163 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43164 option is used.
43165
43166 @table @env
43167 @item -help
43168 @itemx -h
43169 List all options, with brief explanations.
43170
43171 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43172 @itemx -s @var{file}
43173 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43174
43175 @item -write
43176 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43177
43178 @item -exec=@var{file}
43179 @itemx -e @var{file}
43180 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43181 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43182 dump.
43183
43184 @item -se=@var{file}
43185 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43186 file.
43187
43188 @item -core=@var{file}
43189 @itemx -c @var{file}
43190 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43191
43192 @item -command=@var{file}
43193 @itemx -x @var{file}
43194 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43195
43196 @item -ex @var{command}
43197 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43198
43199 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43200 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43201 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43202
43203 @item -nh
43204 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43205
43206 @item -nx
43207 @itemx -n
43208 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43209
43210 @item -quiet
43211 @itemx -q
43212 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43213 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43214
43215 @item -batch
43216 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43217 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43218 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43219 commands in the command files.
43220
43221 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43222 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43223 more useful, the message
43224
43225 @smallexample
43226 Program exited normally.
43227 @end smallexample
43228
43229 @noindent
43230 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43231 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43232
43233 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43234 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43235 instead of the current directory.
43236
43237 @item -fullname
43238 @itemx -f
43239 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43240 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43241 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43242 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43243 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43244 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43245 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43246 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43247
43248 @item -b @var{bps}
43249 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43250 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43251
43252 @item -tty=@var{device}
43253 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43254 @end table
43255 @c man end
43256
43257 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43258 @ifset man
43259 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43260 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43261 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43262
43263 @smallexample
43264 info gdb
43265 @end smallexample
43266
43267 @noindent
43268 should give you access to the complete manual.
43269
43270 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43271 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43272 @end ifset
43273 @c man end
43274
43275 @node gdbserver man
43276 @heading gdbserver man
43277
43278 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43279 @format
43280 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43281 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43282
43283 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43284
43285 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43286 @c man end
43287 @end format
43288
43289 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43290 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43291 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43292
43293 @ifclear man
43294 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43295 @end ifclear
43296 @ifset man
43297 Usage (server (target) side):
43298 @end ifset
43299
43300 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43301 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43302 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43303 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43304
43305 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43306 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43307 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43308
43309 @smallexample
43310 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43311 @end smallexample
43312
43313 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43314
43315 @smallexample
43316 @ifset man
43317 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43318 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43319 @end ifset
43320 @ifclear man
43321 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43322 @end ifclear
43323 @end smallexample
43324
43325 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43326 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43327 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43328
43329 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43330
43331 @smallexample
43332 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43333 @end smallexample
43334
43335 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43336 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43337 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
43338 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43339 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43340 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43341 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43342 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43343 print an error message and exit.
43344
43345 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43346 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43347
43348 @smallexample
43349 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43350 @end smallexample
43351
43352 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43353 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43354
43355 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43356 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43357 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43358 the program you want to debug.
43359
43360 @smallexample
43361 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43362 @end smallexample
43363
43364 @ifclear man
43365 @subheading Usage (host side)
43366 @end ifclear
43367 @ifset man
43368 Usage (host side):
43369 @end ifset
43370
43371 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43372 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43373 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43374 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43375 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43376 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43377 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43378 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43379 descriptor. For example:
43380
43381 @smallexample
43382 @ifset man
43383 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43384 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
43385 @end ifset
43386 @ifclear man
43387 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
43388 @end ifclear
43389 @end smallexample
43390
43391 @noindent
43392 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
43393
43394 @smallexample
43395 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
43396 @end smallexample
43397
43398 @noindent
43399 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
43400 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
43401 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
43402 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
43403 `Connection refused'.
43404
43405 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
43406 described in
43407 @ifset man
43408 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
43409 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
43410 @end ifset
43411 @ifclear man
43412 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
43413 @end ifclear
43414 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
43415
43416 @smallexample
43417 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
43418 @end smallexample
43419
43420 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
43421 case.
43422 @c man end
43423
43424 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
43425 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
43426
43427 @itemize @bullet
43428
43429 @item
43430 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
43431
43432 @smallexample
43433 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43434 @end smallexample
43435
43436 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
43437 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
43438 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
43439 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
43440 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
43441 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
43442 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43443
43444 @item
43445 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
43446 program:
43447
43448 @smallexample
43449 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43450 @end smallexample
43451
43452 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
43453 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
43454 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
43455 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43456
43457 @item
43458 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
43459
43460 @smallexample
43461 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43462 @end smallexample
43463
43464 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
43465 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
43466 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
43467 debug several processes in the same session.
43468 @end itemize
43469
43470 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
43471
43472 @table @env
43473
43474 @item --help
43475 List all options, with brief explanations.
43476
43477 @item --version
43478 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
43479
43480 @item --attach
43481 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
43482
43483 @smallexample
43484 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43485 @end smallexample
43486
43487 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43488 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43489
43490 @item --multi
43491 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43492 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
43493 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
43494 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
43495
43496 @smallexample
43497 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43498 @end smallexample
43499
43500 @item --debug
43501 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
43502 process.
43503 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43504 the developers.
43505
43506 @item --remote-debug
43507 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
43508 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43509 the developers.
43510
43511 @item --wrapper
43512 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
43513 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
43514 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
43515 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
43516
43517 @item --once
43518 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
43519 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
43520 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
43521 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
43522
43523 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
43524
43525 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
43526 @c QDisableRandomization.
43527
43528 @end table
43529 @c man end
43530
43531 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
43532 @ifset man
43533 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43534 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43535 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43536
43537 @smallexample
43538 info gdb
43539 @end smallexample
43540
43541 should give you access to the complete manual.
43542
43543 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43544 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43545 @end ifset
43546 @c man end
43547
43548 @node gcore man
43549 @heading gcore
43550
43551 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
43552
43553 @format
43554 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
43555 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
43556 @c man end
43557 @end format
43558
43559 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
43560 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
43561 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
43562 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
43563 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
43564 running without any change.
43565 @c man end
43566
43567 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
43568 @table @env
43569 @item -o @var{filename}
43570 The optional argument
43571 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
43572 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
43573 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
43574 @end table
43575 @c man end
43576
43577 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
43578 @ifset man
43579 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43580 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43581 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43582
43583 @smallexample
43584 info gdb
43585 @end smallexample
43586
43587 @noindent
43588 should give you access to the complete manual.
43589
43590 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43591 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43592 @end ifset
43593 @c man end
43594
43595 @node gdbinit man
43596 @heading gdbinit
43597
43598 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
43599
43600 @format
43601 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
43602 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43603 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43604 @end ifset
43605
43606 ~/.gdbinit
43607
43608 ./.gdbinit
43609 @c man end
43610 @end format
43611
43612 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
43613 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
43614 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
43615 described in
43616 @ifset man
43617 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
43618 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
43619 @end ifset
43620 @ifclear man
43621 @ref{Sequences}.
43622 @end ifclear
43623
43624 Please read more in
43625 @ifset man
43626 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
43627 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
43628 @end ifset
43629 @ifclear man
43630 @ref{Startup}.
43631 @end ifclear
43632
43633 @table @env
43634 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43635 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43636 @end ifset
43637 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43638 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
43639 @end ifclear
43640 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43641 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
43642 See more in
43643 @ifset man
43644 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
43645 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
43646 @end ifset
43647 @ifclear man
43648 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
43649 @end ifclear
43650
43651 @item ~/.gdbinit
43652 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43653 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
43654
43655 @item ./.gdbinit
43656 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
43657 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
43658 See more in
43659 @ifset man
43660 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
43661 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
43662 @end ifset
43663 @ifclear man
43664 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
43665 @end ifclear
43666 @end table
43667 @c man end
43668
43669 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
43670 @ifset man
43671 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
43672
43673 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43674 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43675 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43676
43677 @smallexample
43678 info gdb
43679 @end smallexample
43680
43681 should give you access to the complete manual.
43682
43683 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43684 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43685 @end ifset
43686 @c man end
43687
43688 @include gpl.texi
43689
43690 @node GNU Free Documentation License
43691 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
43692 @include fdl.texi
43693
43694 @node Concept Index
43695 @unnumbered Concept Index
43696
43697 @printindex cp
43698
43699 @node Command and Variable Index
43700 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
43701
43702 @printindex fn
43703
43704 @tex
43705 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
43706 % meantime:
43707 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
43708 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
43709 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
43710 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
43711 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
43712 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
43713 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
43714 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
43715 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
43716 \page\colophon
43717 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
43718 @end tex
43719
43720 @bye
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