Warn relocation in readonly section in a shared object.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
3 @c 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
4 @c 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @syncodeindex ky cp
24 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Ninth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102 @insertcopying
103 @page
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
107 @end titlepage
108 @page
109
110 @ifnottex
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 @end ifset
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 @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 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
175 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
176 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
177 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
178 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
179 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
180 @value{GDBN}
181 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
182 the operating system
183 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
184 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
185 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
186 how you can copy and share GDB
187 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
188 * Index:: Index
189 @end menu
190
191 @end ifnottex
192
193 @contents
194
195 @node Summary
196 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
197
198 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
199 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
200 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
201
202 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
203 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
204
205 @itemize @bullet
206 @item
207 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
208
209 @item
210 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
211
212 @item
213 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
214
215 @item
216 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
217 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
218 @end itemize
219
220 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
221 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
222 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
223
224 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
225 @ref{D,,D}.
226
227 @cindex Modula-2
228 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
229 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
230
231 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
232 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
233
234 @cindex Pascal
235 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
236 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
237 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
238 syntax.
239
240 @cindex Fortran
241 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
242 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
243 underscore.
244
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
246 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
247
248 @menu
249 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
250 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
251 @end menu
252
253 @node Free Software
254 @unnumberedsec Free Software
255
256 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
257 General Public License
258 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
259 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
260 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
261 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
262 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
263 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
264
265 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
266 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
267 from anyone else.
268
269 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
270
271 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
272 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
273 include with the free software. Many of our most important
274 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
275 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
276 when an important free software package does not come with a free
277 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
278 gaps today.
279
280 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
281 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
282 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
283 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
284 them from the free software world.
285
286 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
287 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
288 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
289 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
290 contract to make it non-free.
291
292 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
293 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
294 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
295 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
296 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
297 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
298 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
299
300 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
301 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
302 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
303 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
304
305 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
306 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
307 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
308 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
309 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
310 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
311 community.
312
313 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
314 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
315 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
316 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
317 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
318 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
319 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
320 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
321 of the manual.
322
323 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
324 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
325 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
326 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
327 manual to replace it.
328
329 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
330 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
331 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
332 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
333 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
334 the free software community.
335
336 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
337 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
338 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
339 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
340 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
341 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
342 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
343 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
344 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
345
346 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
347 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
348 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
349 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
350 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
351 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
352 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
353 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
354
355 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
356 published by other publishers, at
357 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
358
359 @node Contributors
360 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
361
362 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
363 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
364 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
365 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
366 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
367 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
368 blow-by-blow account.
369
370 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
371
372 @quotation
373 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
374 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
375 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
376 @end quotation
377
378 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
379 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
380 releases:
381 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
382 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
383 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
384 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
385 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
386 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
387 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
388 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
389 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
390
391 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
392 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
393
394 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
395 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
396 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
397 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
398 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
399
400 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
401 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
402 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
403
404 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
405 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
406
407 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
408
409 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
410 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
411 support.
412 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
413 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
414 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
415 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
416 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
417 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
418 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
419 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
420 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
421 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
422 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
423 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
424 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
425 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
426 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
427 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
428
429 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
430
431 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
432 libraries.
433
434 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
435 about several machine instruction sets.
436
437 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
438 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
439 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
440 and RDI targets, respectively.
441
442 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
443 command-line editing and command history.
444
445 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
446 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
447
448 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
449 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
450 symbols.
451
452 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
453 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
454
455 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
456
457 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
458 processors.
459
460 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
461
462 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
463
464 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
465
466 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
467 watchpoints.
468
469 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
470
471 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
472
473 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
474 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
475
476 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
477 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
478 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
479 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
480 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
481 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
482 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
483
484 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
485 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
486
487 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
488 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
489 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
490 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
491 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
492 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
493 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
494 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
495 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
496 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
497 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
498 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
499 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
500 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
501 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
502
503 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
504 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
505
506 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
507 Hat.
508
509 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
510 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
511 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
512 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
513 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
514 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
515
516 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
517 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
518 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
519 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
520 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
521 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
522 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
523 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
524 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
525 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
526 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
527 Weigand.
528
529 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
530 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
531 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
532 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
533
534 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
535 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
536
537 @node Sample Session
538 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
539
540 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
541 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
542 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
543
544 @iftex
545 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
546 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
547 @end iftex
548
549 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
550 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
551
552 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
553 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
554 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
555 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
556 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
557 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
558 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
559 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
560 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
561
562 @smallexample
563 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
564 $ @b{./m4}
565 @b{define(foo,0000)}
566
567 @b{foo}
568 0000
569 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
570
571 @b{bar}
572 0000
573 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
574
575 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
576 @b{baz}
577 @b{Ctrl-d}
578 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
579 @end smallexample
580
581 @noindent
582 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
583
584 @smallexample
585 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
586 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
587 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
588 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
589 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
590 the conditions.
591 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
592 for details.
593
594 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
595 (@value{GDBP})
596 @end smallexample
597
598 @noindent
599 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
600 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
601 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
602 that examples fit in this manual.
603
604 @smallexample
605 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
606 @end smallexample
607
608 @noindent
609 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
610 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
611 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
612 @code{break} command.
613
614 @smallexample
615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
616 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
617 @end smallexample
618
619 @noindent
620 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
621 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
622 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
623
624 @smallexample
625 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
626 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
627 @b{define(foo,0000)}
628
629 @b{foo}
630 0000
631 @end smallexample
632
633 @noindent
634 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
635 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
636 context where it stops.
637
638 @smallexample
639 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
640
641 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
642 at builtin.c:879
643 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
644 @end smallexample
645
646 @noindent
647 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
648 the next line of the current function.
649
650 @smallexample
651 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
652 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
653 : nil,
654 @end smallexample
655
656 @noindent
657 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
658 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
659 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
660 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
661
662 @smallexample
663 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
664 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
665 at input.c:530
666 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
667 @end smallexample
668
669 @noindent
670 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
671 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
672 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
673 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
674 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
675 stack frame for each active subroutine.
676
677 @smallexample
678 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
679 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
680 at input.c:530
681 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
682 at builtin.c:882
683 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
684 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
685 at macro.c:71
686 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
687 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
688 @end smallexample
689
690 @noindent
691 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
692 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
693 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
694
695 @smallexample
696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
697 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
698 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
699 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
700 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
702 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
703 : xstrdup(rq);
704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
705 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
706 @end smallexample
707
708 @noindent
709 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
710 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
711 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
712 (@code{print}) to see their values.
713
714 @smallexample
715 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
716 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
718 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
719 @end smallexample
720
721 @noindent
722 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
723 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
724 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
725
726 @smallexample
727 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
728 533 xfree(rquote);
729 534
730 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
731 : xstrdup (lq);
732 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
733 : xstrdup (rq);
734 537
735 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
736 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
737 540 @}
738 541
739 542 void
740 @end smallexample
741
742 @noindent
743 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
744 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
745
746 @smallexample
747 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
748 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
749 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
750 540 @}
751 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
752 $3 = 9
753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
754 $4 = 7
755 @end smallexample
756
757 @noindent
758 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
759 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
760 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
761 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
762 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
763 assignments.
764
765 @smallexample
766 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
767 $5 = 7
768 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
769 $6 = 9
770 @end smallexample
771
772 @noindent
773 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
774 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
775 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
776 example that caused trouble initially:
777
778 @smallexample
779 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
780 Continuing.
781
782 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
783
784 baz
785 0000
786 @end smallexample
787
788 @noindent
789 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
790 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
791 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
792
793 @smallexample
794 @b{Ctrl-d}
795 Program exited normally.
796 @end smallexample
797
798 @noindent
799 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
800 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
801 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
802
803 @smallexample
804 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
805 @end smallexample
806
807 @node Invocation
808 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
809
810 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
811 The essentials are:
812 @itemize @bullet
813 @item
814 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
815 @item
816 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
817 @end itemize
818
819 @menu
820 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
821 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
822 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
823 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
824 @end menu
825
826 @node Invoking GDB
827 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
828
829 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
830 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
831
832 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
833 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
834
835 The command-line options described here are designed
836 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
837 options may effectively be unavailable.
838
839 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
840 specifying an executable program:
841
842 @smallexample
843 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
844 @end smallexample
845
846 @noindent
847 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
848 specified:
849
850 @smallexample
851 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
852 @end smallexample
853
854 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
855 to debug a running process:
856
857 @smallexample
858 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
859 @end smallexample
860
861 @noindent
862 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
863 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
864
865 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
866 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
867 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
868 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
869 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
870
871 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
872 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
873 option processing.
874 @smallexample
875 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
876 @end smallexample
877 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
878 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
879
880 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
881 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
882
883 @smallexample
884 @value{GDBP} -silent
885 @end smallexample
886
887 @noindent
888 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
889 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
890
891 @noindent
892 Type
893
894 @smallexample
895 @value{GDBP} -help
896 @end smallexample
897
898 @noindent
899 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
900 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
901
902 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
903 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
904 @samp{-x} option is used.
905
906
907 @menu
908 * File Options:: Choosing files
909 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
910 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
911 @end menu
912
913 @node File Options
914 @subsection Choosing Files
915
916 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
917 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
918 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
919 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
920 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
921 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
922 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
923 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
924 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
925 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
926 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
927 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
928 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
929
930 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
931 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
932 argument and ignore it.
933
934 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
935 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
936 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
937 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
938 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
939
940 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
941 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
942 @c it.
943
944 @table @code
945 @item -symbols @var{file}
946 @itemx -s @var{file}
947 @cindex @code{--symbols}
948 @cindex @code{-s}
949 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
950
951 @item -exec @var{file}
952 @itemx -e @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--exec}
954 @cindex @code{-e}
955 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
956 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
957
958 @item -se @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--se}
960 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
961 file.
962
963 @item -core @var{file}
964 @itemx -c @var{file}
965 @cindex @code{--core}
966 @cindex @code{-c}
967 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
968
969 @item -pid @var{number}
970 @itemx -p @var{number}
971 @cindex @code{--pid}
972 @cindex @code{-p}
973 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
974
975 @item -command @var{file}
976 @itemx -x @var{file}
977 @cindex @code{--command}
978 @cindex @code{-x}
979 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
980 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
981 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
982
983 @item -eval-command @var{command}
984 @itemx -ex @var{command}
985 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
986 @cindex @code{-ex}
987 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
988
989 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
990 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
991
992 @smallexample
993 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
994 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
995 @end smallexample
996
997 @item -directory @var{directory}
998 @itemx -d @var{directory}
999 @cindex @code{--directory}
1000 @cindex @code{-d}
1001 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1002
1003 @item -r
1004 @itemx -readnow
1005 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1006 @cindex @code{-r}
1007 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1008 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1009 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1010
1011 @end table
1012
1013 @node Mode Options
1014 @subsection Choosing Modes
1015
1016 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1017 batch mode or quiet mode.
1018
1019 @table @code
1020 @item -nx
1021 @itemx -n
1022 @cindex @code{--nx}
1023 @cindex @code{-n}
1024 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1025 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1026 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1027 Files}.
1028
1029 @item -quiet
1030 @itemx -silent
1031 @itemx -q
1032 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1033 @cindex @code{--silent}
1034 @cindex @code{-q}
1035 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1036 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1037
1038 @item -batch
1039 @cindex @code{--batch}
1040 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1041 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1042 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1043 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1044 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1045 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1046 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1047
1048 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1049 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1050 make this more useful, the message
1051
1052 @smallexample
1053 Program exited normally.
1054 @end smallexample
1055
1056 @noindent
1057 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1058 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1059 mode.
1060
1061 @item -batch-silent
1062 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1063 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1064 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1065 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1066 for an interactive session.
1067
1068 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1069 messages, for example.
1070
1071 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1072 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1073
1074 @item -return-child-result
1075 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1076 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1077 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1078
1079 @itemize @bullet
1080 @item
1081 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1082 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1083 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1084 @item
1085 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1086 @item
1087 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1088 the exit code will be -1.
1089 @end itemize
1090
1091 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1092 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1093 interface.
1094
1095 @item -nowindows
1096 @itemx -nw
1097 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1098 @cindex @code{-nw}
1099 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1100 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1101 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1102
1103 @item -windows
1104 @itemx -w
1105 @cindex @code{--windows}
1106 @cindex @code{-w}
1107 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1108 used if possible.
1109
1110 @item -cd @var{directory}
1111 @cindex @code{--cd}
1112 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1113 instead of the current directory.
1114
1115 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1116 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1117 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1118 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1119 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1120
1121 @item -fullname
1122 @itemx -f
1123 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1124 @cindex @code{-f}
1125 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1126 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1127 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1128 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1129 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1130 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1131 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1132 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1133 frame.
1134
1135 @item -epoch
1136 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1137 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1138 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1139 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1140 separate window.
1141
1142 @item -annotate @var{level}
1143 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1144 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1145 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1146 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1147 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1148 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1149 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1150 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1151 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1152
1153 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1154 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1155
1156 @item --args
1157 @cindex @code{--args}
1158 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1159 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1160 This option stops option processing.
1161
1162 @item -baud @var{bps}
1163 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1164 @cindex @code{--baud}
1165 @cindex @code{-b}
1166 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1167 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1168
1169 @item -l @var{timeout}
1170 @cindex @code{-l}
1171 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1172 for remote debugging.
1173
1174 @item -tty @var{device}
1175 @itemx -t @var{device}
1176 @cindex @code{--tty}
1177 @cindex @code{-t}
1178 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1179 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1180
1181 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1182 @item -tui
1183 @cindex @code{--tui}
1184 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1185 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1186 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1187 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1188 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1189 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1190 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1191
1192 @c @item -xdb
1193 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1194 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1195 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1196 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1197 @c systems.
1198
1199 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1200 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1201 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1202 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1203 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1204 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1205
1206 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1207 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1208 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1209 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1210 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1211 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1212
1213 @item -write
1214 @cindex @code{--write}
1215 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1216 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1217 (@pxref{Patching}).
1218
1219 @item -statistics
1220 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1221 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1222 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1223
1224 @item -version
1225 @cindex @code{--version}
1226 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1227 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1228
1229 @end table
1230
1231 @node Startup
1232 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1233 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1234
1235 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1236
1237 @enumerate
1238 @item
1239 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1240 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1241
1242 @item
1243 @cindex init file
1244 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1245 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1246 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1247 that file.
1248
1249 @item
1250 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1251 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1252 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1253 that file.
1254
1255 @item
1256 Processes command line options and operands.
1257
1258 @item
1259 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1260 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1261 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1262 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1263 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1264 @value{GDBN}.
1265
1266 @item
1267 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1268 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1269 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1270 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1271
1272 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1273 you must do something like the following:
1274
1275 @smallexample
1276 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1277 @end smallexample
1278
1279 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1280
1281 @smallexample
1282 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1283 @end smallexample
1284
1285 @item
1286 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1287 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1288
1289 @item
1290 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1291 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1292 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1293 @end enumerate
1294
1295 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1296 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1297 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1298 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1299 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1300 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1301
1302 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1303 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1304
1305 @cindex init file name
1306 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1307 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1308 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1309 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1310 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1311 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1312 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1313 the file to the standard name.
1314
1315
1316 @node Quitting GDB
1317 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1318 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1319 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1320
1321 @table @code
1322 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1323 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1324 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1325 @itemx q
1326 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1327 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1328 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1329 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1330 error code.
1331 @end table
1332
1333 @cindex interrupt
1334 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1335 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1336 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1337 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1338 until a time when it is safe.
1339
1340 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1341 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1342 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1343
1344 @node Shell Commands
1345 @section Shell Commands
1346
1347 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1348 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1349 just use the @code{shell} command.
1350
1351 @table @code
1352 @kindex shell
1353 @cindex shell escape
1354 @item shell @var{command string}
1355 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1356 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1357 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1358 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1359 @end table
1360
1361 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1362 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1363 @value{GDBN}:
1364
1365 @table @code
1366 @kindex make
1367 @cindex calling make
1368 @item make @var{make-args}
1369 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1370 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1371 @end table
1372
1373 @node Logging Output
1374 @section Logging Output
1375 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1376 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1377
1378 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1379 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1380
1381 @table @code
1382 @kindex set logging
1383 @item set logging on
1384 Enable logging.
1385 @item set logging off
1386 Disable logging.
1387 @cindex logging file name
1388 @item set logging file @var{file}
1389 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1390 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1391 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1392 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1393 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1394 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1395 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1396 @kindex show logging
1397 @item show logging
1398 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1399 @end table
1400
1401 @node Commands
1402 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1403
1404 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1405 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1406 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1407 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1408 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1409
1410 @menu
1411 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1412 * Completion:: Command completion
1413 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1414 @end menu
1415
1416 @node Command Syntax
1417 @section Command Syntax
1418
1419 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1420 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1421 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1422 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1423 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1424 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1425
1426 @cindex abbreviation
1427 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1428 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1429 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1430 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1431 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1432 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1433 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1434
1435 @cindex repeating commands
1436 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1437 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1438 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1439 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1440 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1441 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1442 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1443
1444 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1445 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1446 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1447
1448 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1449 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1450 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1451 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1452 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1453
1454 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1455 @cindex comment
1456 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1457 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1458 Files,,Command Files}).
1459
1460 @cindex repeating command sequences
1461 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1462 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1463 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1464 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1465 for editing.
1466
1467 @node Completion
1468 @section Command Completion
1469
1470 @cindex completion
1471 @cindex word completion
1472 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1473 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1474 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1475 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1476
1477 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1478 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1479 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1480 enter it). For example, if you type
1481
1482 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1483 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1484 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1485 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1486 @smallexample
1487 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1488 @end smallexample
1489
1490 @noindent
1491 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1492 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1493
1494 @smallexample
1495 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1496 @end smallexample
1497
1498 @noindent
1499 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1500 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1501 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1502 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1503 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1504 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1505
1506 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1507 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1508 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1509 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1510 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1511 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1512 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1513 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1514 example:
1515
1516 @smallexample
1517 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1518 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1519 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1520 make_abs_section make_function_type
1521 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1522 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1523 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1524 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1525 @end smallexample
1526
1527 @noindent
1528 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1529 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1530 command.
1531
1532 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1533 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1534 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1535 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1536 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1537
1538 @cindex quotes in commands
1539 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1540 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1541 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1542 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1543 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1544 @value{GDBN} commands.
1545
1546 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1547 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1548 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1549 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1550 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1551 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1552 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1553 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1554 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1555 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1556 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1557
1558 @smallexample
1559 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1560 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1561 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1562 @end smallexample
1563
1564 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1565 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1566 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1567 place:
1568
1569 @smallexample
1570 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1571 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1572 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1573 @end smallexample
1574
1575 @noindent
1576 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1577 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1578 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1579
1580 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1581 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1582 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1583 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1584
1585 @cindex completion of structure field names
1586 @cindex structure field name completion
1587 @cindex completion of union field names
1588 @cindex union field name completion
1589 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1590 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1591 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1592 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1593 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1594 left-hand-side:
1595
1596 @smallexample
1597 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1598 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1599 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1600 @end smallexample
1601
1602 @noindent
1603 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1604 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1605 follows:
1606
1607 @smallexample
1608 struct ui_file
1609 @{
1610 int *magic;
1611 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1612 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1613 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1614 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1615 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1616 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1617 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1618 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1619 void *to_data;
1620 @}
1621 @end smallexample
1622
1623
1624 @node Help
1625 @section Getting Help
1626 @cindex online documentation
1627 @kindex help
1628
1629 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1630 using the command @code{help}.
1631
1632 @table @code
1633 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1634 @item help
1635 @itemx h
1636 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1637 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1638
1639 @smallexample
1640 (@value{GDBP}) help
1641 List of classes of commands:
1642
1643 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1644 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1645 data -- Examining data
1646 files -- Specifying and examining files
1647 internals -- Maintenance commands
1648 obscure -- Obscure features
1649 running -- Running the program
1650 stack -- Examining the stack
1651 status -- Status inquiries
1652 support -- Support facilities
1653 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1654 stopping the program
1655 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1656
1657 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1658 commands in that class.
1659 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1660 documentation.
1661 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1662 (@value{GDBP})
1663 @end smallexample
1664 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1665
1666 @item help @var{class}
1667 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1668 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1669 help display for the class @code{status}:
1670
1671 @smallexample
1672 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1673 Status inquiries.
1674
1675 List of commands:
1676
1677 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1678 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1679 info -- Generic command for showing things
1680 about the program being debugged
1681 show -- Generic command for showing things
1682 about the debugger
1683
1684 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1685 documentation.
1686 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1687 (@value{GDBP})
1688 @end smallexample
1689
1690 @item help @var{command}
1691 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1692 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1693
1694 @kindex apropos
1695 @item apropos @var{args}
1696 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1697 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1698 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1699
1700 @smallexample
1701 apropos reload
1702 @end smallexample
1703
1704 @noindent
1705 results in:
1706
1707 @smallexample
1708 @c @group
1709 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1710 multiple times in one run
1711 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1712 multiple times in one run
1713 @c @end group
1714 @end smallexample
1715
1716 @kindex complete
1717 @item complete @var{args}
1718 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1719 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1720 command you want completed. For example:
1721
1722 @smallexample
1723 complete i
1724 @end smallexample
1725
1726 @noindent results in:
1727
1728 @smallexample
1729 @group
1730 if
1731 ignore
1732 info
1733 inspect
1734 @end group
1735 @end smallexample
1736
1737 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1738 @end table
1739
1740 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1741 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1742 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1743 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1744 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1745 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1746
1747 @c @group
1748 @table @code
1749 @kindex info
1750 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1751 @item info
1752 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1753 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1754 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1755 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1756 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1757 @w{@code{help info}}.
1758
1759 @kindex set
1760 @item set
1761 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1762 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1763 @code{set prompt $}.
1764
1765 @kindex show
1766 @item show
1767 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1768 @value{GDBN} itself.
1769 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1770 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1771 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1772 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1773
1774 @kindex info set
1775 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1776 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1777 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1778 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1779 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1780 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1781 @end table
1782 @c @end group
1783
1784 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1785 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1786
1787 @table @code
1788 @kindex show version
1789 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1790 @item show version
1791 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1792 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1793 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1794 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1795 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1796 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1797 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1798 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1799 @value{GDBN}.
1800
1801 @kindex show copying
1802 @kindex info copying
1803 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1804 @item show copying
1805 @itemx info copying
1806 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1807
1808 @kindex show warranty
1809 @kindex info warranty
1810 @item show warranty
1811 @itemx info warranty
1812 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1813 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1814
1815 @end table
1816
1817 @node Running
1818 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1819
1820 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1821 debugging information when you compile it.
1822
1823 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1824 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1825 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1826 kill a child process.
1827
1828 @menu
1829 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1830 * Starting:: Starting your program
1831 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1832 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1833
1834 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1835 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1836 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1837 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1838
1839 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1840 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1841 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1842 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1843 @end menu
1844
1845 @node Compilation
1846 @section Compiling for Debugging
1847
1848 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1849 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1850 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1851 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1852 and addresses in the executable code.
1853
1854 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1855 the compiler.
1856
1857 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1858 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1859 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1860 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1861 executables containing debugging information.
1862
1863 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1864 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1865 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1866 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1867 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1868
1869 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1870 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1871 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1872
1873 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1874 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1875 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1876 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1877 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1878 provides macro information if you specify the options
1879 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1880 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1881 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1882 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1883 @option{-g} alone.
1884
1885 @need 2000
1886 @node Starting
1887 @section Starting your Program
1888 @cindex starting
1889 @cindex running
1890
1891 @table @code
1892 @kindex run
1893 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1894 @item run
1895 @itemx r
1896 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1897 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1898 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1899 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1900 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1901
1902 @end table
1903
1904 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1905 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1906 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1907 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1908 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1909 message like this one:
1910
1911 @smallexample
1912 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1913 Try "help target" or "continue".
1914 @end smallexample
1915
1916 @noindent
1917 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1918 first (@pxref{load}).
1919
1920 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1921 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1922 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1923 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1924 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1925 divided into four categories:
1926
1927 @table @asis
1928 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1929 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1930 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1931 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1932 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1933 the arguments.
1934 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1935 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1936 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1937
1938 @item The @emph{environment.}
1939 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1940 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1941 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1942 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1943
1944 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1945 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1946 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1947 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1948
1949 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1950 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1951 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1952 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1953 set a different device for your program.
1954 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1955
1956 @cindex pipes
1957 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1958 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1959 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1960 wrong program.
1961 @end table
1962
1963 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1964 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1965 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1966 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1967 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1968
1969 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1970 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1971 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1972 your current breakpoints.
1973
1974 @table @code
1975 @kindex start
1976 @item start
1977 @cindex run to main procedure
1978 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1979 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1980 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1981 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1982 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1983 procedure, depending on the language used.
1984
1985 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1986 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1987 the @samp{run} command.
1988
1989 @cindex elaboration phase
1990 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1991 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1992 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1993 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1994 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1995 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1996 will remain to halt execution.
1997
1998 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1999 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2000 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2001 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2002 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2003
2004 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2005 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2006 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2007 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2008 elaboration code before running your program.
2009
2010 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2011 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2012 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2013 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2014 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2015 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2016 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2017 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2018 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2019 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2020 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2021
2022 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2023 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2024 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2025 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2026
2027 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2028 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2029 environment:
2030
2031 @smallexample
2032 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2033 (@value{GDBP}) run
2034 @end smallexample
2035
2036 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2037 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2038
2039 @kindex set disable-randomization
2040 @item set disable-randomization
2041 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2042 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2043 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2044 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2045 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2046
2047 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2048 behavior using
2049
2050 @smallexample
2051 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2052 @end smallexample
2053
2054 @item set disable-randomization off
2055 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2056 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2057 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2058 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2059 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2060 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2061
2062 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2063 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2064 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2065 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2066 a code at its expected addresses.
2067
2068 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2069 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2070 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2071 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2072 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2073 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2074 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2075 a randomly chosen address.
2076
2077 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2078 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2079 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2080 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2081 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2082
2083 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2084 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2085
2086 @item show disable-randomization
2087 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2088 the virtual address space of the started program.
2089
2090 @end table
2091
2092 @node Arguments
2093 @section Your Program's Arguments
2094
2095 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2096 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2097 @code{run} command.
2098 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2099 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2100 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2101 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2102 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2103
2104 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2105 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2106 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2107 the program, not by the shell.
2108
2109 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2110 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2111
2112 @table @code
2113 @kindex set args
2114 @item set args
2115 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2116 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2117 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2118 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2119 it again without arguments.
2120
2121 @kindex show args
2122 @item show args
2123 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2124 @end table
2125
2126 @node Environment
2127 @section Your Program's Environment
2128
2129 @cindex environment (of your program)
2130 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2131 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2132 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2133 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2134 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2135 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2136 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2137
2138 @table @code
2139 @kindex path
2140 @item path @var{directory}
2141 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2142 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2143 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2144 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2145 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2146 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2147 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2148
2149 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2150 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2151 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2152 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2153 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2154 @var{directory} to the search path.
2155 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2156 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2157
2158 @kindex show paths
2159 @item show paths
2160 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2161 environment variable).
2162
2163 @kindex show environment
2164 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2165 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2166 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2167 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2168 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2169
2170 @kindex set environment
2171 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2172 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2173 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2174 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2175 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2176 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2177 null value.
2178 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2179 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2180
2181 For example, this command:
2182
2183 @smallexample
2184 set env USER = foo
2185 @end smallexample
2186
2187 @noindent
2188 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2189 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2190 are not actually required.)
2191
2192 @kindex unset environment
2193 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2194 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2195 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2196 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2197 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2198 @end table
2199
2200 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2201 the shell indicated
2202 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2203 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2204 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2205 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2206 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2207 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2208 @file{.profile}.
2209
2210 @node Working Directory
2211 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2212
2213 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2214 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2215 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2216 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2217 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2218 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2219
2220 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2221 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2222 Specify Files}.
2223
2224 @table @code
2225 @kindex cd
2226 @cindex change working directory
2227 @item cd @var{directory}
2228 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2229
2230 @kindex pwd
2231 @item pwd
2232 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2233 @end table
2234
2235 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2236 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2237 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2238 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2239 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2240 current working directory of the debuggee.
2241
2242 @node Input/Output
2243 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2244
2245 @cindex redirection
2246 @cindex i/o
2247 @cindex terminal
2248 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2249 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2250 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2251 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2252 running your program.
2253
2254 @table @code
2255 @kindex info terminal
2256 @item info terminal
2257 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2258 program is using.
2259 @end table
2260
2261 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2262 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2263
2264 @smallexample
2265 run > outfile
2266 @end smallexample
2267
2268 @noindent
2269 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2270
2271 @kindex tty
2272 @cindex controlling terminal
2273 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2274 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2275 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2276 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2277 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2278
2279 @smallexample
2280 tty /dev/ttyb
2281 @end smallexample
2282
2283 @noindent
2284 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2285 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2286 that as their controlling terminal.
2287
2288 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2289 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2290 terminal.
2291
2292 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2293 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2294 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2295 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2296
2297 @cindex inferior tty
2298 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2299 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2300 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2301 program.
2302
2303 @table @code
2304 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2305 @kindex set inferior-tty
2306 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2307
2308 @item show inferior-tty
2309 @kindex show inferior-tty
2310 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2311 @end table
2312
2313 @node Attach
2314 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2315 @kindex attach
2316 @cindex attach
2317
2318 @table @code
2319 @item attach @var{process-id}
2320 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2321 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2322 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2323 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2324 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2325
2326 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2327 executing the command.
2328 @end table
2329
2330 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2331 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2332 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2333 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2334
2335 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2336 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2337 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2338 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2339 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2340 Specify Files}.
2341
2342 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2343 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2344 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2345 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2346 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2347 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2348 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2349
2350 @table @code
2351 @kindex detach
2352 @item detach
2353 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2354 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2355 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2356 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2357 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2358 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2359 executing the command.
2360 @end table
2361
2362 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2363 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2364 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2365 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2366 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2367 Messages}).
2368
2369 @node Kill Process
2370 @section Killing the Child Process
2371
2372 @table @code
2373 @kindex kill
2374 @item kill
2375 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2376 @end table
2377
2378 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2379 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2380 is running.
2381
2382 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2383 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2384 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2385 outside the debugger.
2386
2387 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2388 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2389 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2390 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2391 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2392 breakpoint settings).
2393
2394 @node Inferiors and Programs
2395 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2396
2397 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2398 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2399 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2400 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2401 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2402 from multiple executables.
2403
2404 @cindex inferior
2405 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2406 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2407 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2408 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2409 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2410 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2411 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2412 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2413 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2414 threads running in it.
2415
2416 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2417 inferiors}}:
2418
2419 @table @code
2420 @kindex info inferiors
2421 @item info inferiors
2422 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2423
2424 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2425
2426 @enumerate
2427 @item
2428 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2429
2430 @item
2431 the target system's inferior identifier
2432
2433 @item
2434 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2435
2436 @end enumerate
2437
2438 @noindent
2439 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2440 indicates the current inferior.
2441
2442 For example,
2443 @end table
2444 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2445
2446 @smallexample
2447 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2448 Num Description Executable
2449 2 process 2307 hello
2450 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2451 @end smallexample
2452
2453 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2454
2455 @table @code
2456 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2457 @item inferior @var{infno}
2458 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2459 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2460 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2461 @end table
2462
2463
2464 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2465 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2466 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2467 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2468 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2469 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2470
2471 @table @code
2472 @kindex add-inferior
2473 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2474 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2475 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2476 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2477 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2478 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2479
2480 @kindex clone-inferior
2481 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2482 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2483 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2484 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2485 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2486
2487 @smallexample
2488 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2489 Num Description Executable
2490 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2491 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2492 Added inferior 2.
2493 1 inferiors added.
2494 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2495 Num Description Executable
2496 2 <null> helloworld
2497 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2498 @end smallexample
2499
2500 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2501
2502 @kindex remove-inferiors
2503 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2504 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2505 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2506 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2507
2508 @end table
2509
2510 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2511 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2512 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2513 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2514
2515 @table @code
2516 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2517 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2518 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2519 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2520 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2521 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2522
2523 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2524 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2525 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2526 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2527 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2528 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2529 @end table
2530
2531 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2532 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2533 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2534 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2535
2536
2537 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2538 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2539
2540 @table @code
2541 @kindex set print inferior-events
2542 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2543 @item set print inferior-events
2544 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2545 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2546 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2547 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2548 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2549 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2550
2551 @kindex show print inferior-events
2552 @item show print inferior-events
2553 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2554 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2555 @end table
2556
2557 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2558 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2559 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2560
2561
2562 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2563 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2564 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2565 info program-spaces}} command.
2566
2567 @table @code
2568 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2569 @item maint info program-spaces
2570 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2571 @value{GDBN}.
2572
2573 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2574
2575 @enumerate
2576 @item
2577 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2578
2579 @item
2580 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2581 the @code{file} command.
2582
2583 @end enumerate
2584
2585 @noindent
2586 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2587 indicates the current program space.
2588
2589 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2590 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2591 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2592
2593 @smallexample
2594 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2595 Id Executable
2596 2 goodbye
2597 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2598 * 1 hello
2599 @end smallexample
2600
2601 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2602 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2603 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2604 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2605 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2606
2607 @smallexample
2608 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2609 Id Executable
2610 * 1 vfork-test
2611 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2612 @end smallexample
2613
2614 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2615 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2616 @end table
2617
2618 @node Threads
2619 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2620
2621 @cindex threads of execution
2622 @cindex multiple threads
2623 @cindex switching threads
2624 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2625 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2626 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2627 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2628 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2629 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2630 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2631
2632 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2633 programs:
2634
2635 @itemize @bullet
2636 @item automatic notification of new threads
2637 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2638 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2639 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2640 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2641 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2642 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2643 messages on thread start and exit.
2644 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2645 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2646 isn't compatible with the program.
2647 @end itemize
2648
2649 @quotation
2650 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2651 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2652 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2653 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2654 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2655 like this:
2656
2657 @smallexample
2658 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2659 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2660 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2661 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2662 @end smallexample
2663 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2664 @c doesn't support threads"?
2665 @end quotation
2666
2667 @cindex focus of debugging
2668 @cindex current thread
2669 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2670 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2671 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2672 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2673 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2674
2675 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2676 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2677 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2678 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2679 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2680 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2681 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2682 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2683 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2684 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2685
2686 @smallexample
2687 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2688 @end smallexample
2689
2690 @noindent
2691 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2692 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2693 further qualifier.
2694
2695 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2696 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2697 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2698 @c program?
2699 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2700 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2701 @c threads ab initio?
2702
2703 @cindex thread number
2704 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2705 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2706 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2707
2708 @table @code
2709 @kindex info threads
2710 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2711 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2712 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2713 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2714 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2715
2716 @enumerate
2717 @item
2718 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2719
2720 @item
2721 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2722
2723 @item
2724 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2725 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2726 program itself.
2727
2728 @item
2729 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2730 @end enumerate
2731
2732 @noindent
2733 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2734 indicates the current thread.
2735
2736 For example,
2737 @end table
2738 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2739
2740 @smallexample
2741 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2742 Id Target Id Frame
2743 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2744 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2745 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2746 at threadtest.c:68
2747 @end smallexample
2748
2749 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2750 Solaris-specific command:
2751
2752 @table @code
2753 @item maint info sol-threads
2754 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2755 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2756 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2757 @end table
2758
2759 @table @code
2760 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2761 @item thread @var{threadno}
2762 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2763 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2764 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2765 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2766 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2767
2768 @smallexample
2769 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2770 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2771 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2772 8 printf ("hello\n");
2773 @end smallexample
2774
2775 @noindent
2776 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2777 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2778 threads.
2779
2780 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2781 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2782 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2783 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2784 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2785 information on convenience variables.
2786
2787 @kindex thread apply
2788 @cindex apply command to several threads
2789 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2790 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2791 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2792 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2793 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2794 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2795 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2796 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2797
2798 @kindex thread name
2799 @cindex name a thread
2800 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2801 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2802 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2803 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2804
2805 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2806 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2807 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2808 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2809 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2810
2811 @kindex thread find
2812 @cindex search for a thread
2813 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2814 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2815 matches the supplied regular expression.
2816
2817 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2818 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2819 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2820 is the LWP id.
2821
2822 @smallexample
2823 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2824 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2825 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2826 Id Target Id Frame
2827 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2828 @end smallexample
2829
2830 @kindex set print thread-events
2831 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2832 @item set print thread-events
2833 @itemx set print thread-events on
2834 @itemx set print thread-events off
2835 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2836 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2837 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2838 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2839 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2840
2841 @kindex show print thread-events
2842 @item show print thread-events
2843 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2844 have started and exited.
2845 @end table
2846
2847 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2848 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2849 programs with multiple threads.
2850
2851 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2852 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2853
2854 @table @code
2855 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2856 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2857 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2858 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2859 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2860 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2861 an empty list.
2862
2863 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2864 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2865 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2866 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2867 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2868 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2869
2870 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2871 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2872 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2873 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2874 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2875 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2876 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2877
2878 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2879 only on some platforms.
2880
2881 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2882 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2883 Display current libthread_db search path.
2884
2885 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2886 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2887 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2888 @item set debug libthread-db
2889 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2890 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2891 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2892 @end table
2893
2894 @node Forks
2895 @section Debugging Forks
2896
2897 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2898 @cindex multiple processes
2899 @cindex processes, multiple
2900 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2901 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2902 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2903 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2904 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2905 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2906 will cause it to terminate.
2907
2908 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2909 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2910 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2911 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2912 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2913 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2914 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2915 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2916 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2917 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2918
2919 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2920 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2921 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2922 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2923
2924 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2925 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2926
2927 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2928 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2929
2930 @table @code
2931 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2932 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2933 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2934 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2935 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2936
2937 @table @code
2938 @item parent
2939 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2940 unimpeded. This is the default.
2941
2942 @item child
2943 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2944 unimpeded.
2945
2946 @end table
2947
2948 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2949 @item show follow-fork-mode
2950 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2951 @end table
2952
2953 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2954 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2955 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2956
2957 @table @code
2958 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2959 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2960 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2961 retain debugger control over them both.
2962
2963 @table @code
2964 @item on
2965 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2966 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2967 independently. This is the default.
2968
2969 @item off
2970 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2971 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2972 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2973 is held suspended.
2974
2975 @end table
2976
2977 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2978 @item show detach-on-fork
2979 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2980 @end table
2981
2982 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2983 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2984 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2985 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2986 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2987 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2988
2989 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2990 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
2991 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
2992 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2993 and Programs}.
2994
2995 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2996 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2997 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2998 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2999 the child process's @code{main}.
3000
3001 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3002 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3003
3004 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3005 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3006 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3007 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3008 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3009 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3010 command.
3011
3012 @table @code
3013 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3014 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3015
3016 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3017 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3018
3019 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3020
3021 @table @code
3022 @item new
3023 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3024 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3025 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3026 original inferior.
3027
3028 For example:
3029
3030 @smallexample
3031 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3032 (gdb) info inferior
3033 Id Description Executable
3034 * 1 <null> prog1
3035 (@value{GDBP}) run
3036 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3037 Program exited normally.
3038 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3039 Id Description Executable
3040 * 2 <null> prog2
3041 1 <null> prog1
3042 @end smallexample
3043
3044 @item same
3045 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3046 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3047 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3048 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3049 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3050
3051 For example:
3052
3053 @smallexample
3054 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3055 Id Description Executable
3056 * 1 <null> prog1
3057 (@value{GDBP}) run
3058 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3059 Program exited normally.
3060 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3061 Id Description Executable
3062 * 1 <null> prog2
3063 @end smallexample
3064
3065 @end table
3066 @end table
3067
3068 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3069 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3070 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3071
3072 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3073 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3074
3075 @cindex checkpoint
3076 @cindex restart
3077 @cindex bookmark
3078 @cindex snapshot of a process
3079 @cindex rewind program state
3080
3081 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3082 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3083 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3084 later.
3085
3086 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3087 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3088 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3089 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3090 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3091
3092 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3093 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3094 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3095 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3096 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3097 start again from there.
3098
3099 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3100 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3101
3102 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3103
3104 @table @code
3105 @kindex checkpoint
3106 @item checkpoint
3107 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3108 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3109 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3110
3111 @kindex info checkpoints
3112 @item info checkpoints
3113 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3114 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3115 listed:
3116
3117 @table @code
3118 @item Checkpoint ID
3119 @item Process ID
3120 @item Code Address
3121 @item Source line, or label
3122 @end table
3123
3124 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3125 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3126 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3127 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3128 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3129 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3130 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3131
3132 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3133 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3134 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3135 the debugger.
3136
3137 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3138 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3139 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3140
3141 @end table
3142
3143 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3144 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3145 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3146 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3147 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3148 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3149 previously read data can be read again.
3150
3151 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3152 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3153 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3154 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3155 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3156 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3157
3158 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3159 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3160 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3161 different execution path this time.
3162
3163 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3164 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3165 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3166 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3167 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3168 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3169 potentially pose a problem.
3170
3171 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3172
3173 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3174 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3175 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3176 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3177 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3178 next.
3179
3180 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3181 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3182 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3183 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3184 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3185
3186 @node Stopping
3187 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3188
3189 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3190 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3191 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3192
3193 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3194 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3195 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3196 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3197 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3198 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3199 explicitly request this information at any time.
3200
3201 @table @code
3202 @kindex info program
3203 @item info program
3204 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3205 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3206 @end table
3207
3208 @menu
3209 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3210 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3211 * Signals:: Signals
3212 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3213 @end menu
3214
3215 @node Breakpoints
3216 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3217
3218 @cindex breakpoints
3219 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3220 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3221 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3222 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3223 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3224 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3225 program.
3226
3227 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3228 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3229 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3230 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3231 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3232 call).
3233
3234 @cindex watchpoints
3235 @cindex data breakpoints
3236 @cindex memory tracing
3237 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3238 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3239 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3240 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3241 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3242 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3243 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3244 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3245 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3246 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3247 same commands.
3248
3249 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3250 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3251 Automatic Display}.
3252
3253 @cindex catchpoints
3254 @cindex breakpoint on events
3255 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3256 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3257 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3258 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3259 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3260 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3261 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3262
3263 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3264 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3265 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3266 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3267 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3268 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3269 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3270 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3271 enable it again.
3272
3273 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3274 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3275 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3276 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3277 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3278 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3279 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3280
3281 @menu
3282 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3283 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3284 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3285 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3286 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3287 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3288 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3289 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3290 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3291 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3292 @end menu
3293
3294 @node Set Breaks
3295 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3296
3297 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3298 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3299 @c
3300 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3301
3302 @kindex break
3303 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3304 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3305 @cindex latest breakpoint
3306 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3307 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3308 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3309 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3310 convenience variables.
3311
3312 @table @code
3313 @item break @var{location}
3314 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3315 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3316 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3317 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3318 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3319
3320 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3321 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3322 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3323 that situation.
3324
3325 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3326 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3327 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3328
3329 @item break
3330 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3331 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3332 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3333 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3334 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3335 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3336 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3337 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3338 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3339 inside loops.
3340
3341 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3342 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3343 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3344 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3345 existed when your program stopped.
3346
3347 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3348 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3349 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3350 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3351 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3352 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3353 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3354
3355 @kindex tbreak
3356 @item tbreak @var{args}
3357 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3358 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3359 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3360 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3361
3362 @kindex hbreak
3363 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3364 @item hbreak @var{args}
3365 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3366 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3367 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3368 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3369 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3370 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3371 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3372 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3373 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3374 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3375 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3376 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3377 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3378 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3379 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3380 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3381 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3382 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3383
3384 @kindex thbreak
3385 @item thbreak @var{args}
3386 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3387 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3388 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3389 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3390 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3391 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3392 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3393 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3394
3395 @kindex rbreak
3396 @cindex regular expression
3397 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3398 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3399 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3400 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3401 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3402 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3403 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3404 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3405 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3406
3407 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3408 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3409 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3410 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3411 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3412 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3413
3414 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3415 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3416 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3417 classes.
3418
3419 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3420 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3421 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3422
3423 @smallexample
3424 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3425 @end smallexample
3426
3427 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3428 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3429 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3430 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3431 every function in a given file:
3432
3433 @smallexample
3434 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3435 @end smallexample
3436
3437 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3438 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3439
3440 @kindex info breakpoints
3441 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3442 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3443 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3444 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3445 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3446 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3447 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3448
3449 @table @emph
3450 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3451 @item Type
3452 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3453 @item Disposition
3454 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3455 @item Enabled or Disabled
3456 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3457 that are not enabled.
3458 @item Address
3459 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3460 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3461 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3462 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3463 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3464 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3465 @item What
3466 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3467 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3468 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3469 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3470 @end table
3471
3472 @noindent
3473 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3474 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3475 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3476 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3477 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3478 valid location.
3479
3480 @noindent
3481 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3482 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3483 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3484 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3485 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3486
3487 @noindent
3488 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3489 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3490 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3491 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3492 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3493 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3494 @end table
3495
3496 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3497 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3498 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3499 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3500
3501 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3502 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3503 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3504 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3505
3506 @itemize @bullet
3507 @item
3508 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3509 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3510
3511 @item
3512 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3513 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3514
3515 @item
3516 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3517 several places where that function is inlined.
3518 @end itemize
3519
3520 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3521 the relevant locations@footnote{
3522 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3523 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3524 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3525 info with line numbers for them.}.
3526
3527 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3528 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3529 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3530 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3531 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3532 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3533 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3534
3535 For example:
3536
3537 @smallexample
3538 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3539 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3540 stop only if i==1
3541 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3542 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3543 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3544 @end smallexample
3545
3546 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3547 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3548 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3549 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3550 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3551 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3552 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3553 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3554 that belong to that breakpoint.
3555
3556 @cindex pending breakpoints
3557 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3558 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3559 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3560 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3561 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3562 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3563 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3564 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3565 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3566 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3567 is not yet resolved.
3568
3569 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3570 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3571 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3572 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3573 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3574 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3575
3576 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3577 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3578 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3579 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3580
3581 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3582 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3583 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3584
3585 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3586 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3587 address specification to an address:
3588
3589 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3590 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3591 @table @code
3592 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3593 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3594 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3595
3596 @item set breakpoint pending on
3597 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3598 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3599
3600 @item set breakpoint pending off
3601 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3602 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3603 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3604
3605 @item show breakpoint pending
3606 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3607 @end table
3608
3609 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3610 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3611 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3612
3613 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3614 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3615 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3616 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3617 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3618 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3619 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3620 breakpoints.
3621
3622 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3623
3624 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3625 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3626 @table @code
3627 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3628 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3629 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3630 breakpoint must be used.
3631
3632 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3633 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3634 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3635 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3636 @end table
3637
3638 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3639 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3640 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3641 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3642 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3643 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3644 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3645 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3646 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3647
3648 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3649 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3650 @table @code
3651 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3652 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3653 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3654 removed from the target when it stops.
3655
3656 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3657 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3658 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3659 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3660 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3661
3662 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3663 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3664 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3665 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3666 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3667 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3668 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3669 @end table
3670
3671 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3672 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3673 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3674 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3675 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3676 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3677 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3678 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3679
3680
3681 @node Set Watchpoints
3682 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3683
3684 @cindex setting watchpoints
3685 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3686 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3687 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3688 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3689 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3690
3691 @itemize @bullet
3692 @item
3693 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3694
3695 @item
3696 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3697 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3698 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3699
3700 @item
3701 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3702 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3703 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3704 @end itemize
3705
3706 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3707 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3708 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3709 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3710 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3711 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3712 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3713 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3714 the expression changes.
3715
3716 @cindex software watchpoints
3717 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3718 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3719 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3720 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3721 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3722 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3723 culprit.)
3724
3725 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3726 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3727 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3728
3729 @table @code
3730 @kindex watch
3731 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3732 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3733 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3734 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3735 to watch the value of a single variable:
3736
3737 @smallexample
3738 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3739 @end smallexample
3740
3741 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3742 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3743 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3744 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3745 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3746 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3747
3748 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3749 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3750 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3751 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3752 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3753 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3754 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3755 error.
3756
3757 @kindex rwatch
3758 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3759 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3760 by the program.
3761
3762 @kindex awatch
3763 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3764 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3765 or written into by the program.
3766
3767 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3768 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3769 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3770 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3771 @end table
3772
3773 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3774 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3775 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3776 a never-changing value:
3777
3778 @smallexample
3779 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3780 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3781 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3782 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3783 @end smallexample
3784
3785 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3786 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3787 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3788 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3789 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3790 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3791
3792 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3793 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3794 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3795 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3796 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3797 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3798 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3799 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3800
3801 @table @code
3802 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3803 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3804 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3805
3806 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3807 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3808 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3809 @end table
3810
3811 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3812 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3813 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3814
3815 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3816
3817 @smallexample
3818 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3819 @end smallexample
3820
3821 @noindent
3822 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3823
3824 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3825 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3826 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3827 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3828 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3829 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3830 will print a message like this:
3831
3832 @smallexample
3833 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3834 @end smallexample
3835
3836 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3837 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3838 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3839 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3840 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3841 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3842 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3843 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3844
3845 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3846 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3847 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3848 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3849 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3850 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3851
3852 @smallexample
3853 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3854 @end smallexample
3855
3856 @noindent
3857 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3858
3859 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3860 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3861 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3862 expression with separately allocated resources.
3863
3864 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3865 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3866 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3867
3868 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3869 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3870 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3871 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3872 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3873 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3874 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3875 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3876 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3877
3878 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3879 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3880 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3881 watched expression from every thread.
3882
3883 @quotation
3884 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3885 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3886 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3887 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3888 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3889 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3890 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3891 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3892 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3893 @end quotation
3894
3895 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3896
3897 @node Set Catchpoints
3898 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3899 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3900 @cindex exception handlers
3901 @cindex event handling
3902
3903 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3904 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3905 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3906
3907 @table @code
3908 @kindex catch
3909 @item catch @var{event}
3910 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3911 @table @code
3912 @item throw
3913 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3914 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3915
3916 @item catch
3917 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3918
3919 @item exception
3920 @cindex Ada exception catching
3921 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3922 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3923 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3924 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3925 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3926
3927 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3928 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3929 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3930 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3931 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3932 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3933 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3934 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3935
3936 @item exception unhandled
3937 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3938
3939 @item assert
3940 A failed Ada assertion.
3941
3942 @item exec
3943 @cindex break on fork/exec
3944 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3945 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3946
3947 @item syscall
3948 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3949 @cindex break on a system call.
3950 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3951 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3952 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3953 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3954 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3955 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3956 will be caught.
3957
3958 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3959 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3960 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3961 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3962
3963 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3964 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3965 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3966 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3967
3968 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3969 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3970 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3971 available choices.
3972
3973 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3974 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3975 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3976 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3977 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3978 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3979 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3980 behind the OS upgrades).
3981
3982 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3983 arguments to it:
3984
3985 @smallexample
3986 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3987 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3988 (@value{GDBP}) r
3989 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3990
3991 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3992 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3993 (@value{GDBP}) c
3994 Continuing.
3995
3996 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3997 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3998 (@value{GDBP})
3999 @end smallexample
4000
4001 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4002
4003 @smallexample
4004 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4005 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4006 (@value{GDBP}) r
4007 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4008
4009 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4010 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4011 (@value{GDBP}) c
4012 Continuing.
4013
4014 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4015 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4016 (@value{GDBP})
4017 @end smallexample
4018
4019 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4020 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4021 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4022
4023 @smallexample
4024 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4025 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4026 (@value{GDBP}) r
4027 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4028
4029 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4030 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4031 (@value{GDBP}) c
4032 Continuing.
4033
4034 Program exited normally.
4035 (@value{GDBP})
4036 @end smallexample
4037
4038 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4039 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4040 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4041 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4042
4043 @smallexample
4044 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4045 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4046 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4047 (@value{GDBP})
4048 @end smallexample
4049
4050 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4051 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4052 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4053 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4054 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4055 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4056
4057 @smallexample
4058 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4059 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4060 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4061 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4062 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4063 (@value{GDBP})
4064 @end smallexample
4065
4066 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4067
4068 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4069 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4070
4071 @smallexample
4072 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4073 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4074 @end smallexample
4075
4076 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4077
4078 @item fork
4079 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4080 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4081
4082 @item vfork
4083 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4084 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4085
4086 @end table
4087
4088 @item tcatch @var{event}
4089 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4090 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4091
4092 @end table
4093
4094 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4095
4096 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4097 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4098
4099 @itemize @bullet
4100 @item
4101 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4102 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4103 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4104 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4105 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4106 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4107 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4108 disabled within interactive calls.
4109
4110 @item
4111 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4112
4113 @item
4114 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4115 @end itemize
4116
4117 @cindex raise exceptions
4118 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4119 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4120 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4121 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4122 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4123 out where the exception was raised.
4124
4125 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4126 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4127 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4128 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4129
4130 @smallexample
4131 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4132 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4133 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4134 @end smallexample
4135
4136 @noindent
4137 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4138 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4139 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4140
4141 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4142 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4143 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4144 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4145 raised.
4146
4147
4148 @node Delete Breaks
4149 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4150
4151 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4152 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4153 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4154 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4155 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4156 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4157
4158 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4159 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4160 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4161 their breakpoint numbers.
4162
4163 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4164 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4165 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4166
4167 @table @code
4168 @kindex clear
4169 @item clear
4170 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4171 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4172 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4173 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4174
4175 @item clear @var{location}
4176 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4177 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4178 most useful ones are listed below:
4179
4180 @table @code
4181 @item clear @var{function}
4182 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4183 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4184
4185 @item clear @var{linenum}
4186 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4187 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4188 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4189 @end table
4190
4191 @cindex delete breakpoints
4192 @kindex delete
4193 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4194 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4195 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4196 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4197 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4198 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4199 @end table
4200
4201 @node Disabling
4202 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4203
4204 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4205 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4206 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4207 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4208 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4209
4210 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4211 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4212 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4213 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4214 do not know which numbers to use.
4215
4216 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4217 affects all of its locations.
4218
4219 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4220 states of enablement:
4221
4222 @itemize @bullet
4223 @item
4224 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4225 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4226 @item
4227 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4228 @item
4229 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4230 disabled.
4231 @item
4232 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4233 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4234 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4235 @end itemize
4236
4237 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4238 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4239
4240 @table @code
4241 @kindex disable
4242 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4243 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4244 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4245 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4246 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4247 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4248 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4249
4250 @kindex enable
4251 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4252 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4253 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4254
4255 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4256 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4257 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4258
4259 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4260 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4261 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4262 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4263 @end table
4264
4265 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4266 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4267 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4268 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4269 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4270 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4271 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4272 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4273 Stepping}.)
4274
4275 @node Conditions
4276 @subsection Break Conditions
4277 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4278 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4279
4280 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4281 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4282 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4283 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4284 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4285 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4286 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4287 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4288
4289 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4290 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4291 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4292 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4293 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4294
4295 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4296 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4297 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4298 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4299 one.
4300
4301 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4302 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4303 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4304 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4305 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4306 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4307 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4308 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4309 conditions for the
4310 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4311 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4312
4313 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4314 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4315 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4316 with the @code{condition} command.
4317
4318 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4319 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4320 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4321 catchpoint.
4322
4323 @table @code
4324 @kindex condition
4325 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4326 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4327 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4328 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4329 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4330 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4331 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4332 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4333 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4334 prints an error message:
4335
4336 @smallexample
4337 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4338 @end smallexample
4339
4340 @noindent
4341 @value{GDBN} does
4342 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4343 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4344 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4345
4346 @item condition @var{bnum}
4347 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4348 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4349 @end table
4350
4351 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4352 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4353 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4354 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4355 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4356 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4357 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4358 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4359 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4360 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4361 your program reaches it.
4362
4363 @table @code
4364 @kindex ignore
4365 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4366 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4367 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4368 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4369 takes no action.
4370
4371 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4372 a count of zero.
4373
4374 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4375 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4376 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4377 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4378
4379 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4380 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4381 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4382
4383 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4384 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4385 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4386 Variables}.
4387 @end table
4388
4389 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4390
4391
4392 @node Break Commands
4393 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4394
4395 @cindex breakpoint commands
4396 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4397 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4398 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4399 enable other breakpoints.
4400
4401 @table @code
4402 @kindex commands
4403 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4404 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4405 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4406 @itemx end
4407 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4408 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4409 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4410
4411 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4412 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4413
4414 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4415 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4416 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4417 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4418 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4419 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4420 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4421 Expressions}).
4422 @end table
4423
4424 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4425 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4426
4427 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4428 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4429 that resumes execution.
4430
4431 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4432 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4433 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4434 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4435 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4436
4437 @kindex silent
4438 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4439 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4440 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4441 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4442 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4443 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4444
4445 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4446 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4447 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4448
4449 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4450 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4451
4452 @smallexample
4453 break foo if x>0
4454 commands
4455 silent
4456 printf "x is %d\n",x
4457 cont
4458 end
4459 @end smallexample
4460
4461 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4462 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4463 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4464 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4465 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4466 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4467 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4468
4469 @smallexample
4470 break 403
4471 commands
4472 silent
4473 set x = y + 4
4474 cont
4475 end
4476 @end smallexample
4477
4478 @node Save Breakpoints
4479 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4480
4481 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4482 breakpoints}} command.
4483
4484 @table @code
4485 @kindex save breakpoints
4486 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4487 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4488 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4489 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4490 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4491 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4492 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4493 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4494 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4495 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4496 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4497 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4498 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4499 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4500 that can no longer be recreated.
4501 @end table
4502
4503 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4504 @node Error in Breakpoints
4505 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4506
4507 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4508 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4509
4510 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4511 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4512 @smallexample
4513 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4514 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4515 @end smallexample
4516
4517 @noindent
4518 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4519 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4520 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4521
4522 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4523 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4524
4525 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4526 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4527 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4528
4529 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4530 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4531 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4532 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4533
4534 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4535 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4536 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4537 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4538 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4539 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4540 first in the bundle.
4541
4542 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4543 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4544 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4545 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4546 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4547 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4548 is hit.
4549
4550 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4551 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4552
4553 @smallexample
4554 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4555 @end smallexample
4556
4557 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4558 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4559 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4560 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4561 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4562 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4563 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4564 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4565
4566 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4567 adjusted breakpoints:
4568
4569 @smallexample
4570 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4571 to 0x00010410.
4572 @end smallexample
4573
4574 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4575 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4576 frequently than expected.
4577
4578 @node Continuing and Stepping
4579 @section Continuing and Stepping
4580
4581 @cindex stepping
4582 @cindex continuing
4583 @cindex resuming execution
4584 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4585 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4586 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4587 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4588 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4589 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4590 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4591 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4592
4593 @table @code
4594 @kindex continue
4595 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4596 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4597 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4598 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4599 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4600 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4601 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4602 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4603 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4604 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4605
4606 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4607 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4608 @code{continue} is ignored.
4609
4610 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4611 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4612 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4613 @code{continue}.
4614 @end table
4615
4616 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4617 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4618 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4619 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4620
4621 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4622 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4623 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4624 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4625 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4626 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4627
4628 @table @code
4629 @kindex step
4630 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4631 @item step
4632 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4633 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4634 abbreviated @code{s}.
4635
4636 @quotation
4637 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4638 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4639 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4640 @c distinction here.
4641 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4642 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4643 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4644 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4645 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4646 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4647 below.
4648 @end quotation
4649
4650 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4651 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4652 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4653 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4654 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4655 called within the line.
4656
4657 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4658 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4659 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4660 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4661 was any debugging information about the routine.
4662
4663 @item step @var{count}
4664 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4665 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4666 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4667
4668 @kindex next
4669 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4670 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4671 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4672 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4673 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4674 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4675 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4676 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4677
4678 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4679
4680
4681 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4682 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4683 @c
4684 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4685 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4686 @c function are executed without stopping.
4687
4688 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4689 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4690 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4691
4692 @kindex set step-mode
4693 @item set step-mode
4694 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4695 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4696 @itemx set step-mode on
4697 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4698 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4699 information rather than stepping over it.
4700
4701 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4702 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4703 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4704
4705 @item set step-mode off
4706 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4707 debug information. This is the default.
4708
4709 @item show step-mode
4710 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4711 source line debug information.
4712
4713 @kindex finish
4714 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4715 @item finish
4716 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4717 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4718 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4719
4720 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4721 ,Returning from a Function}).
4722
4723 @kindex until
4724 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4725 @cindex run until specified location
4726 @item until
4727 @itemx u
4728 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4729 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4730 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4731 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4732 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4733 than the address of the jump.
4734
4735 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4736 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4737 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4738 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4739 through the next iteration.
4740
4741 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4742 stack frame.
4743
4744 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4745 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4746 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4747 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4748 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4749
4750 @smallexample
4751 (@value{GDBP}) f
4752 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4753 206 expand_input();
4754 (@value{GDBP}) until
4755 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4756 @end smallexample
4757
4758 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4759 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4760 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4761 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4762 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4763 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4764 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4765
4766 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4767 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4768 argument.
4769
4770 @item until @var{location}
4771 @itemx u @var{location}
4772 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4773 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4774 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4775 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4776 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4777 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4778 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4779 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4780 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4781 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4782 invocations have returned.
4783
4784 @smallexample
4785 94 int factorial (int value)
4786 95 @{
4787 96 if (value > 1) @{
4788 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4789 98 @}
4790 99 return (value);
4791 100 @}
4792 @end smallexample
4793
4794
4795 @kindex advance @var{location}
4796 @itemx advance @var{location}
4797 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4798 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4799 @ref{Specify Location}.
4800 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4801 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4802 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4803 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4804
4805
4806 @kindex stepi
4807 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4808 @item stepi
4809 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4810 @itemx si
4811 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4812
4813 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4814 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4815 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4816 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4817
4818 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4819
4820 @need 750
4821 @kindex nexti
4822 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4823 @item nexti
4824 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4825 @itemx ni
4826 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4827 proceed until the function returns.
4828
4829 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4830 @end table
4831
4832 @node Signals
4833 @section Signals
4834 @cindex signals
4835
4836 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4837 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4838 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4839 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4840 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4841 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4842 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4843 requested an alarm).
4844
4845 @cindex fatal signals
4846 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4847 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4848 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4849 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4850 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4851 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4852
4853 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4854 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4855 signal.
4856
4857 @cindex handling signals
4858 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4859 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4860 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4861 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4862 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4863
4864 @table @code
4865 @kindex info signals
4866 @kindex info handle
4867 @item info signals
4868 @itemx info handle
4869 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4870 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4871 the defined types of signals.
4872
4873 @item info signals @var{sig}
4874 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4875
4876 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4877
4878 @kindex handle
4879 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4880 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4881 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4882 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4883 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4884 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4885 say what change to make.
4886 @end table
4887
4888 @c @group
4889 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4890 Their full names are:
4891
4892 @table @code
4893 @item nostop
4894 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4895 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4896
4897 @item stop
4898 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4899 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4900
4901 @item print
4902 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4903
4904 @item noprint
4905 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4906 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4907
4908 @item pass
4909 @itemx noignore
4910 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4911 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4912 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4913
4914 @item nopass
4915 @itemx ignore
4916 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4917 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4918 @end table
4919 @c @end group
4920
4921 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4922 program until you
4923 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4924 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4925 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4926 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4927 program sees that signal when you continue.
4928
4929 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4930 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4931 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4932 erroneous signals.
4933
4934 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4935 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4936 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4937 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4938 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4939 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4940 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4941 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4942 Program a Signal}.
4943
4944 @cindex extra signal information
4945 @anchor{extra signal information}
4946
4947 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4948 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4949 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4950 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4951 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4952 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4953 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4954 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4955 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4956 system header.
4957
4958 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4959 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4960
4961 @smallexample
4962 @group
4963 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4964 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4965 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4966 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4967 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4968 type = struct @{
4969 int si_signo;
4970 int si_errno;
4971 int si_code;
4972 union @{
4973 int _pad[28];
4974 struct @{...@} _kill;
4975 struct @{...@} _timer;
4976 struct @{...@} _rt;
4977 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4978 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4979 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4980 @} _sifields;
4981 @}
4982 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4983 type = struct @{
4984 void *si_addr;
4985 @}
4986 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4987 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4988 @end group
4989 @end smallexample
4990
4991 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4992
4993 @node Thread Stops
4994 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4995
4996 @cindex stopped threads
4997 @cindex threads, stopped
4998
4999 @cindex continuing threads
5000 @cindex threads, continuing
5001
5002 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5003 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5004 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5005 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5006 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5007 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5008 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5009 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5010 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5011
5012 @menu
5013 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5014 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5015 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5016 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5017 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5018 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5019 @end menu
5020
5021 @node All-Stop Mode
5022 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5023
5024 @cindex all-stop mode
5025
5026 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5027 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5028 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5029 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5030 underfoot.
5031
5032 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5033 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5034 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5035
5036 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5037 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5038 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5039 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5040 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5041 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5042 stops.
5043
5044 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5045 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5046 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5047 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5048
5049 @cindex automatic thread selection
5050 @cindex switching threads automatically
5051 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5052 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5053 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5054 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5055 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5056 thread.
5057
5058 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5059 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5060
5061 @table @code
5062 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5063 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5064 @cindex lock scheduler
5065 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5066 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5067 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5068 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5069 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5070 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5071 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5072 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5073 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5074 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5075 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5076 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5077
5078 @item show scheduler-locking
5079 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5080 @end table
5081
5082 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5083 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5084 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5085 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5086 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5087 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5088 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5089 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5090 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5091 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5092 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5093 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5094 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5095 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5096
5097 @table @code
5098 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5099 @item set schedule-multiple
5100 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5101 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5102 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5103 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5104 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5105 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5106
5107 @item show schedule-multiple
5108 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5109 multiple processes.
5110 @end table
5111
5112 @node Non-Stop Mode
5113 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5114
5115 @cindex non-stop mode
5116
5117 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5118 @c with more details.
5119
5120 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5121 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5122 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5123 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5124 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5125 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5126
5127 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5128 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5129 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5130 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5131 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5132 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5133 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5134 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5135 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5136 independently and simultaneously.
5137
5138 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5139 or attach to your program:
5140
5141 @smallexample
5142 # Enable the async interface.
5143 set target-async 1
5144
5145 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5146 set pagination off
5147
5148 # Finally, turn it on!
5149 set non-stop on
5150 @end smallexample
5151
5152 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5153
5154 @table @code
5155 @kindex set non-stop
5156 @item set non-stop on
5157 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5158 @item set non-stop off
5159 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5160 @kindex show non-stop
5161 @item show non-stop
5162 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5163 @end table
5164
5165 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5166 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5167 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5168 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5169 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5170 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5171 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5172 default.
5173
5174 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5175 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5176 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5177
5178 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5179 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5180 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5181 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5182 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5183
5184 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5185 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5186 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5187 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5188 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5189
5190 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5191
5192 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5193 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5194 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5195 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5196 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5197 previously current thread.
5198
5199 @node Background Execution
5200 @subsection Background Execution
5201
5202 @cindex foreground execution
5203 @cindex background execution
5204 @cindex asynchronous execution
5205 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5206
5207 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5208 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5209 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5210 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5211 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5212 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5213
5214 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5215 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5216 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5217
5218 @table @code
5219 @kindex set target-async
5220 @item set target-async on
5221 Enable asynchronous mode.
5222 @item set target-async off
5223 Disable asynchronous mode.
5224 @kindex show target-async
5225 @item show target-async
5226 Show the current target-async setting.
5227 @end table
5228
5229 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5230 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5231
5232 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5233 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5234 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5235 are:
5236
5237 @table @code
5238 @kindex run&
5239 @item run
5240 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5241
5242 @item attach
5243 @kindex attach&
5244 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5245
5246 @item step
5247 @kindex step&
5248 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5249
5250 @item stepi
5251 @kindex stepi&
5252 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5253
5254 @item next
5255 @kindex next&
5256 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5257
5258 @item nexti
5259 @kindex nexti&
5260 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5261
5262 @item continue
5263 @kindex continue&
5264 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5265
5266 @item finish
5267 @kindex finish&
5268 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5269
5270 @item until
5271 @kindex until&
5272 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5273
5274 @end table
5275
5276 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5277 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5278 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5279 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5280 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5281 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5282
5283 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5284 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5285
5286 @table @code
5287 @kindex interrupt
5288 @item interrupt
5289 @itemx interrupt -a
5290
5291 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5292 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5293 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5294 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5295 @end table
5296
5297 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5298 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5299
5300 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5301 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5302 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5303
5304 @table @code
5305 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5306 @cindex thread breakpoints
5307 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5308 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5309 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5310 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5311 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5312 specify some source line.
5313
5314 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5315 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5316 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5317 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5318 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5319
5320 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5321 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5322 program.
5323
5324 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5325 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5326 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5327
5328 @smallexample
5329 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5330 @end smallexample
5331
5332 @end table
5333
5334 @node Interrupted System Calls
5335 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5336
5337 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5338 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5339 @cindex premature return from system calls
5340 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5341 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5342 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5343 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5344 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5345 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5346 stop execution.
5347
5348 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5349 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5350 style anyways.
5351
5352 For example, do not write code like this:
5353
5354 @smallexample
5355 sleep (10);
5356 @end smallexample
5357
5358 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5359 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5360
5361 Instead, write this:
5362
5363 @smallexample
5364 int unslept = 10;
5365 while (unslept > 0)
5366 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5367 @end smallexample
5368
5369 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5370 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5371 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5372 @value{GDBN}.
5373
5374 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5375 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5376 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5377 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5378
5379 @node Observer Mode
5380 @subsection Observer Mode
5381
5382 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5383 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5384 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5385 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5386 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5387
5388 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5389 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5390 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5391 mode.
5392
5393 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5394 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5395 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5396 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5397 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5398
5399 @table @code
5400
5401 @kindex observer
5402 @item set observer on
5403 @itemx set observer off
5404 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5405 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5406 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5407 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5408
5409 @item show observer
5410 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5411
5412 @kindex may-write-registers
5413 @item set may-write-registers on
5414 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5415 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5416 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5417 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5418
5419 @item show may-write-registers
5420 Show the current permission to write registers.
5421
5422 @kindex may-write-memory
5423 @item set may-write-memory on
5424 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5425 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5426 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5427 defaults to @code{on}.
5428
5429 @item show may-write-memory
5430 Show the current permission to write memory.
5431
5432 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5433 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5434 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5435 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5436 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5437 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5438
5439 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5440 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5441
5442 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5443 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5444 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5445 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5446 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5447 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5448 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5449
5450 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5451 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5452
5453 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5454 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5455 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5456 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5457 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5458 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5459 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5460
5461 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5462 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5463
5464 @kindex may-interrupt
5465 @item set may-interrupt on
5466 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5467 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5468 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5469 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5470 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5471
5472 @item show may-interrupt
5473 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5474
5475 @end table
5476
5477 @node Reverse Execution
5478 @chapter Running programs backward
5479 @cindex reverse execution
5480 @cindex running programs backward
5481
5482 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5483 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5484 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5485 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5486
5487 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5488 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5489 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5490 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5491 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5492 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5493
5494 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5495 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5496 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5497 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5498 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5499 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5500 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5501 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5502 prior values@footnote{
5503 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5504 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5505 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5506
5507 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5508 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5509 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5510 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5511 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5512 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5513 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5514 }.
5515
5516 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5517 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5518
5519 @table @code
5520 @kindex reverse-continue
5521 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5522 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5523 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5524 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5525 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5526 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5527 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5528
5529 @kindex reverse-step
5530 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5531 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5532 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5533 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5534
5535 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5536 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5537 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5538 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5539 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5540 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5541
5542 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5543 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5544
5545 @kindex reverse-stepi
5546 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5547 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5548 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5549 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5550 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5551 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5552 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5553
5554 @kindex reverse-next
5555 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5556 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5557 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5558 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5559 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5560 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5561 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5562 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5563 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5564 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5565
5566 @kindex reverse-nexti
5567 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5568 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5569 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5570 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5571 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5572 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5573 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5574 frame) is reached.
5575
5576 @kindex reverse-finish
5577 @item reverse-finish
5578 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5579 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5580 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5581 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5582
5583 @kindex set exec-direction
5584 @item set exec-direction
5585 Set the direction of target execution.
5586 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5587 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5588 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5589 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5590 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5591 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5592 @item set exec-direction forward
5593 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5594 This is the default.
5595 @end table
5596
5597
5598 @node Process Record and Replay
5599 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5600 @cindex process record and replay
5601 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5602
5603 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5604 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5605 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5606
5607 @cindex replay mode
5608 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5609 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5610 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5611 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5612 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5613 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5614 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5615 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5616 execution log.
5617
5618 @cindex record mode
5619 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5620 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5621 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5622 for future replay.
5623
5624 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5625 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5626 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5627 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5628 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5629 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5630
5631 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5632 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5633 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5634 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5635
5636 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5637 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5638
5639 @table @code
5640 @kindex target record
5641 @kindex record
5642 @kindex rec
5643 @item target record
5644 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5645 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5646 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5647 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5648 the @kbd{target record} command.
5649
5650 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5651
5652 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5653 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5654 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5655 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5656 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5657
5658 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5659 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5660 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5661 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5662 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5663 support these two modes.
5664
5665 @kindex record stop
5666 @kindex rec s
5667 @item record stop
5668 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5669 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5670 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5671
5672 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5673 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5674 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5675 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5676 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5677
5678 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5679 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5680 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5681 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5682 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5683
5684 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5685 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5686
5687 @kindex record save
5688 @item record save @var{filename}
5689 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5690 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5691 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5692
5693 @kindex record restore
5694 @item record restore @var{filename}
5695 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5696 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5697
5698 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5699 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5700 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5701
5702 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5703 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5704 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5705 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5706 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5707 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5708 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5709 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5710
5711 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5712 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5713 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5714
5715 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5716 @item show record insn-number-max
5717 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5718
5719 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5720 @item set record stop-at-limit
5721 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5722 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5723 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5724 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5725 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5726 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5727
5728 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5729 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5730
5731 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5732 @item show record stop-at-limit
5733 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5734
5735 @kindex set record memory-query
5736 @item set record memory-query
5737 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5738 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5739 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5740
5741 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5742 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5743 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5744 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5745 results.
5746
5747 @kindex show record memory-query
5748 @item show record memory-query
5749 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5750
5751 @kindex info record
5752 @item info record
5753 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5754 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5755
5756 @itemize @bullet
5757 @item
5758 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5759 @item
5760 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5761 @item
5762 Highest recorded instruction number.
5763 @item
5764 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5765 @item
5766 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5767 @item
5768 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5769 @end itemize
5770
5771 @kindex record delete
5772 @kindex rec del
5773 @item record delete
5774 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5775 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5776 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5777 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5778 @end table
5779
5780
5781 @node Stack
5782 @chapter Examining the Stack
5783
5784 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5785 stopped and how it got there.
5786
5787 @cindex call stack
5788 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5789 is generated.
5790 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5791 the arguments of the call,
5792 and the local variables of the function being called.
5793 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5794 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5795 stack}.
5796
5797 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5798 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5799
5800 @cindex selected frame
5801 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5802 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5803 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5804 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5805 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5806 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5807
5808 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5809 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5810 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5811
5812 @menu
5813 * Frames:: Stack frames
5814 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5815 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5816 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5817
5818 @end menu
5819
5820 @node Frames
5821 @section Stack Frames
5822
5823 @cindex frame, definition
5824 @cindex stack frame
5825 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5826 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5827 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5828 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5829 which the function is executing.
5830
5831 @cindex initial frame
5832 @cindex outermost frame
5833 @cindex innermost frame
5834 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5835 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5836 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5837 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5838 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5839 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5840 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5841 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5842
5843 @cindex frame pointer
5844 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5845 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5846 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5847 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5848 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5849 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5850
5851 @cindex frame number
5852 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5853 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5854 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5855 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5856 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5857
5858 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5859 @c underflow problems.
5860 @cindex frameless execution
5861 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5862 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5863 @smallexample
5864 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5865 @end smallexample
5866 generates functions without a frame.)
5867 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5868 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5869 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5870 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5871 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5872 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5873 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5874
5875 @table @code
5876 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5877 @cindex current stack frame
5878 @item frame @var{args}
5879 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5880 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5881 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5882 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5883
5884 @kindex select-frame
5885 @cindex selecting frame silently
5886 @item select-frame
5887 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5888 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5889 @code{frame}.
5890 @end table
5891
5892 @node Backtrace
5893 @section Backtraces
5894
5895 @cindex traceback
5896 @cindex call stack traces
5897 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5898 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5899 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5900 stack.
5901
5902 @table @code
5903 @kindex backtrace
5904 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5905 @item backtrace
5906 @itemx bt
5907 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5908 frames in the stack.
5909
5910 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5911 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5912
5913 @item backtrace @var{n}
5914 @itemx bt @var{n}
5915 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5916
5917 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5918 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5919 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5920
5921 @item backtrace full
5922 @itemx bt full
5923 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5924 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5925 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5926 number of frames to print, as described above.
5927 @end table
5928
5929 @kindex where
5930 @kindex info stack
5931 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5932 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5933
5934 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5935 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5936 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5937 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5938 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5939 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5940 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5941 multi-threaded program.
5942
5943 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5944 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5945 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5946 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5947 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5948 line number.
5949
5950 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5951 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5952
5953 @smallexample
5954 @group
5955 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5956 at builtin.c:993
5957 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5958 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5959 at macro.c:71
5960 (More stack frames follow...)
5961 @end group
5962 @end smallexample
5963
5964 @noindent
5965 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5966 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5967 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5968
5969 @noindent
5970 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5971 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5972 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5973 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5974 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5975
5976 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
5977 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5978 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5979 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5980 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5981 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5982 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5983 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5984 such a backtrace might look like:
5985
5986 @smallexample
5987 @group
5988 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5989 at builtin.c:993
5990 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5991 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5992 at macro.c:71
5993 (More stack frames follow...)
5994 @end group
5995 @end smallexample
5996
5997 @noindent
5998 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5999 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6000
6001 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6002 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6003 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6004
6005 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6006 @cindex program entry point
6007 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6008 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6009 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6010 @code{main}@footnote{
6011 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6012 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6013 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6014 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6015 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6016 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6017
6018 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6019 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6020
6021 @table @code
6022 @item set backtrace past-main
6023 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6024 @kindex set backtrace
6025 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6026
6027 @item set backtrace past-main off
6028 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6029 default.
6030
6031 @item show backtrace past-main
6032 @kindex show backtrace
6033 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6034
6035 @item set backtrace past-entry
6036 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6037 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6038 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6039 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6040
6041 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6042 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6043 application. This is the default.
6044
6045 @item show backtrace past-entry
6046 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6047
6048 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6049 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6050 @cindex backtrace limit
6051 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6052 unlimited.
6053
6054 @item show backtrace limit
6055 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6056 @end table
6057
6058 @node Selection
6059 @section Selecting a Frame
6060
6061 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6062 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6063 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6064 of the stack frame just selected.
6065
6066 @table @code
6067 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6068 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6069 @item frame @var{n}
6070 @itemx f @var{n}
6071 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6072 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6073 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6074 @code{main}.
6075
6076 @item frame @var{addr}
6077 @itemx f @var{addr}
6078 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6079 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6080 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6081 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6082 switches between them.
6083
6084 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6085 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6086
6087 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6088 pointer and a program counter.
6089
6090 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6091 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6092
6093 @kindex up
6094 @item up @var{n}
6095 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6096 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6097 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6098
6099 @kindex down
6100 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6101 @item down @var{n}
6102 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6103 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6104 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6105 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6106 @end table
6107
6108 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6109 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6110 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6111 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6112
6113 @need 1000
6114 For example:
6115
6116 @smallexample
6117 @group
6118 (@value{GDBP}) up
6119 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6120 at env.c:10
6121 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6122 @end group
6123 @end smallexample
6124
6125 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6126 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6127 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6128 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6129 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6130 for details.
6131
6132 @table @code
6133 @kindex down-silently
6134 @kindex up-silently
6135 @item up-silently @var{n}
6136 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6137 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6138 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6139 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6140 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6141 distracting.
6142 @end table
6143
6144 @node Frame Info
6145 @section Information About a Frame
6146
6147 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6148 stack frame.
6149
6150 @table @code
6151 @item frame
6152 @itemx f
6153 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6154 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6155 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6156 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6157 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6158
6159 @kindex info frame
6160 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6161 @item info frame
6162 @itemx info f
6163 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6164 including:
6165
6166 @itemize @bullet
6167 @item
6168 the address of the frame
6169 @item
6170 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6171 @item
6172 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6173 @item
6174 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6175 @item
6176 the address of the frame's arguments
6177 @item
6178 the address of the frame's local variables
6179 @item
6180 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6181 @item
6182 which registers were saved in the frame
6183 @end itemize
6184
6185 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6186 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6187 the usual conventions.
6188
6189 @item info frame @var{addr}
6190 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6191 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6192 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6193 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6194 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6195 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6196
6197 @kindex info args
6198 @item info args
6199 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6200
6201 @item info locals
6202 @kindex info locals
6203 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6204 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6205 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6206
6207 @kindex info catch
6208 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6209 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6210 @item info catch
6211 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6212 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6213 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6214 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6215 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6216
6217 @end table
6218
6219
6220 @node Source
6221 @chapter Examining Source Files
6222
6223 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6224 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6225 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6226 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6227 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6228 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6229 source files by explicit command.
6230
6231 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6232 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6233 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6234
6235 @menu
6236 * List:: Printing source lines
6237 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6238 * Edit:: Editing source files
6239 * Search:: Searching source files
6240 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6241 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6242 @end menu
6243
6244 @node List
6245 @section Printing Source Lines
6246
6247 @kindex list
6248 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6249 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6250 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6251 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6252 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6253
6254 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6255
6256 @table @code
6257 @item list @var{linenum}
6258 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6259 current source file.
6260
6261 @item list @var{function}
6262 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6263 @var{function}.
6264
6265 @item list
6266 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6267 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6268 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6269 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6270 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6271
6272 @item list -
6273 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6274 @end table
6275
6276 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6277 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6278 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6279
6280 @table @code
6281 @kindex set listsize
6282 @item set listsize @var{count}
6283 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6284 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6285
6286 @kindex show listsize
6287 @item show listsize
6288 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6289 @end table
6290
6291 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6292 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6293 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6294 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6295 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6296
6297 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6298 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6299 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6300 to specify some source line.
6301
6302 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6303
6304 @table @code
6305 @item list @var{linespec}
6306 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6307
6308 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6309 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6310 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6311 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6312 the same source file as the first linespec.
6313
6314 @item list ,@var{last}
6315 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6316
6317 @item list @var{first},
6318 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6319
6320 @item list +
6321 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6322
6323 @item list -
6324 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6325
6326 @item list
6327 As described in the preceding table.
6328 @end table
6329
6330 @node Specify Location
6331 @section Specifying a Location
6332 @cindex specifying location
6333 @cindex linespec
6334
6335 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6336 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6337 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6338 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6339
6340 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6341 @value{GDBN} understands:
6342
6343 @table @code
6344 @item @var{linenum}
6345 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6346
6347 @item -@var{offset}
6348 @itemx +@var{offset}
6349 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6350 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6351 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6352 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6353 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6354 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6355 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6356 linespec.
6357
6358 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6359 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6360
6361 @item @var{function}
6362 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6363 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6364
6365 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6366 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6367
6368 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6369 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6370 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6371 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6372 functions in different source files.
6373
6374 @item @var{label}
6375 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6376 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6377 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6378 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6379 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6380
6381 @item *@var{address}
6382 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6383 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6384 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6385 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6386 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6387 source files.
6388
6389 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6390 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6391 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6392 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6393 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6394 of @var{address}:
6395
6396 @table @code
6397 @item @var{expression}
6398 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6399
6400 @item @var{funcaddr}
6401 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6402 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6403 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6404 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6405 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6406 (although the Pascal form also works).
6407
6408 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6409 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6410
6411 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6412 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6413 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6414 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6415 functions with identical names in different source files.
6416 @end table
6417
6418 @end table
6419
6420
6421 @node Edit
6422 @section Editing Source Files
6423 @cindex editing source files
6424
6425 @kindex edit
6426 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6427 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6428 The editing program of your choice
6429 is invoked with the current line set to
6430 the active line in the program.
6431 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6432 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6433
6434 @table @code
6435 @item edit @var{location}
6436 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6437 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6438 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6439 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6440 command most commonly used:
6441
6442 @table @code
6443 @item edit @var{number}
6444 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6445
6446 @item edit @var{function}
6447 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6448 @end table
6449
6450 @end table
6451
6452 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6453 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6454 @footnote{
6455 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6456 following command-line syntax:
6457 @smallexample
6458 ex +@var{number} file
6459 @end smallexample
6460 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6461 the file where to start editing.}.
6462 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6463 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6464 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6465 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6466 @smallexample
6467 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6468 export EDITOR
6469 gdb @dots{}
6470 @end smallexample
6471 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6472 @smallexample
6473 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6474 gdb @dots{}
6475 @end smallexample
6476
6477 @node Search
6478 @section Searching Source Files
6479 @cindex searching source files
6480
6481 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6482 regular expression.
6483
6484 @table @code
6485 @kindex search
6486 @kindex forward-search
6487 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6488 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6489 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6490 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6491 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6492 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6493 @code{fo}.
6494
6495 @kindex reverse-search
6496 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6497 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6498 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6499 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6500 this command as @code{rev}.
6501 @end table
6502
6503 @node Source Path
6504 @section Specifying Source Directories
6505
6506 @cindex source path
6507 @cindex directories for source files
6508 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6509 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6510 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6511 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6512 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6513 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6514 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6515
6516 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6517 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6518 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6519 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6520 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6521 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6522 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6523 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6524 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6525 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6526 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6527
6528 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6529 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6530 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6531 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6532 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6533 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6534
6535 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6536 source files.
6537
6538 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6539 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6540 each line is in the file.
6541
6542 @kindex directory
6543 @kindex dir
6544 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6545 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6546 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6547
6548 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6549 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6550
6551 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6552 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6553 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6554 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6555 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6556 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6557 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6558 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6559 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6560 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6561 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6562 name to look up the sources.
6563
6564 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6565 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6566 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6567 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6568 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6569 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6570 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6571 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6572
6573 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6574 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6575 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6576 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6577 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6578 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6579 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6580
6581 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6582 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6583 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6584 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6585 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6586 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6587 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6588 command.
6589
6590 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6591 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6592 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6593 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6594 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6595 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6596 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6597
6598 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6599 @cindex default source path substitution
6600 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6601 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6602 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6603 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6604 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6605 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6606 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6607 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6608 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6609 together.
6610
6611 @table @code
6612 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6613 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6614 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6615 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6616 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6617 part of absolute file names) or
6618 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6619 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6620
6621 @kindex cdir
6622 @kindex cwd
6623 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6624 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6625 @cindex compilation directory
6626 @cindex current directory
6627 @cindex working directory
6628 @cindex directory, current
6629 @cindex directory, compilation
6630 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6631 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6632 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6633 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6634 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6635 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6636
6637 @item directory
6638 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6639
6640 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6641 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6642
6643 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6644 @kindex set directories
6645 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6646 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6647
6648 @item show directories
6649 @kindex show directories
6650 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6651
6652 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6653 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6654 @kindex set substitute-path
6655 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6656 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6657 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6658
6659 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6660 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6661
6662 @smallexample
6663 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6664 @end smallexample
6665
6666 @noindent
6667 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6668 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6669 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6670
6671 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6672 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6673 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6674 the substitution.
6675
6676 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6677
6678 @smallexample
6679 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6680 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6681 @end smallexample
6682
6683 @noindent
6684 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6685 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6686 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6687 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6688
6689
6690 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6691 @kindex unset substitute-path
6692 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6693 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6694 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6695
6696 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6697
6698 @item show substitute-path [path]
6699 @kindex show substitute-path
6700 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6701 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6702
6703 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6704 rules.
6705
6706 @end table
6707
6708 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6709 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6710 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6711
6712 @enumerate
6713 @item
6714 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6715
6716 @item
6717 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6718 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6719 directories in one command.
6720 @end enumerate
6721
6722 @node Machine Code
6723 @section Source and Machine Code
6724 @cindex source line and its code address
6725
6726 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6727 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6728 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6729 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6730 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6731 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6732 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6733 well as hex.
6734
6735 @table @code
6736 @kindex info line
6737 @item info line @var{linespec}
6738 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6739 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6740 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6741 @end table
6742
6743 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6744 the object code for the first line of function
6745 @code{m4_changequote}:
6746
6747 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6748 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6749 @smallexample
6750 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6751 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6752 @end smallexample
6753
6754 @noindent
6755 @cindex code address and its source line
6756 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6757 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6758 @smallexample
6759 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6760 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6761 @end smallexample
6762
6763 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6764 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6765 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6766 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6767 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6768 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6769 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6770 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6771 Variables}).
6772
6773 @table @code
6774 @kindex disassemble
6775 @cindex assembly instructions
6776 @cindex instructions, assembly
6777 @cindex machine instructions
6778 @cindex listing machine instructions
6779 @item disassemble
6780 @itemx disassemble /m
6781 @itemx disassemble /r
6782 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6783 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6784 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6785 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6786 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6787 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6788 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6789 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6790 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6791 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6792
6793 @table @code
6794 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6795 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6796 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6797 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6798 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6799 @end table
6800
6801 @noindent
6802 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6803 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6804
6805 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6806 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6807
6808 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6809 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6810 @end table
6811
6812 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6813 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6814
6815 @smallexample
6816 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6817 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6818 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6819 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6820 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6821 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6822 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6823 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6824 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6825 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6826 End of assembler dump.
6827 @end smallexample
6828
6829 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6830 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6831
6832 @smallexample
6833 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6834 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6835 5 @{
6836 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6837 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6838 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6839 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6840 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6841
6842 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6843 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6844 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6845
6846 7 return 0;
6847 8 @}
6848 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6849 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6850 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6851
6852 End of assembler dump.
6853 @end smallexample
6854
6855 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6856
6857 @smallexample
6858 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6859 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6860 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6861 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6862 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6863 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
6864 End of assembler dump.
6865 @end smallexample
6866
6867 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6868 mnemonics or other syntax.
6869
6870 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6871 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6872 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6873 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6874 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6875
6876 @table @code
6877 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6878 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6879 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6880 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6881 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6882 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6883
6884 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6885 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6886 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6887 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6888
6889 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6890 @item show disassembly-flavor
6891 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6892 @end table
6893
6894 @table @code
6895 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6896 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6897 @item set disassemble-next-line
6898 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6899 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6900 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6901 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6902 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6903 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6904 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6905 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6906 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6907 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6908 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6909 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6910 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6911 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6912 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6913 instruction.
6914 @end table
6915
6916
6917 @node Data
6918 @chapter Examining Data
6919
6920 @cindex printing data
6921 @cindex examining data
6922 @kindex print
6923 @kindex inspect
6924 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6925 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6926 @c different window or something like that.
6927 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6928 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6929 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6930 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6931 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6932 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6933
6934 @table @code
6935 @item print @var{expr}
6936 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6937 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6938 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6939 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6940 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6941 Formats}.
6942
6943 @item print
6944 @itemx print /@var{f}
6945 @cindex reprint the last value
6946 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6947 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6948 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6949 @end table
6950
6951 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6952 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6953 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6954
6955 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6956 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6957 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6958 Table}.
6959
6960 @menu
6961 * Expressions:: Expressions
6962 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6963 * Variables:: Program variables
6964 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6965 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6966 * Memory:: Examining memory
6967 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6968 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6969 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6970 * Value History:: Value history
6971 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6972 * Registers:: Registers
6973 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6974 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6975 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6976 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6977 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6978 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6979 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6980 character set than GDB does
6981 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6982 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6983 @end menu
6984
6985 @node Expressions
6986 @section Expressions
6987
6988 @cindex expressions
6989 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6990 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6991 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6992 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6993 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6994 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6995 @ref{Compilation}.
6996
6997 @cindex arrays in expressions
6998 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6999 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7000 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7001 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7002 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7003 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7004
7005 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7006 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7007 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7008 languages.
7009
7010 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7011 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7012
7013 @cindex casts, in expressions
7014 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7015 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7016 at that address in memory.
7017 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7018
7019 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7020 to programming languages:
7021
7022 @table @code
7023 @item @@
7024 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7025 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7026
7027 @item ::
7028 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7029 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7030
7031 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7032 @cindex type casting memory
7033 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7034 @cindex casts, to view memory
7035 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7036 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7037 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7038 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7039 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7040 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7041 @end table
7042
7043 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7044 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7045 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7046
7047 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7048 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7049 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7050 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7051 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7052 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7053 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7054
7055 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7056 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7057 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7058 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7059 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7060 as well.
7061
7062 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7063 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7064 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7065 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7066 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7067 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7068 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7069 choices.
7070
7071 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7072 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7073 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7074
7075 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7076 @smallexample
7077 @group
7078 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7079 [0] cancel
7080 [1] all
7081 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7082 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7083 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7084 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7085 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7086 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7087 > 2 4 6
7088 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7089 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7090 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7091 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7092 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7093 breakpoints.
7094 (@value{GDBP})
7095 @end group
7096 @end smallexample
7097
7098 @table @code
7099 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7100 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7101 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7102
7103 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7104 is ambiguous.
7105
7106 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7107 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7108 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7109 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7110 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7111 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7112 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7113 in the use of the menu.
7114
7115 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7116 when an ambiguity is detected.
7117
7118 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7119 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7120
7121 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7122 @item show multiple-symbols
7123 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7124 @end table
7125
7126 @node Variables
7127 @section Program Variables
7128
7129 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7130 in your program.
7131
7132 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7133 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7134
7135 @itemize @bullet
7136 @item
7137 global (or file-static)
7138 @end itemize
7139
7140 @noindent or
7141
7142 @itemize @bullet
7143 @item
7144 visible according to the scope rules of the
7145 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7146 @end itemize
7147
7148 @noindent This means that in the function
7149
7150 @smallexample
7151 foo (a)
7152 int a;
7153 @{
7154 bar (a);
7155 @{
7156 int b = test ();
7157 bar (b);
7158 @}
7159 @}
7160 @end smallexample
7161
7162 @noindent
7163 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7164 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7165 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7166 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7167
7168 @cindex variable name conflict
7169 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7170 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7171 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7172 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7173 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7174 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7175 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7176
7177 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7178 @ifnotinfo
7179 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7180 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7181 @end ifnotinfo
7182 @smallexample
7183 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7184 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7185 @end smallexample
7186
7187 @noindent
7188 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7189 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7190 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7191 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7192
7193 @smallexample
7194 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7195 @end smallexample
7196
7197 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7198 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7199 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7200 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7201 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7202 @c conflict?? --mew
7203
7204 @cindex wrong values
7205 @cindex variable values, wrong
7206 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7207 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7208 @quotation
7209 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7210 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7211 scope, and just before exit.
7212 @end quotation
7213 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7214 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7215 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7216 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7217 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7218 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7219 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7220 variable definitions may be gone.
7221
7222 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7223 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7224 when compiling.
7225
7226 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7227 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7228 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7229 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7230 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7231 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7232 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7233
7234 @smallexample
7235 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7236 @end smallexample
7237
7238 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7239 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7240 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7241 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7242 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7243 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7244 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7245 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7246 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7247 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7248 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7249
7250 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7251 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7252 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7253 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7254
7255 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7256 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7257 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7258 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7259 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7260 For program code
7261
7262 @smallexample
7263 char var0[] = "A";
7264 signed char var1[] = "A";
7265 @end smallexample
7266
7267 You get during debugging
7268 @smallexample
7269 (gdb) print var0
7270 $1 = "A"
7271 (gdb) print var1
7272 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7273 @end smallexample
7274
7275 @node Arrays
7276 @section Artificial Arrays
7277
7278 @cindex artificial array
7279 @cindex arrays
7280 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7281 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7282 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7283 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7284 program.
7285
7286 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7287 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7288 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7289 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7290 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7291 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7292 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7293 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7294 example. If a program says
7295
7296 @smallexample
7297 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7298 @end smallexample
7299
7300 @noindent
7301 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7302
7303 @smallexample
7304 p *array@@len
7305 @end smallexample
7306
7307 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7308 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7309 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7310 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7311 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7312
7313 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7314 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7315 The value need not be in memory:
7316 @smallexample
7317 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7318 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7319 @end smallexample
7320
7321 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7322 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7323 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7324 @smallexample
7325 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7326 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7327 @end smallexample
7328
7329 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7330 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7331 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7332 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7333 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7334 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7335 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7336 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7337 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7338 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7339
7340 @smallexample
7341 set $i = 0
7342 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7343 @key{RET}
7344 @key{RET}
7345 @dots{}
7346 @end smallexample
7347
7348 @node Output Formats
7349 @section Output Formats
7350
7351 @cindex formatted output
7352 @cindex output formats
7353 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7354 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7355 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7356 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7357 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7358
7359 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7360 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7361 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7362 letters supported are:
7363
7364 @table @code
7365 @item x
7366 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7367 hexadecimal.
7368
7369 @item d
7370 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7371
7372 @item u
7373 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7374
7375 @item o
7376 Print as integer in octal.
7377
7378 @item t
7379 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7380 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7381 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7382 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7383
7384 @item a
7385 @cindex unknown address, locating
7386 @cindex locate address
7387 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7388 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7389 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7390
7391 @smallexample
7392 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7393 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7394 @end smallexample
7395
7396 @noindent
7397 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7398 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7399
7400 @item c
7401 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7402 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7403 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7404 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7405
7406 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7407 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7408 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7409 data.
7410
7411 @item f
7412 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7413 using typical floating point syntax.
7414
7415 @item s
7416 @cindex printing strings
7417 @cindex printing byte arrays
7418 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7419 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7420 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7421 natural types.
7422
7423 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7424 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7425 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7426 array.
7427
7428 @item r
7429 @cindex raw printing
7430 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7431 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7432 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7433 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7434 pretty-printer which might exist.
7435 @end table
7436
7437 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7438
7439 @smallexample
7440 p/x $pc
7441 @end smallexample
7442
7443 @noindent
7444 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7445 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7446
7447 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7448 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7449 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7450
7451 @node Memory
7452 @section Examining Memory
7453
7454 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7455 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7456
7457 @cindex examining memory
7458 @table @code
7459 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7460 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7461 @itemx x @var{addr}
7462 @itemx x
7463 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7464 @end table
7465
7466 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7467 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7468 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7469 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7470 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7471
7472 @table @r
7473 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7474 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7475 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7476 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7477 @c 4.1.2.
7478
7479 @item @var{f}, the display format
7480 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7481 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7482 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7483 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7484 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7485
7486 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7487 The unit size is any of
7488
7489 @table @code
7490 @item b
7491 Bytes.
7492 @item h
7493 Halfwords (two bytes).
7494 @item w
7495 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7496 @item g
7497 Giant words (eight bytes).
7498 @end table
7499
7500 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7501 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7502 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7503 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7504 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7505 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7506 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7507 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7508 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7509 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7510 be altered.
7511
7512 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7513 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7514 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7515 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7516 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7517 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7518 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7519 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7520 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7521 a value from memory).
7522 @end table
7523
7524 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7525 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7526 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7527 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7528 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7529
7530 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7531 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7532 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7533 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7534 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7535
7536 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7537 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7538 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7539 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7540 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7541 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7542 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7543 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7544 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7545
7546 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7547 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7548 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7549 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7550 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7551 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7552 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7553
7554 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7555 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7556
7557 @smallexample
7558 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7559 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7560 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7561 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7562 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7563 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7564 @end smallexample
7565
7566 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7567 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7568 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7569 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7570 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7571 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7572 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7573 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7574 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7575
7576 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7577 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7578 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7579
7580 @cindex remote memory comparison
7581 @cindex verify remote memory image
7582 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7583 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7584 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7585 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7586 situations.
7587
7588 @table @code
7589 @kindex compare-sections
7590 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7591 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7592 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7593 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7594 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7595 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7596 remote request.
7597 @end table
7598
7599 @node Auto Display
7600 @section Automatic Display
7601 @cindex automatic display
7602 @cindex display of expressions
7603
7604 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7605 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7606 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7607 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7608 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7609 The automatic display looks like this:
7610
7611 @smallexample
7612 2: foo = 38
7613 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7614 @end smallexample
7615
7616 @noindent
7617 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7618 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7619 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7620 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7621 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7622 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7623
7624 @table @code
7625 @kindex display
7626 @item display @var{expr}
7627 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7628 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7629
7630 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7631
7632 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7633 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7634 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7635 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7636 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7637
7638 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7639 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7640 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7641 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7642 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7643 @end table
7644
7645 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7646 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7647 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7648
7649 @table @code
7650 @kindex delete display
7651 @kindex undisplay
7652 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7653 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7654 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
7655 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
7656 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
7657 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
7658 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7659
7660 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7661 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7662
7663 @kindex disable display
7664 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7665 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7666 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7667 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
7668 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
7669 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
7670 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
7671 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7672
7673 @kindex enable display
7674 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7675 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7676 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7677 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
7678 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
7679 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
7680 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7681
7682 @item display
7683 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7684 done when your program stops.
7685
7686 @kindex info display
7687 @item info display
7688 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7689 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7690 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7691 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7692 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7693 @end table
7694
7695 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7696 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7697 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7698 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7699 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7700 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7701 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7702 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7703 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7704 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7705 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7706
7707 @node Print Settings
7708 @section Print Settings
7709
7710 @cindex format options
7711 @cindex print settings
7712 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7713 and symbols are printed.
7714
7715 @noindent
7716 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7717
7718 @table @code
7719 @kindex set print
7720 @item set print address
7721 @itemx set print address on
7722 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7723 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7724 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7725 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7726 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7727 @code{set print address on}:
7728
7729 @smallexample
7730 @group
7731 (@value{GDBP}) f
7732 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7733 at input.c:530
7734 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7735 @end group
7736 @end smallexample
7737
7738 @item set print address off
7739 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7740 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7741
7742 @smallexample
7743 @group
7744 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7745 (@value{GDBP}) f
7746 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7747 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7748 @end group
7749 @end smallexample
7750
7751 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7752 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7753 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7754 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7755
7756 @kindex show print
7757 @item show print address
7758 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7759 @end table
7760
7761 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7762 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7763 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7764 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7765 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7766 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7767 it prints a symbolic address:
7768
7769 @table @code
7770 @item set print symbol-filename on
7771 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7772 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7773 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7774 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7775
7776 @item set print symbol-filename off
7777 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7778 default.
7779
7780 @item show print symbol-filename
7781 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7782 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7783 @end table
7784
7785 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7786 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7787 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7788
7789 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7790 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7791
7792 @table @code
7793 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7794 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7795 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7796 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7797 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7798 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7799
7800 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7801 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7802 symbolic address.
7803 @end table
7804
7805 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7806 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7807 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7808 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7809 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7810 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7811 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7812 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7813
7814 @smallexample
7815 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7816 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7817 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7818 @end smallexample
7819
7820 @quotation
7821 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7822 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7823 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7824 @end quotation
7825
7826 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7827
7828 @table @code
7829 @item set print array
7830 @itemx set print array on
7831 @cindex pretty print arrays
7832 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7833 but uses more space. The default is off.
7834
7835 @item set print array off
7836 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7837
7838 @item show print array
7839 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7840 arrays.
7841
7842 @cindex print array indexes
7843 @item set print array-indexes
7844 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7845 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7846 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7847 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7848
7849 @item set print array-indexes off
7850 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7851
7852 @item show print array-indexes
7853 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7854 arrays.
7855
7856 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7857 @cindex number of array elements to print
7858 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7859 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7860 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7861 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7862 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7863 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7864 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7865
7866 @item show print elements
7867 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7868 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7869
7870 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7871 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7872 @cindex printing frame argument values
7873 @cindex print all frame argument values
7874 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7875 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7876 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7877 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7878 values are:
7879
7880 @table @code
7881 @item all
7882 The values of all arguments are printed.
7883
7884 @item scalars
7885 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7886 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7887 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7888 only scalar arguments are shown:
7889
7890 @smallexample
7891 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7892 at frame-args.c:23
7893 @end smallexample
7894
7895 @item none
7896 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7897 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7898
7899 @smallexample
7900 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7901 at frame-args.c:23
7902 @end smallexample
7903 @end table
7904
7905 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7906 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7907 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7908 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7909 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7910 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7911 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7912 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7913 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7914 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7915
7916 @item show print frame-arguments
7917 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7918
7919 @item set print repeats
7920 @cindex repeated array elements
7921 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7922 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7923 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7924 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7925 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7926 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7927 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7928
7929 @item show print repeats
7930 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7931 elements.
7932
7933 @item set print null-stop
7934 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7935 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7936 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7937 contain only short strings.
7938 The default is off.
7939
7940 @item show print null-stop
7941 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7942 @sc{null} character.
7943
7944 @item set print pretty on
7945 @cindex print structures in indented form
7946 @cindex indentation in structure display
7947 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7948 per line, like this:
7949
7950 @smallexample
7951 @group
7952 $1 = @{
7953 next = 0x0,
7954 flags = @{
7955 sweet = 1,
7956 sour = 1
7957 @},
7958 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7959 @}
7960 @end group
7961 @end smallexample
7962
7963 @item set print pretty off
7964 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7965
7966 @smallexample
7967 @group
7968 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7969 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7970 @end group
7971 @end smallexample
7972
7973 @noindent
7974 This is the default format.
7975
7976 @item show print pretty
7977 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7978
7979 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7980 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7981 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7982 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7983 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7984 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7985 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7986 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7987
7988 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7989 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7990 international character sets, and is the default.
7991
7992 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7993 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7994
7995 @item set print union on
7996 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7997 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7998 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7999
8000 @item set print union off
8001 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8002 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8003 instead.
8004
8005 @item show print union
8006 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8007 structures and other unions.
8008
8009 For example, given the declarations
8010
8011 @smallexample
8012 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8013 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8014 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8015 Bug_forms;
8016
8017 struct thing @{
8018 Species it;
8019 union @{
8020 Tree_forms tree;
8021 Bug_forms bug;
8022 @} form;
8023 @};
8024
8025 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8026 @end smallexample
8027
8028 @noindent
8029 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8030
8031 @smallexample
8032 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8033 @end smallexample
8034
8035 @noindent
8036 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8037
8038 @smallexample
8039 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8040 @end smallexample
8041
8042 @noindent
8043 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8044 and in Pascal.
8045 @end table
8046
8047 @need 1000
8048 @noindent
8049 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8050
8051 @table @code
8052 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8053 @item set print demangle
8054 @itemx set print demangle on
8055 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8056 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8057 linkage. The default is on.
8058
8059 @item show print demangle
8060 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8061
8062 @item set print asm-demangle
8063 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8064 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8065 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8066 The default is off.
8067
8068 @item show print asm-demangle
8069 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8070 or demangled form.
8071
8072 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8073 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8074 @kindex set demangle-style
8075 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8076 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8077 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8078
8079 @table @code
8080 @item auto
8081 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8082
8083 @item gnu
8084 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8085 This is the default.
8086
8087 @item hp
8088 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8089
8090 @item lucid
8091 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8092
8093 @item arm
8094 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8095 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8096 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8097 require further enhancement to permit that.
8098
8099 @end table
8100 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8101
8102 @item show demangle-style
8103 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8104
8105 @item set print object
8106 @itemx set print object on
8107 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8108 @cindex display derived types
8109 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8110 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8111 the virtual function table.
8112
8113 @item set print object off
8114 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8115 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8116
8117 @item show print object
8118 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8119
8120 @item set print static-members
8121 @itemx set print static-members on
8122 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8123 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8124
8125 @item set print static-members off
8126 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8127
8128 @item show print static-members
8129 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8130
8131 @item set print pascal_static-members
8132 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8133 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8134 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8135 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8136
8137 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8138 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8139
8140 @item show print pascal_static-members
8141 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8142
8143 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8144 @item set print vtbl
8145 @itemx set print vtbl on
8146 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8147 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8148 @cindex VTBL display
8149 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8150 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8151 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8152
8153 @item set print vtbl off
8154 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8155
8156 @item show print vtbl
8157 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8158 @end table
8159
8160 @node Pretty Printing
8161 @section Pretty Printing
8162
8163 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8164 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8165 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8166
8167 @menu
8168 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8169 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8170 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8171 @end menu
8172
8173 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8174 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8175
8176 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8177 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8178 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8179
8180 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8181 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8182 pretty-printers with their names.
8183 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8184 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8185 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8186 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8187
8188 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8189 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8190 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8191 do anything special.
8192
8193 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8194
8195 @itemize @bullet
8196 @item
8197 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8198 all inferiors.
8199
8200 @item
8201 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8202 when debugging that program.
8203 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8204
8205 @item
8206 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8207 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8208 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8209 @end itemize
8210
8211 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8212 pretty-printers are selected,
8213
8214 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8215 for new types.
8216
8217 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8218 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8219
8220 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8221
8222 @smallexample
8223 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8224 $1 = @{
8225 static npos = 4294967295,
8226 _M_dataplus = @{
8227 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8228 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8229 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8230 @},
8231 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8232 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8233 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8234 @}
8235 @}
8236 @end smallexample
8237
8238 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8239
8240 @smallexample
8241 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8242 $2 = "abcd"
8243 @end smallexample
8244
8245 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8246 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8247 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8248
8249 @table @code
8250 @kindex info pretty-printer
8251 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8252 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8253 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8254
8255 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8256 whose pretty-printers to list.
8257 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8258 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8259 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8260 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8261 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8262
8263 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8264 to list.
8265
8266 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8267 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8268 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8269 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8270
8271 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8272 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8273 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8274 @end table
8275
8276 Example:
8277
8278 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8279 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8280 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8281 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8282
8283 @smallexample
8284 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8285 library1.so:
8286 foo
8287 library2.so:
8288 bar
8289 bar1
8290 bar2
8291 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8292 library2.so:
8293 bar
8294 bar1
8295 bar2
8296 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8297 1 printer disabled
8298 2 of 3 printers enabled
8299 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8300 library1.so:
8301 foo [disabled]
8302 library2.so:
8303 bar
8304 bar1
8305 bar2
8306 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8307 1 printer disabled
8308 1 of 3 printers enabled
8309 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8310 library1.so:
8311 foo [disabled]
8312 library2.so:
8313 bar
8314 bar1 [disabled]
8315 bar2
8316 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8317 1 printer disabled
8318 0 of 3 printers enabled
8319 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8320 library1.so:
8321 foo [disabled]
8322 library2.so:
8323 bar [disabled]
8324 bar1 [disabled]
8325 bar2
8326 @end smallexample
8327
8328 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8329 as can each individual subprinter.
8330
8331 @node Value History
8332 @section Value History
8333
8334 @cindex value history
8335 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8336 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8337 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8338 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8339 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8340 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8341 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8342 symbol table.
8343
8344 @cindex @code{$}
8345 @cindex @code{$$}
8346 @cindex history number
8347 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8348 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8349 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8350 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8351 history number.
8352
8353 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8354 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8355 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8356 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8357 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8358 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8359 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8360
8361 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8362 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8363
8364 @smallexample
8365 p *$
8366 @end smallexample
8367
8368 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8369 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8370
8371 @smallexample
8372 p *$.next
8373 @end smallexample
8374
8375 @noindent
8376 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8377 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8378
8379 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8380 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8381
8382 @smallexample
8383 print x
8384 set x=5
8385 @end smallexample
8386
8387 @noindent
8388 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8389 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8390
8391 @table @code
8392 @kindex show values
8393 @item show values
8394 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8395 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8396 values} does not change the history.
8397
8398 @item show values @var{n}
8399 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8400
8401 @item show values +
8402 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8403 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8404 @end table
8405
8406 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8407 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8408
8409 @node Convenience Vars
8410 @section Convenience Variables
8411
8412 @cindex convenience variables
8413 @cindex user-defined variables
8414 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8415 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8416 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8417 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8418 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8419
8420 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8421 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8422 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8423 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8424 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8425
8426 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8427 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8428 For example:
8429
8430 @smallexample
8431 set $foo = *object_ptr
8432 @end smallexample
8433
8434 @noindent
8435 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8436 @code{object_ptr}.
8437
8438 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8439 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8440 value with another assignment at any time.
8441
8442 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8443 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8444 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8445 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8446
8447 @table @code
8448 @kindex show convenience
8449 @cindex show all user variables
8450 @item show convenience
8451 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8452 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8453
8454 @kindex init-if-undefined
8455 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8456 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8457 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8458 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8459 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8460 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8461 override default values used in a command script.
8462
8463 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8464 any side-effects do not occur.
8465 @end table
8466
8467 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8468 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8469 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8470
8471 @smallexample
8472 set $i = 0
8473 print bar[$i++]->contents
8474 @end smallexample
8475
8476 @noindent
8477 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8478
8479 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8480 values likely to be useful.
8481
8482 @table @code
8483 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8484 @item $_
8485 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8486 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8487 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8488 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8489 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8490 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8491 to the type of @code{$__}.
8492
8493 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8494 @item $__
8495 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8496 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8497 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8498
8499 @item $_exitcode
8500 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8501 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8502 the program being debugged terminates.
8503
8504 @item $_sdata
8505 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8506 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8507 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8508 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8509 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8510
8511 @item $_siginfo
8512 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8513 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8514 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8515 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8516 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8517
8518 @item $_tlb
8519 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8520 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8521 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8522 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8523 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8524 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8525
8526 @end table
8527
8528 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8529 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8530 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8531
8532 @cindex convenience functions
8533 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8534 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8535 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8536 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8537 @value{GDBN}.
8538
8539 @table @code
8540 @item help function
8541 @kindex help function
8542 @cindex show all convenience functions
8543 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8544 @end table
8545
8546 @node Registers
8547 @section Registers
8548
8549 @cindex registers
8550 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8551 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8552 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8553 your machine.
8554
8555 @table @code
8556 @kindex info registers
8557 @item info registers
8558 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8559 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8560
8561 @kindex info all-registers
8562 @cindex floating point registers
8563 @item info all-registers
8564 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8565 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8566
8567 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8568 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8569 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8570 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8571 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8572 @end table
8573
8574 @cindex stack pointer register
8575 @cindex program counter register
8576 @cindex process status register
8577 @cindex frame pointer register
8578 @cindex standard registers
8579 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8580 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8581 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8582 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8583 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8584 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8585 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8586 you could print the program counter in hex with
8587
8588 @smallexample
8589 p/x $pc
8590 @end smallexample
8591
8592 @noindent
8593 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8594
8595 @smallexample
8596 x/i $pc
8597 @end smallexample
8598
8599 @noindent
8600 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8601 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8602 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8603 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8604 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8605 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8606 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8607
8608 @smallexample
8609 set $sp += 4
8610 @end smallexample
8611
8612 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8613 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8614 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8615 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8616 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8617 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8618 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8619
8620 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8621 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8622 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8623 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8624 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8625 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8626 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8627
8628 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8629 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8630 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8631 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8632 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8633 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8634 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8635 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8636 prints the data in both formats.
8637
8638 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8639 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8640 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8641 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8642 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8643 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8644 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8645
8646 @smallexample
8647 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8648 $1 = @{
8649 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8650 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8651 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8652 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8653 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8654 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8655 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8656 @}
8657 @end smallexample
8658
8659 @noindent
8660 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8661 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8662 value to a @code{struct} member:
8663
8664 @smallexample
8665 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8666 @end smallexample
8667
8668 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8669 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8670 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8671 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8672 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8673 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8674
8675 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8676 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8677 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8678 frame makes no difference.
8679
8680 @node Floating Point Hardware
8681 @section Floating Point Hardware
8682 @cindex floating point
8683
8684 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8685 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8686
8687 @table @code
8688 @kindex info float
8689 @item info float
8690 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8691 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8692 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8693 the ARM and x86 machines.
8694 @end table
8695
8696 @node Vector Unit
8697 @section Vector Unit
8698 @cindex vector unit
8699
8700 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8701 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8702
8703 @table @code
8704 @kindex info vector
8705 @item info vector
8706 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8707 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8708 @end table
8709
8710 @node OS Information
8711 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8712 @cindex OS information
8713
8714 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8715 you debug your program.
8716
8717 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8718 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8719 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8720 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8721 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8722 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8723 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8724 structure.
8725
8726 @table @code
8727 @item info udot
8728 @kindex info udot
8729 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8730 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8731 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8732 the @code{examine} command.
8733 @end table
8734
8735 @cindex auxiliary vector
8736 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8737 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8738 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8739 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8740 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8741 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8742 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8743 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8744 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8745 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8746 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8747 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8748
8749 @table @code
8750 @kindex info auxv
8751 @item info auxv
8752 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8753 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8754 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8755 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8756 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8757 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8758 an unrecognized tag.
8759 @end table
8760
8761 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8762 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8763 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8764 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8765
8766 @table @code
8767 @kindex info os
8768 @item info os
8769 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
8770 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
8771 report an error.
8772
8773 @kindex info os processes
8774 @item info os processes
8775 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8776 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8777 the command corresponding to the process.
8778 @end table
8779
8780 @node Memory Region Attributes
8781 @section Memory Region Attributes
8782 @cindex memory region attributes
8783
8784 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8785 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8786 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8787 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8788 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8789 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8790 user can override the fetched regions.
8791
8792 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8793 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8794 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8795 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8796 all memory.
8797
8798 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8799 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8800
8801 @table @code
8802 @kindex mem
8803 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8804 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8805 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8806 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8807 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8808 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8809
8810 @item mem auto
8811 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8812 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8813
8814 @kindex delete mem
8815 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8816 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8817 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8818
8819 @kindex disable mem
8820 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8821 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8822 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8823 It may be enabled again later.
8824
8825 @kindex enable mem
8826 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8827 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8828
8829 @kindex info mem
8830 @item info mem
8831 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8832 for each region:
8833
8834 @table @emph
8835 @item Memory Region Number
8836 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8837 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8838 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8839
8840 @item Lo Address
8841 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8842
8843 @item Hi Address
8844 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8845
8846 @item Attributes
8847 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8848 @end table
8849 @end table
8850
8851
8852 @subsection Attributes
8853
8854 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8855 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8856 write accesses to a memory region.
8857
8858 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8859 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8860 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8861
8862 @table @code
8863 @item ro
8864 Memory is read only.
8865 @item wo
8866 Memory is write only.
8867 @item rw
8868 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8869 @end table
8870
8871 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8872 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8873 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8874 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8875 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8876
8877 @table @code
8878 @item 8
8879 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8880 @item 16
8881 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8882 @item 32
8883 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8884 @item 64
8885 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8886 @end table
8887
8888 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8889 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8890 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8891 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8892 @c
8893 @c @table @code
8894 @c @item hwbreak
8895 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8896 @c @item swbreak (default)
8897 @c @end table
8898
8899 @subsubsection Data Cache
8900 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8901 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8902 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8903 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8904 registers.
8905
8906 @table @code
8907 @item cache
8908 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8909 @item nocache
8910 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8911 @end table
8912
8913 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8914 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8915 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8916 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8917 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8918
8919 @table @code
8920 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8921 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8922 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8923 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8924 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8925 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8926 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8927 The default value is @code{on}.
8928 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8929 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8930 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8931 @end table
8932
8933
8934 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8935 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8936 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8937 @c
8938 @c @table @code
8939 @c @item verify
8940 @c @item noverify (default)
8941 @c @end table
8942
8943 @node Dump/Restore Files
8944 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8945 @cindex dump/restore files
8946 @cindex append data to a file
8947 @cindex dump data to a file
8948 @cindex restore data from a file
8949
8950 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8951 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8952 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8953 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8954 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8955 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8956 files.
8957
8958 @table @code
8959
8960 @kindex dump
8961 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8962 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8963 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8964 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8965
8966 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8967 @table @code
8968 @item binary
8969 Raw binary form.
8970 @item ihex
8971 Intel hex format.
8972 @item srec
8973 Motorola S-record format.
8974 @item tekhex
8975 Tektronix Hex format.
8976 @end table
8977
8978 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8979 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8980 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8981 form.
8982
8983 @kindex append
8984 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8985 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8986 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8987 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8988 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8989
8990 @kindex restore
8991 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8992 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8993 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8994 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8995 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8996
8997 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8998 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8999 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9000 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9001 from that location.
9002
9003 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9004 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9005 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9006 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9007
9008 @end table
9009
9010 @node Core File Generation
9011 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9012 @cindex dump core from inferior
9013
9014 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9015 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9016 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9017 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9018 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9019 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9020 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9021
9022 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9023 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9024 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9025
9026 @table @code
9027 @kindex gcore
9028 @kindex generate-core-file
9029 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9030 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9031 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9032 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9033 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9034 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9035
9036 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9037 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9038 @end table
9039
9040 @node Character Sets
9041 @section Character Sets
9042 @cindex character sets
9043 @cindex charset
9044 @cindex translating between character sets
9045 @cindex host character set
9046 @cindex target character set
9047
9048 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9049 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9050 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9051 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9052 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9053 @dfn{target character set}.
9054
9055 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9056 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9057 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9058 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9059 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9060 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9061 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9062 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9063 character and string literals in expressions.
9064
9065 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9066 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9067 target-charset} command, described below.
9068
9069 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9070 support:
9071
9072 @table @code
9073 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9074 @kindex set target-charset
9075 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9076 list of supported target character sets, type
9077 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9078
9079 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9080 @kindex set host-charset
9081 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9082
9083 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9084 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9085 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9086 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9087 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9088
9089 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9090 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9091 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9092
9093 @item set charset @var{charset}
9094 @kindex set charset
9095 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9096 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9097 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9098 for both host and target.
9099
9100 @item show charset
9101 @kindex show charset
9102 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9103
9104 @item show host-charset
9105 @kindex show host-charset
9106 Show the name of the current host character set.
9107
9108 @item show target-charset
9109 @kindex show target-charset
9110 Show the name of the current target character set.
9111
9112 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9113 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9114 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9115 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9116 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9117 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9118
9119 @item show target-wide-charset
9120 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9121 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9122 @end table
9123
9124 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9125 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9126 @file{charset-test.c}:
9127
9128 @smallexample
9129 #include <stdio.h>
9130
9131 char ascii_hello[]
9132 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9133 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9134 char ibm1047_hello[]
9135 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9136 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9137
9138 main ()
9139 @{
9140 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9141 @}
9142 @end smallexample
9143
9144 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9145 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9146 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9147
9148 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9149
9150 @smallexample
9151 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9152 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9153 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9154 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9155 @dots{}
9156 (@value{GDBP})
9157 @end smallexample
9158
9159 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9160 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9161 strings:
9162
9163 @smallexample
9164 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9165 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9166 (@value{GDBP})
9167 @end smallexample
9168
9169 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9170 initial character set:
9171 @smallexample
9172 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9173 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9174 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9175 (@value{GDBP})
9176 @end smallexample
9177
9178 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9179 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9180 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9181 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9182 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9183
9184 @smallexample
9185 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9186 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9187 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9188 $2 = 72 'H'
9189 (@value{GDBP})
9190 @end smallexample
9191
9192 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9193 literals you use in expressions:
9194
9195 @smallexample
9196 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9197 $3 = 43 '+'
9198 (@value{GDBP})
9199 @end smallexample
9200
9201 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9202 character.
9203
9204 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9205 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9206 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9207
9208 @smallexample
9209 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9210 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9211 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9212 $5 = 200 '\310'
9213 (@value{GDBP})
9214 @end smallexample
9215
9216 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9217 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9218
9219 @smallexample
9220 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9221 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9222 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9223 @end smallexample
9224
9225 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9226 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9227 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9228 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9229 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9230
9231 @smallexample
9232 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9233 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9234 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9235 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9236 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9237 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9238 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9239 $7 = 72 '\110'
9240 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9241 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9242 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9243 $9 = 200 'H'
9244 (@value{GDBP})
9245 @end smallexample
9246
9247 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9248 string literals you use in expressions:
9249
9250 @smallexample
9251 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9252 $10 = 78 '+'
9253 (@value{GDBP})
9254 @end smallexample
9255
9256 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9257 character.
9258
9259 @node Caching Remote Data
9260 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9261 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9262
9263 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9264 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9265 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9266 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9267 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9268 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9269 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9270 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9271 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9272 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9273 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9274 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9275 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9276 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9277 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9278
9279 @table @code
9280 @kindex set remotecache
9281 @item set remotecache on
9282 @itemx set remotecache off
9283 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9284 with old scripts.
9285
9286 @kindex show remotecache
9287 @item show remotecache
9288 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9289
9290 @kindex set stack-cache
9291 @item set stack-cache on
9292 @itemx set stack-cache off
9293 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9294 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9295
9296 @kindex show stack-cache
9297 @item show stack-cache
9298 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9299
9300 @kindex info dcache
9301 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9302 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9303 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9304 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9305 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9306 operation.
9307
9308 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9309 printed in hex.
9310 @end table
9311
9312 @node Searching Memory
9313 @section Search Memory
9314 @cindex searching memory
9315
9316 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9317 @code{find} command.
9318
9319 @table @code
9320 @kindex find
9321 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9322 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9323 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9324 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9325 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9326 @end table
9327
9328 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9329 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9330
9331 @table @r
9332 @item @var{s}, search query size
9333 The size of each search query value.
9334
9335 @table @code
9336 @item b
9337 bytes
9338 @item h
9339 halfwords (two bytes)
9340 @item w
9341 words (four bytes)
9342 @item g
9343 giant words (eight bytes)
9344 @end table
9345
9346 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9347 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9348 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9349
9350 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9351 value's type in the current language.
9352 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9353 pattern as a mixture of types.
9354 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9355 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9356 which is typically four bytes.
9357
9358 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9359 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9360 @end table
9361
9362 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9363 (@code{"}).
9364 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9365 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9366
9367 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9368 number of matches found.
9369
9370 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9371 @samp{$_}.
9372 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9373
9374 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9375
9376 @smallexample
9377 void
9378 hello ()
9379 @{
9380 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9381 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9382 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9383 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9384 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9385 @}
9386 @end smallexample
9387
9388 @noindent
9389 you get during debugging:
9390
9391 @smallexample
9392 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9393 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9394 1 pattern found
9395 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9396 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9397 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9398 2 patterns found
9399 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9400 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9401 1 pattern found
9402 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9403 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9404 1 pattern found
9405 (gdb) print $numfound
9406 $1 = 1
9407 (gdb) print $_
9408 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9409 @end smallexample
9410
9411 @node Optimized Code
9412 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9413 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9414 @cindex debugging optimized code
9415
9416 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9417 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9418 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9419 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9420 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9421 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9422 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9423
9424 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9425 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9426 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9427 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9428
9429 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9430 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9431 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9432 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9433 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9434 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9435
9436 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9437 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9438 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9439 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9440 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9441
9442 @menu
9443 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9444 @end menu
9445
9446 @node Inline Functions
9447 @section Inline Functions
9448 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9449
9450 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9451 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9452 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9453 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9454 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9455 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9456 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9457 @code{info frame} command.
9458
9459 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9460 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9461 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9462 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9463 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9464 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9465 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9466 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9467 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9468 local variables in the caller.
9469
9470 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9471 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9472 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9473 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9474 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9475 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9476 instructions are executed.
9477
9478 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9479 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9480 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9481 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9482
9483 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9484 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9485
9486 @itemize @bullet
9487 @item
9488 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9489 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9490 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9491 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9492 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9493 function instead.
9494
9495 @item
9496 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9497 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9498 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9499 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9500 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9501 or inside the inlined function instead.
9502
9503 @item
9504 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9505 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9506 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9507 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9508
9509 @end itemize
9510
9511
9512 @node Macros
9513 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9514
9515 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9516 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9517 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9518 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9519 where it was defined.
9520
9521 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9522 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9523 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9524 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9525
9526 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9527 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9528 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9529 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9530 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9531 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9532 see @ref{List}.
9533
9534 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9535 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9536 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9537
9538 @table @code
9539
9540 @kindex macro expand
9541 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9542 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9543 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9544 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9545 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9546 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9547 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9548 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9549 it can be any string of tokens.
9550
9551 @kindex macro exp1
9552 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9553 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9554 @cindex expand macro once
9555 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9556 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9557 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9558 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9559 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9560 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9561 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9562 can be any string of tokens.
9563
9564 @kindex info macro
9565 @cindex macro definition, showing
9566 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9567 @item info macro @var{macro}
9568 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9569 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9570
9571 @kindex macro define
9572 @cindex user-defined macros
9573 @cindex defining macros interactively
9574 @cindex macros, user-defined
9575 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9576 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9577 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9578 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9579 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9580 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9581 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9582 @var{arglist}.
9583
9584 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9585 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9586 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9587 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9588 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9589
9590 @kindex macro undef
9591 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9592 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9593 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9594 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9595 in the program being debugged.
9596
9597 @kindex macro list
9598 @item macro list
9599 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9600 @end table
9601
9602 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9603 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9604 show our source files:
9605
9606 @smallexample
9607 $ cat sample.c
9608 #include <stdio.h>
9609 #include "sample.h"
9610
9611 #define M 42
9612 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9613
9614 main ()
9615 @{
9616 #define N 28
9617 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9618 #undef N
9619 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9620 #define N 1729
9621 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9622 @}
9623 $ cat sample.h
9624 #define Q <
9625 $
9626 @end smallexample
9627
9628 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9629 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9630 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9631 information.
9632
9633 @smallexample
9634 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9635 $
9636 @end smallexample
9637
9638 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9639
9640 @smallexample
9641 $ gdb -nw sample
9642 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9643 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9644 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9645 (@value{GDBP})
9646 @end smallexample
9647
9648 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9649 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9650 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9651
9652 @smallexample
9653 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9654 3
9655 4 #define M 42
9656 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9657 6
9658 7 main ()
9659 8 @{
9660 9 #define N 28
9661 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9662 11 #undef N
9663 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9664 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9665 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9666 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9667 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9668 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9669 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9670 #define Q <
9671 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9672 expands to: (42 + 1)
9673 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9674 expands to: once (M + 1)
9675 (@value{GDBP})
9676 @end smallexample
9677
9678 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9679 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9680 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9681 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9682
9683 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9684 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9685
9686 @smallexample
9687 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9688 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9689 (@value{GDBP}) run
9690 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9691
9692 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9693 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9694 (@value{GDBP})
9695 @end smallexample
9696
9697 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9698
9699 @smallexample
9700 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9701 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9702 #define N 28
9703 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9704 expands to: 28 < 42
9705 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9706 $1 = 1
9707 (@value{GDBP})
9708 @end smallexample
9709
9710 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9711 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9712 thereof) in force at each point:
9713
9714 @smallexample
9715 (@value{GDBP}) next
9716 Hello, world!
9717 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9718 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9719 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9720 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9721 (@value{GDBP}) next
9722 We're so creative.
9723 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9724 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9725 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9726 #define N 1729
9727 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9728 expands to: 1729 < 42
9729 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9730 $2 = 0
9731 (@value{GDBP})
9732 @end smallexample
9733
9734 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9735 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9736 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9737 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9738
9739 @smallexample
9740 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9741 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9742 -D__STDC__=1
9743 (@value{GDBP})
9744 @end smallexample
9745
9746
9747 @node Tracepoints
9748 @chapter Tracepoints
9749 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9750 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9751
9752 @cindex tracepoints
9753 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9754 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9755 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9756 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9757 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9758 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9759 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9760
9761 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9762 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9763 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9764 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9765 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9766 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9767 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9768 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9769 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9770 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9771 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9772
9773 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9774 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9775 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9776 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9777 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9778 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9779 Packets}.
9780
9781 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9782 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9783 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9784
9785 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9786
9787 @menu
9788 * Set Tracepoints::
9789 * Analyze Collected Data::
9790 * Tracepoint Variables::
9791 * Trace Files::
9792 @end menu
9793
9794 @node Set Tracepoints
9795 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9796
9797 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9798 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9799 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9800 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9801 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9802 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9803 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9804
9805 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9806 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9807 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9808 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9809 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9810 tracepoint was hit.
9811
9812 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9813 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9814 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9815 either.
9816
9817 @cindex fast tracepoints
9818 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9819 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9820 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9821
9822 @cindex static tracepoints
9823 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
9824 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
9825 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
9826 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
9827 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
9828 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
9829 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
9830 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
9831 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
9832 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
9833 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
9834 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
9835 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
9836 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
9837 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
9838 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
9839 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
9840 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
9841 static tracepoint marker.
9842
9843 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9844 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9845
9846 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9847 conditions and actions.
9848
9849 @menu
9850 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9851 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9852 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9853 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9854 * Trace State Variables::
9855 * Tracepoint Actions::
9856 * Listing Tracepoints::
9857 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
9858 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9859 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9860 @end menu
9861
9862 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9863 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9864
9865 @table @code
9866 @cindex set tracepoint
9867 @kindex trace
9868 @item trace @var{location}
9869 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9870 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9871 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9872 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9873 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9874 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9875 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9876 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9877 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9878
9879 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9880
9881 @smallexample
9882 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9883
9884 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9885
9886 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9887
9888 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9889
9890 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9891 @end smallexample
9892
9893 @noindent
9894 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9895
9896 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9897 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9898 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9899 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9900 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9901 information on tracepoint conditions.
9902
9903 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9904 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9905 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
9906 @kindex ftrace
9907 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9908 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9909 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9910 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9911 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9912 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9913 message.
9914
9915 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9916 @code{trace}.
9917
9918 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9919 @cindex set static tracepoint
9920 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
9921 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
9922 @kindex strace
9923 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
9924 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
9925 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
9926 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
9927 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
9928
9929 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
9930 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
9931 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
9932 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
9933 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
9934 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
9935 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
9936 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
9937 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
9938 tracing engine:
9939
9940 @smallexample
9941 main ()
9942 @{
9943 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
9944 @}
9945 @end smallexample
9946
9947 @noindent
9948 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
9949 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
9950
9951 @smallexample
9952 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
9953 Cnt Enb ID Address What
9954 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
9955 Data: "str %s"
9956 [etc...]
9957 @end smallexample
9958
9959 @noindent
9960 so you may probe the marker above with:
9961
9962 @smallexample
9963 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
9964 @end smallexample
9965
9966 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
9967 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
9968 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
9969 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
9970 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
9971 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
9972 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
9973 the @samp{Data:} field.
9974
9975 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
9976 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
9977 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
9978
9979 @vindex $tpnum
9980 @cindex last tracepoint number
9981 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9982 @cindex tracepoint number
9983 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9984 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9985
9986 @kindex delete tracepoint
9987 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9988 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9989 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9990 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9991 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9992
9993 Examples:
9994
9995 @smallexample
9996 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9997
9998 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9999 @end smallexample
10000
10001 @noindent
10002 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10003 @end table
10004
10005 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10006 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10007
10008 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10009
10010 @table @code
10011 @kindex disable tracepoint
10012 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10013 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10014 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10015 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10016 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10017
10018 @kindex enable tracepoint
10019 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10020 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
10021 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
10022 run.
10023 @end table
10024
10025 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10026 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10027
10028 @table @code
10029 @kindex passcount
10030 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10031 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10032 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10033 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10034 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10035 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10036 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10037 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10038 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10039 user.
10040
10041 Examples:
10042
10043 @smallexample
10044 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10045 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10046
10047 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10048 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10049 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10050 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10051 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10052 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10053 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10054 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10055 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10056 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10057 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10058 @end smallexample
10059 @end table
10060
10061 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10062 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10063 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10064 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10065
10066 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10067 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10068 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10069 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10070 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10071 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10072 is true.
10073
10074 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10075 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10076 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10077 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10078 just as with breakpoints.
10079
10080 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10081 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10082 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
10083 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10084 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10085 accesses, and so forth.
10086
10087 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10088 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10089 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10090 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10091 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10092 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10093 search through.
10094
10095 @smallexample
10096 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10097 @end smallexample
10098
10099 @node Trace State Variables
10100 @subsection Trace State Variables
10101 @cindex trace state variables
10102
10103 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10104 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10105 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10106 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10107 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10108 integers.
10109
10110 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10111 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10112 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10113 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10114
10115 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10116 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10117 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10118 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10119 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10120 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10121 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10122 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10123 variable with the same name.
10124
10125 @table @code
10126
10127 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10128 @kindex tvariable
10129 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10130 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10131 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10132 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10133 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10134 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10135 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10136 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10137 value. The default initial value is 0.
10138
10139 @item info tvariables
10140 @kindex info tvariables
10141 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10142 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10143 currently running.
10144
10145 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10146 @kindex delete tvariable
10147 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10148 are specified.
10149
10150 @end table
10151
10152 @node Tracepoint Actions
10153 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10154
10155 @table @code
10156 @kindex actions
10157 @cindex tracepoint actions
10158 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10159 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10160 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10161 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10162 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10163 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10164 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10165 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10166 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10167 @code{while-stepping}.
10168
10169 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10170 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10171 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10172
10173 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10174 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10175 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10176
10177 @smallexample
10178 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10179
10180 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10181
10182 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10183 @end smallexample
10184
10185 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10186 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10187 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10188 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10189 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10190 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10191 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10192 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10193
10194 @smallexample
10195 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10196 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10197 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10198 > collect bar,baz
10199 > collect $regs
10200 > while-stepping 12
10201 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10202 > end
10203 end
10204 @end smallexample
10205
10206 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10207 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10208 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10209 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10210 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10211 special arguments are supported:
10212
10213 @table @code
10214 @item $regs
10215 Collect all registers.
10216
10217 @item $args
10218 Collect all function arguments.
10219
10220 @item $locals
10221 Collect all local variables.
10222
10223 @item $_sdata
10224 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10225 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10226 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10227 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10228 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10229 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10230 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10231 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10232 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10233
10234 @smallexample
10235 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10236 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10237 @end smallexample
10238
10239 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10240 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10241 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10242 @value{GDBN}.
10243 @end table
10244
10245 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10246 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10247 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10248
10249 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10250 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10251
10252 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10253 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10254 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10255 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10256 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10257 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10258 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10259 action were used.
10260
10261 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10262 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10263 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10264 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10265 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10266 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10267
10268 @smallexample
10269 > while-stepping 12
10270 > collect $regs, myglobal
10271 > end
10272 >
10273 @end smallexample
10274
10275 @noindent
10276 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10277 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10278 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10279 @code{stepping}.
10280
10281 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10282 @kindex set default-collect
10283 @cindex default collection action
10284 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10285 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10286 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10287 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10288 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10289 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10290
10291 @item show default-collect
10292 @kindex show default-collect
10293 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10294 tracepoint hit.
10295
10296 @end table
10297
10298 @node Listing Tracepoints
10299 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10300
10301 @table @code
10302 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10303 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10304 @cindex information about tracepoints
10305 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
10306 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10307 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10308 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10309 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10310 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10311
10312 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10313 tracing:
10314
10315 @itemize @bullet
10316 @item
10317 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10318 @end itemize
10319
10320 @smallexample
10321 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10322 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10323 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10324 while-stepping 20
10325 collect globfoo, $regs
10326 end
10327 collect globfoo2
10328 end
10329 pass count 1200
10330 (@value{GDBP})
10331 @end smallexample
10332
10333 @noindent
10334 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10335 @end table
10336
10337 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10338 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10339
10340 @table @code
10341 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10342 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10343 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10344 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10345 program.
10346
10347 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10348
10349 @table @emph
10350 @item Count
10351 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10352 stable identifier.
10353 @item ID
10354 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10355 @item Enabled or Disabled
10356 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10357 that are not enabled.
10358 @item Address
10359 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10360 @item What
10361 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10362 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10363 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10364 will be left blank.
10365 @end table
10366
10367 @noindent
10368 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10369
10370 @table @emph
10371 @item Data
10372 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10373 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10374 marker call.
10375 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10376 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10377 @end table
10378
10379 @smallexample
10380 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10381 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10382 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10383 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10384 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10385 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10386 Data: str %s
10387 (@value{GDBP})
10388 @end smallexample
10389 @end table
10390
10391 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10392 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10393
10394 @table @code
10395 @kindex tstart
10396 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10397 @cindex collected data discarded
10398 @item tstart
10399 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10400 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10401 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10402 experiment.
10403
10404 @kindex tstop
10405 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10406 @item tstop
10407 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10408 stops collecting data.
10409
10410 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10411 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10412 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10413
10414 @kindex tstatus
10415 @cindex status of trace data collection
10416 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10417 @item tstatus
10418 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10419 collection.
10420 @end table
10421
10422 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10423
10424 @smallexample
10425 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10426 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10427 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10428 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10429 > while-stepping 11
10430 > collect $regs
10431 > end
10432 > end
10433 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10434 [time passes @dots{}]
10435 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10436 @end smallexample
10437
10438 @cindex disconnected tracing
10439 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10440 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10441 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10442 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10443 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10444 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10445 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10446 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10447
10448 @table @code
10449 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10450 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10451 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10452 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10453 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10454 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10455 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10456 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10457
10458 @item show disconnected-tracing
10459 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10460 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10461
10462 @end table
10463
10464 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10465 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10466 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10467 it will continue after reconnection.
10468
10469 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10470 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10471 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10472 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10473 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10474 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10475 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10476 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10477 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10478 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10479
10480 @cindex circular trace buffer
10481 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10482 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10483 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10484 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10485 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10486 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10487 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10488 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10489 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10490 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10491 the next run.
10492
10493 @table @code
10494 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10495 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10496 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10497 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10498 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10499 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10500 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10501
10502 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10503 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10504 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10505 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10506 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10507 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10508
10509 @end table
10510
10511 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10512 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10513
10514 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10515 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10516 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10517 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10518 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10519 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10520 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10521 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10522 mentioned here.
10523
10524 @itemize @bullet
10525
10526 @item
10527 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10528 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10529 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10530 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10531 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10532 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10533 cannot be collected either.
10534
10535 @item
10536 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10537 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10538 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10539 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10540 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10541 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10542 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10543 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10544 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10545 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10546
10547 @item
10548 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10549 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10550 in a misleading way.
10551
10552 @item
10553 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10554 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10555 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10556 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10557 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10558 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10559 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10560 by @code{ptr}.
10561
10562 @item
10563 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10564 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10565 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10566 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10567 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10568 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10569 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10570 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10571 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10572 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10573 invalid address.
10574
10575 @item
10576 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10577 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10578 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10579 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10580 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10581 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10582 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10583 it to zero.
10584
10585 @end itemize
10586
10587 @node Analyze Collected Data
10588 @section Using the Collected Data
10589
10590 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10591 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10592 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10593 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10594 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10595 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10596 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10597 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10598 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10599 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10600 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10601 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10602 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10603 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10604 the buffer will fail.
10605
10606 @menu
10607 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10608 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10609 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10610 @end menu
10611
10612 @node tfind
10613 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10614
10615 @kindex tfind
10616 @cindex select trace snapshot
10617 @cindex find trace snapshot
10618 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10619 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10620 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10621 snapshot is selected.
10622
10623 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10624
10625 @table @code
10626 @item tfind start
10627 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10628 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10629
10630 @item tfind none
10631 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10632
10633 @item tfind end
10634 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10635
10636 @item tfind
10637 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10638
10639 @item tfind -
10640 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10641 retracing earlier steps.
10642
10643 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10644 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10645 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10646 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10647 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10648
10649 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10650 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10651 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10652 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10653 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10654
10655 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10656 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10657 addresses (exclusive).
10658
10659 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10660 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10661 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10662
10663 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10664 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10665 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10666 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10667 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10668 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10669 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10670 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10671 @end table
10672
10673 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10674 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10675 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10676 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10677 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10678 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10679 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10680 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10681 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10682 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10683 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10684 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10685 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10686 tracepoint as the current one.
10687
10688 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10689 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10690 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10691 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10692 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10693
10694 @smallexample
10695 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10697 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10698 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10699 > tfind
10700 > end
10701
10702 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10703 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10704 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10705 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10706 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10707 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10708 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10709 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10710 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10711 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10712 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10713 @end smallexample
10714
10715 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10716 the buffer:
10717
10718 @smallexample
10719 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10720 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10721 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10722 > tfind line
10723 > end
10724
10725 Frame 0, X = 1
10726 Frame 7, X = 2
10727 Frame 13, X = 255
10728 @end smallexample
10729
10730 @node tdump
10731 @subsection @code{tdump}
10732 @kindex tdump
10733 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10734 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10735
10736 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10737 the current trace snapshot.
10738
10739 @smallexample
10740 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10742 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10743 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10744 > end
10745
10746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10747
10748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10749 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10750 at gdb_test.c:444
10751 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10752
10753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10754 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10755 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10756 d1 0x18 24
10757 d2 0x80 128
10758 d3 0x33 51
10759 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10760 d5 0x22 34
10761 d6 0xe0 224
10762 d7 0x380035 3670069
10763 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10764 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10765 a2 0x100 256
10766 a3 0x322000 3284992
10767 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10768 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10769 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10770 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10771 ps 0x0 0
10772 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10773 fpcontrol 0x0 0
10774 fpstatus 0x0 0
10775 fpiaddr 0x0 0
10776 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10777 p1 = (void *) 0x11
10778 p2 = (void *) 0x22
10779 p3 = (void *) 0x33
10780 p4 = (void *) 0x44
10781 p5 = (void *) 0x55
10782 p6 = (void *) 0x66
10783 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10784
10785 (@value{GDBP})
10786 @end smallexample
10787
10788 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10789 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10790 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10791 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10792
10793 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10794 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10795 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10796 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10797 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10798 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10799 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10800 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10801 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10802 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10803
10804 @node save tracepoints
10805 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10806 @kindex save tracepoints
10807 @kindex save-tracepoints
10808 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10809
10810 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10811 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10812 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10813 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10814 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10815 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10816
10817 @node Tracepoint Variables
10818 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10819 @cindex tracepoint variables
10820 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10821
10822 @table @code
10823 @vindex $trace_frame
10824 @item (int) $trace_frame
10825 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10826 snapshot is selected.
10827
10828 @vindex $tracepoint
10829 @item (int) $tracepoint
10830 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10831
10832 @vindex $trace_line
10833 @item (int) $trace_line
10834 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10835
10836 @vindex $trace_file
10837 @item (char []) $trace_file
10838 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10839
10840 @vindex $trace_func
10841 @item (char []) $trace_func
10842 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10843 @end table
10844
10845 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10846 use @code{output} instead.
10847
10848 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10849 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10850 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10851 which are managed by the target.
10852
10853 @smallexample
10854 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10855
10856 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10857 > output $trace_file
10858 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10859 > tfind
10860 > end
10861 @end smallexample
10862
10863 @node Trace Files
10864 @section Using Trace Files
10865 @cindex trace files
10866
10867 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10868 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10869 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10870 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10871 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10872
10873 @table @code
10874
10875 @kindex tsave
10876 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10877 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10878 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10879 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10880 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10881 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10882 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10883 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10884 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10885
10886 @kindex target tfile
10887 @kindex tfile
10888 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10889 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10890 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10891 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10892 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10893 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10894 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10895
10896 @end table
10897
10898 @node Overlays
10899 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10900 @cindex overlays
10901
10902 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10903 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10904 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10905 use overlays.
10906
10907 @menu
10908 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10909 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10910 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10911 mapped by asking the inferior.
10912 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10913 @end menu
10914
10915 @node How Overlays Work
10916 @section How Overlays Work
10917 @cindex mapped overlays
10918 @cindex unmapped overlays
10919 @cindex load address, overlay's
10920 @cindex mapped address
10921 @cindex overlay area
10922
10923 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10924 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10925 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10926 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10927 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10928
10929 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10930 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10931 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10932 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10933 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10934 largest overlay as well.
10935
10936 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10937 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10938 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10939 there.
10940
10941 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10942 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10943 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10944
10945 @smallexample
10946 @group
10947 Data Instruction Larger
10948 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10949 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10950 | | | | | |
10951 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10952 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10953 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10954 | and heap | | | | | |
10955 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10956 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10957 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10958 | | | | | |
10959 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10960 address | | | | | |
10961 | overlay | <-' | | |
10962 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10963 | | <---. | | load address
10964 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10965 | | | |
10966 +-----------+ | |
10967 +-----------+
10968 | |
10969 +-----------+
10970
10971 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10972 @end group
10973 @end smallexample
10974
10975 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10976 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10977 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10978 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10979 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10980 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10981 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10982 program and the overlay area.
10983
10984 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10985 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10986 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10987 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10988 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10989 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10990 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10991
10992 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10993 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10994 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10995
10996 @itemize @bullet
10997
10998 @item
10999 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
11000 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
11001 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
11002 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
11003
11004 @item
11005 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
11006 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
11007 your program's performance.
11008
11009 @item
11010 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
11011 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
11012 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
11013 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
11014 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
11015 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
11016 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
11017
11018 @item
11019 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
11020 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
11021 instruction and data spaces.
11022
11023 @end itemize
11024
11025 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
11026 improved in many ways:
11027
11028 @itemize @bullet
11029
11030 @item
11031 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
11032 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
11033 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
11034 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
11035 area in the usual way.
11036
11037 @item
11038 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11039 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11040
11041 @item
11042 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11043 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11044 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11045 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11046 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11047 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11048 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11049
11050 @end itemize
11051
11052
11053 @node Overlay Commands
11054 @section Overlay Commands
11055
11056 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11057 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11058 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11059 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11060 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11061 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11062
11063 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11064 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11065
11066 @table @code
11067 @item overlay off
11068 @kindex overlay
11069 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11070 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11071 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11072 overlay support is disabled.
11073
11074 @item overlay manual
11075 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11076 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11077 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11078 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11079 commands described below.
11080
11081 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11082 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11083 @cindex map an overlay
11084 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11085 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11086 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11087 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11088 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11089 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11090
11091 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11092 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11093 @cindex unmap an overlay
11094 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11095 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11096 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11097 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11098
11099 @item overlay auto
11100 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11101 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11102 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11103 Overlay Debugging}.
11104
11105 @item overlay load-target
11106 @itemx overlay load
11107 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11108 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11109 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11110 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11111 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11112 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11113
11114 @item overlay list-overlays
11115 @itemx overlay list
11116 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11117 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11118 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11119
11120 @end table
11121
11122 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11123 of the function the address falls in:
11124
11125 @smallexample
11126 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11127 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11128 @end smallexample
11129 @noindent
11130 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11131 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11132 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11133 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11134
11135 @smallexample
11136 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11137 No sections are mapped.
11138 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11139 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11140 @end smallexample
11141 @noindent
11142 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11143 name normally:
11144
11145 @smallexample
11146 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11147 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11148 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11149 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11150 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11151 @end smallexample
11152
11153 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11154 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11155 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11156 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11157 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11158
11159 @itemize @bullet
11160 @item
11161 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11162 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11163 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11164 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11165 @item
11166 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11167 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11168 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11169 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11170 breakpoints properly.
11171 @end itemize
11172
11173
11174 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11175 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11176 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11177
11178 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11179 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11180 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11181 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11182 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11183 current state of the overlays.
11184
11185 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11186 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11187
11188 @table @asis
11189
11190 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11191 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11192
11193 @smallexample
11194 struct
11195 @{
11196 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11197 unsigned long vma;
11198
11199 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11200 unsigned long size;
11201
11202 /* The overlay's load address. */
11203 unsigned long lma;
11204
11205 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11206 zero otherwise. */
11207 unsigned long mapped;
11208 @}
11209 @end smallexample
11210
11211 @item @code{_novlys}:
11212 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11213 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11214
11215 @end table
11216
11217 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11218 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11219 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11220 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11221 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11222 currently mapped.
11223
11224 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11225 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11226 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11227 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11228 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11229 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11230 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11231 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11232 are not being executed.
11233
11234 @node Overlay Sample Program
11235 @section Overlay Sample Program
11236 @cindex overlay example program
11237
11238 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11239 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11240 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11241 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11242 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11243 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11244 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11245
11246 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11247 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11248 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11249 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11250
11251 @table @file
11252 @item overlays.c
11253 The main program file.
11254 @item ovlymgr.c
11255 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11256 @item foo.c
11257 @itemx bar.c
11258 @itemx baz.c
11259 @itemx grbx.c
11260 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11261 @item d10v.ld
11262 @itemx m32r.ld
11263 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11264 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11265 @end table
11266
11267 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11268 cross-compiler like this:
11269
11270 @smallexample
11271 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11272 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11273 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11274 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11275 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11276 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11277 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11278 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11279 @end smallexample
11280
11281 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11282 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11283 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11284
11285
11286 @node Languages
11287 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11288 @cindex languages
11289
11290 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11291 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11292 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11293 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11294 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11295 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11296
11297 @cindex working language
11298 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11299 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11300 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11301 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11302 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11303 language}.
11304
11305 @menu
11306 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11307 * Show:: Displaying the language
11308 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11309 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11310 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11311 @end menu
11312
11313 @node Setting
11314 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11315
11316 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11317 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11318 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11319 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11320 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11321 are printed, etc.
11322
11323 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11324 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11325 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11326 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11327 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11328 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11329 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11330 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11331 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11332 Displaying the Language}.
11333
11334 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11335 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11336 another language. In that case, make the
11337 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11338 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11339 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11340
11341 @menu
11342 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11343 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11344 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11345 @end menu
11346
11347 @node Filenames
11348 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11349
11350 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11351 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11352
11353 @table @file
11354 @item .ada
11355 @itemx .ads
11356 @itemx .adb
11357 @itemx .a
11358 Ada source file.
11359
11360 @item .c
11361 C source file
11362
11363 @item .C
11364 @itemx .cc
11365 @itemx .cp
11366 @itemx .cpp
11367 @itemx .cxx
11368 @itemx .c++
11369 C@t{++} source file
11370
11371 @item .d
11372 D source file
11373
11374 @item .m
11375 Objective-C source file
11376
11377 @item .f
11378 @itemx .F
11379 Fortran source file
11380
11381 @item .mod
11382 Modula-2 source file
11383
11384 @item .s
11385 @itemx .S
11386 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11387 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11388 @end table
11389
11390 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11391 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11392
11393 @node Manually
11394 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11395
11396 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11397 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11398 your program.
11399
11400 @kindex set language
11401 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11402 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11403 a language, such as
11404 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11405 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11406
11407 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11408 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11409 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11410 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11411 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11412 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11413 command such as:
11414
11415 @smallexample
11416 print a = b + c
11417 @end smallexample
11418
11419 @noindent
11420 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11421 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11422 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11423 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11424
11425 @node Automatically
11426 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11427
11428 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11429 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11430 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11431 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11432 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11433 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11434 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11435 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11436 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11437
11438 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11439 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11440 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11441 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11442 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11443
11444 @node Show
11445 @section Displaying the Language
11446
11447 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11448 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11449
11450 @table @code
11451 @item show language
11452 @kindex show language
11453 Display the current working language. This is the
11454 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11455 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11456
11457 @item info frame
11458 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11459 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11460 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11461 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11462 information listed here.
11463
11464 @item info source
11465 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11466 Display the source language of this source file.
11467 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11468 information listed here.
11469 @end table
11470
11471 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11472 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11473 with a language explicitly:
11474
11475 @table @code
11476 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11477 @kindex set extension-language
11478 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11479 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11480
11481 @item info extensions
11482 @kindex info extensions
11483 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11484 @end table
11485
11486 @node Checks
11487 @section Type and Range Checking
11488
11489 @quotation
11490 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11491 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11492 section documents the intended facilities.
11493 @end quotation
11494 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11495
11496 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11497 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11498 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11499 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11500 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11501 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11502 errors when your program is running.
11503
11504 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11505 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11506 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11507 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11508 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11509 automatically based on your program's source language.
11510 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11511 settings of supported languages.
11512
11513 @menu
11514 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11515 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11516 @end menu
11517
11518 @cindex type checking
11519 @cindex checks, type
11520 @node Type Checking
11521 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11522
11523 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11524 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11525 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11526 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11527
11528 @smallexample
11529 1 + 2 @result{} 3
11530 @exdent but
11531 @error{} 1 + 2.3
11532 @end smallexample
11533
11534 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11535 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11536
11537 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11538 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11539 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11540 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11541 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11542 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11543 also issues a warning.
11544
11545 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11546 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11547 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11548 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11549 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11550 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11551
11552 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11553 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11554 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11555 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11556 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11557 details on specific languages.
11558
11559 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11560
11561 @kindex set check type
11562 @kindex show check type
11563 @table @code
11564 @item set check type auto
11565 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11566 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11567 each language.
11568
11569 @item set check type on
11570 @itemx set check type off
11571 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11572 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11573 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11574 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11575 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11576
11577 @item set check type warn
11578 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11579 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11580 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11581 numbers and structures.
11582
11583 @item show type
11584 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11585 is setting it automatically.
11586 @end table
11587
11588 @cindex range checking
11589 @cindex checks, range
11590 @node Range Checking
11591 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11592
11593 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11594 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11595 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11596 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11597 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11598
11599 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11600 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11601 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11602 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11603
11604 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11605 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11606 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11607 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11608 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11609 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11610
11611 @smallexample
11612 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11613 @end smallexample
11614
11615 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11616 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11617 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11618
11619 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11620
11621 @kindex set check range
11622 @kindex show check range
11623 @table @code
11624 @item set check range auto
11625 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11626 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11627 each language.
11628
11629 @item set check range on
11630 @itemx set check range off
11631 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11632 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11633 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11634 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11635
11636 @item set check range warn
11637 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11638 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11639 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11640 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11641 systems).
11642
11643 @item show range
11644 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11645 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11646 @end table
11647
11648 @node Supported Languages
11649 @section Supported Languages
11650
11651 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
11652 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11653 @c This is false ...
11654 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11655 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11656 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11657 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11658 language.
11659
11660 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11661 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11662 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11663 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11664 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11665 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11666 language reference or tutorial.
11667
11668 @menu
11669 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11670 * D:: D
11671 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11672 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
11673 * Fortran:: Fortran
11674 * Pascal:: Pascal
11675 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11676 * Ada:: Ada
11677 @end menu
11678
11679 @node C
11680 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11681
11682 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11683 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11684
11685 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11686 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11687 together.
11688
11689 @cindex C@t{++}
11690 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11691 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11692 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11693 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11694 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11695 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11696 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11697
11698 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11699 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11700 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11701 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11702 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11703 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11704
11705 @menu
11706 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11707 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11708 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11709 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11710 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11711 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11712 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11713 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11714 @end menu
11715
11716 @node C Operators
11717 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11718
11719 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11720
11721 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11722 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11723 often defined on groups of types.
11724
11725 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11726
11727 @itemize @bullet
11728
11729 @item
11730 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11731 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11732
11733 @item
11734 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11735 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11736
11737 @item
11738 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11739
11740 @item
11741 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11742
11743 @end itemize
11744
11745 @noindent
11746 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11747 in order of increasing precedence:
11748
11749 @table @code
11750 @item ,
11751 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11752 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11753 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11754
11755 @item =
11756 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11757 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11758
11759 @item @var{op}=
11760 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11761 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11762 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11763 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11764 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11765
11766 @item ?:
11767 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11768 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11769 integral type.
11770
11771 @item ||
11772 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11773
11774 @item &&
11775 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11776
11777 @item |
11778 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11779
11780 @item ^
11781 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11782
11783 @item &
11784 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11785
11786 @item ==@r{, }!=
11787 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11788 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11789
11790 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11791 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11792 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11793 and non-zero for true.
11794
11795 @item <<@r{, }>>
11796 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11797
11798 @item @@
11799 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11800
11801 @item +@r{, }-
11802 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11803 pointer types.
11804
11805 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11806 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11807 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11808 integral types.
11809
11810 @item ++@r{, }--
11811 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11812 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11813 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11814 operation takes place.
11815
11816 @item *
11817 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11818 @code{++}.
11819
11820 @item &
11821 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11822
11823 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11824 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11825 to examine the address
11826 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11827 stored.
11828
11829 @item -
11830 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11831 precedence as @code{++}.
11832
11833 @item !
11834 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11835 @code{++}.
11836
11837 @item ~
11838 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11839 @code{++}.
11840
11841
11842 @item .@r{, }->
11843 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11844 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11845 pointer based on the stored type information.
11846 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11847
11848 @item .*@r{, }->*
11849 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11850
11851 @item []
11852 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11853 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11854
11855 @item ()
11856 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11857
11858 @item ::
11859 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11860 and @code{class} types.
11861
11862 @item ::
11863 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11864 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11865 above.
11866 @end table
11867
11868 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11869 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11870 predefined meaning.
11871
11872 @node C Constants
11873 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11874
11875 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11876
11877 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11878 following ways:
11879
11880 @itemize @bullet
11881 @item
11882 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11883 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11884 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11885 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11886 @code{long} value.
11887
11888 @item
11889 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11890 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11891 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11892 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11893 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11894 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11895 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11896 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11897 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11898 constant.
11899
11900 @item
11901 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11902 integral equivalents.
11903
11904 @item
11905 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11906 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11907 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11908 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11909 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11910 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11911 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11912 @samp{\n} for newline.
11913
11914 @item
11915 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11916 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11917 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11918 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11919 characters.
11920
11921 @item
11922 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11923 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11924
11925 @item
11926 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11927 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11928 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11929 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11930 @end itemize
11931
11932 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11933 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11934
11935 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11936 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11937
11938 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11939 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11940 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11941 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11942 @quotation
11943 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11944 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11945 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11946 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11947 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11948 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11949 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11950 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11951 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11952 C@t{++} code.
11953 @end quotation
11954
11955 @enumerate
11956
11957 @cindex member functions
11958 @item
11959 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11960
11961 @smallexample
11962 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11963 @end smallexample
11964
11965 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11966 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11967 @item
11968 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11969 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11970 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11971 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11972
11973 @cindex call overloaded functions
11974 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11975 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11976 @item
11977 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11978 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11979 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11980 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11981 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11982 default arguments.
11983
11984 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11985 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11986 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11987 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11988 number of function arguments.
11989
11990 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11991 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11992 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11993
11994 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11995 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11996 @smallexample
11997 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11998 @end smallexample
11999
12000 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
12001 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
12002
12003 @cindex reference declarations
12004 @item
12005 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
12006 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
12007 dereferenced.
12008
12009 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
12010 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
12011 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
12012 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
12013 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
12014
12015 @item
12016 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
12017 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
12018 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
12019 necessary, for example in an expression like
12020 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
12021 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
12022 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
12023 @end enumerate
12024
12025 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
12026 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
12027 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
12028 invoking user-defined operators.
12029
12030 @node C Defaults
12031 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
12032
12033 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
12034
12035 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
12036 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12037 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12038 selects the working language.
12039
12040 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12041 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12042 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12043 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12044 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12045 for further details.
12046
12047 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12048 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12049 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12050
12051 @node C Checks
12052 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12053
12054 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12055
12056 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12057 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12058 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12059
12060 @itemize @bullet
12061 @item
12062 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12063 enumerated tag.
12064
12065 @item
12066 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12067 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12068
12069 @ignore
12070 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12071 @c FIXME--beers?
12072 @item
12073 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12074 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12075 compilers.)
12076 @end ignore
12077 @end itemize
12078
12079 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12080 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12081 that is not itself an array.
12082
12083 @node Debugging C
12084 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12085
12086 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12087 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12088 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12089 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12090
12091 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12092 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12093 ,Expressions}.
12094
12095 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12096 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12097
12098 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12099
12100 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12101 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12102
12103 @table @code
12104 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12105 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12106 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12107 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12108 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12109 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12110
12111 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12112 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12113 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12114 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12115 classes.
12116 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12117
12118 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12119 @item catch throw
12120 @itemx catch catch
12121 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12122 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12123
12124 @cindex inheritance
12125 @item ptype @var{typename}
12126 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12127 @var{typename}.
12128 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12129
12130 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12131 @item set print demangle
12132 @itemx show print demangle
12133 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12134 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12135 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12136 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12137 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12138
12139 @item set print object
12140 @itemx show print object
12141 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12142 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12143
12144 @item set print vtbl
12145 @itemx show print vtbl
12146 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12147 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12148 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12149 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12150
12151 @kindex set overload-resolution
12152 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12153 @item set overload-resolution on
12154 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12155 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12156 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12157 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12158 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12159 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12160
12161 @item set overload-resolution off
12162 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12163 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12164 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12165 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12166 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12167 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12168 argument types.
12169
12170 @kindex show overload-resolution
12171 @item show overload-resolution
12172 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12173
12174 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12175 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12176 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12177 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12178 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12179 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12180 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12181 @end table
12182
12183 @node Decimal Floating Point
12184 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12185 @cindex decimal floating point format
12186
12187 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12188 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12189 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12190 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12191
12192 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12193 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12194 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12195 target.
12196
12197 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12198 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12199 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12200
12201 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12202 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12203 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12204
12205 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12206 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12207 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12208
12209 @node D
12210 @subsection D
12211
12212 @cindex D
12213 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12214 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12215 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12216
12217 @node Objective-C
12218 @subsection Objective-C
12219
12220 @cindex Objective-C
12221 This section provides information about some commands and command
12222 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12223 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12224 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12225
12226 @menu
12227 * Method Names in Commands::
12228 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12229 @end menu
12230
12231 @node Method Names in Commands
12232 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12233
12234 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12235 names as line specifications:
12236
12237 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12238 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12239 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12240 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12241 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12242 @itemize
12243 @item @code{clear}
12244 @item @code{break}
12245 @item @code{info line}
12246 @item @code{jump}
12247 @item @code{list}
12248 @end itemize
12249
12250 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12251
12252 @smallexample
12253 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12254 @end smallexample
12255
12256 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12257 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12258 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12259 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12260 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12261 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12262 debugged, enter:
12263
12264 @smallexample
12265 break -[Fruit create]
12266 @end smallexample
12267
12268 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12269 enter:
12270
12271 @smallexample
12272 list +[NSText initialize]
12273 @end smallexample
12274
12275 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12276 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12277 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12278 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12279
12280 @smallexample
12281 break create
12282 @end smallexample
12283
12284 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12285 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12286 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12287 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12288 none apply.
12289
12290 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12291 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12292
12293 @smallexample
12294 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12295 @end smallexample
12296
12297 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12298 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12299 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12300 @kindex print-object
12301 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12302
12303 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12304
12305 @smallexample
12306 print -[@var{object} hash]
12307 @end smallexample
12308
12309 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12310 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12311 @noindent
12312 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12313 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12314 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12315 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12316 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12317 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12318
12319 @node OpenCL C
12320 @subsection OpenCL C
12321
12322 @cindex OpenCL C
12323 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12324
12325 @menu
12326 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12327 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12328 * OpenCL C Operators::
12329 @end menu
12330
12331 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12332 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12333
12334 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12335 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12336 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12337 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12338 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12339
12340 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12341 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12342
12343 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12344 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12345 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12346 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12347
12348 @node OpenCL C Operators
12349 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12350
12351 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12352 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12353 vector data types.
12354
12355 @node Fortran
12356 @subsection Fortran
12357 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12358
12359 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12360 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12361
12362 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12363 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12364 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12365 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12366 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12367 underscore.
12368
12369 @menu
12370 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12371 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12372 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12373 @end menu
12374
12375 @node Fortran Operators
12376 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12377
12378 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12379
12380 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12381 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12382 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12383
12384 @table @code
12385 @item **
12386 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12387 of the second one.
12388
12389 @item :
12390 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12391 represent a section of array.
12392
12393 @item %
12394 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12395 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12396 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12397 union type.
12398 @end table
12399
12400 @node Fortran Defaults
12401 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12402
12403 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12404
12405 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12406 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12407 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12408 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12409
12410 @node Special Fortran Commands
12411 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12412
12413 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12414
12415 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12416 such as displaying common blocks.
12417
12418 @table @code
12419 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
12420 @kindex info common
12421 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
12422 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
12423 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
12424 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12425 printed.
12426 @end table
12427
12428 @node Pascal
12429 @subsection Pascal
12430
12431 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12432 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12433 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12434 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12435 syntax.
12436
12437 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12438 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12439 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12440
12441 @node Modula-2
12442 @subsection Modula-2
12443
12444 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12445
12446 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12447 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12448 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12449 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12450 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12451 table.
12452
12453 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12454 @menu
12455 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12456 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12457 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12458 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12459 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12460 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12461 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12462 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12463 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12464 @end menu
12465
12466 @node M2 Operators
12467 @subsubsection Operators
12468 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12469
12470 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12471 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12472 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12473 following definitions hold:
12474
12475 @itemize @bullet
12476
12477 @item
12478 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12479 their subranges.
12480
12481 @item
12482 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12483
12484 @item
12485 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12486
12487 @item
12488 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12489 @var{type}}.
12490
12491 @item
12492 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12493
12494 @item
12495 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12496
12497 @item
12498 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12499 @end itemize
12500
12501 @noindent
12502 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12503 increasing precedence:
12504
12505 @table @code
12506 @item ,
12507 Function argument or array index separator.
12508
12509 @item :=
12510 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12511 @var{value}.
12512
12513 @item <@r{, }>
12514 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12515 types.
12516
12517 @item <=@r{, }>=
12518 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12519 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12520 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12521
12522 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12523 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12524 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12525 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12526 comment character.
12527
12528 @item IN
12529 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12530 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12531
12532 @item OR
12533 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12534
12535 @item AND@r{, }&
12536 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12537
12538 @item @@
12539 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12540
12541 @item +@r{, }-
12542 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12543 and difference on set types.
12544
12545 @item *
12546 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12547 on set types.
12548
12549 @item /
12550 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12551 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12552
12553 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
12554 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12555 precedence as @code{*}.
12556
12557 @item -
12558 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12559
12560 @item ^
12561 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12562
12563 @item NOT
12564 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12565 @code{^}.
12566
12567 @item .
12568 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12569 precedence as @code{^}.
12570
12571 @item []
12572 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12573
12574 @item ()
12575 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12576 as @code{^}.
12577
12578 @item ::@r{, }.
12579 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12580 @end table
12581
12582 @quotation
12583 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12584 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12585 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12586 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12587 @end quotation
12588
12589
12590 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12591 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12592 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12593
12594 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12595 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12596
12597 @table @var
12598
12599 @item a
12600 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12601
12602 @item c
12603 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12604
12605 @item i
12606 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12607
12608 @item m
12609 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12610 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12611 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12612
12613 @item n
12614 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12615
12616 @item r
12617 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12618
12619 @item t
12620 represents a type.
12621
12622 @item v
12623 represents a variable.
12624
12625 @item x
12626 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12627 explanation of the function for details.
12628 @end table
12629
12630 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12631
12632 @table @code
12633 @item ABS(@var{n})
12634 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12635
12636 @item CAP(@var{c})
12637 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12638 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12639
12640 @item CHR(@var{i})
12641 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12642
12643 @item DEC(@var{v})
12644 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12645
12646 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12647 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12648 new value.
12649
12650 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12651 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12652 set.
12653
12654 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12655 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12656
12657 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12658 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12659
12660 @item INC(@var{v})
12661 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12662
12663 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12664 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12665 new value.
12666
12667 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12668 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12669 there. Returns the new set.
12670
12671 @item MAX(@var{t})
12672 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12673
12674 @item MIN(@var{t})
12675 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12676
12677 @item ODD(@var{i})
12678 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12679
12680 @item ORD(@var{x})
12681 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12682 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12683 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12684 integral, character and enumerated types.
12685
12686 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12687 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12688
12689 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12690 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12691
12692 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12693 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12694
12695 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12696 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12697 @end table
12698
12699 @quotation
12700 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12701 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12702 an error.
12703 @end quotation
12704
12705 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12706 @node M2 Constants
12707 @subsubsection Constants
12708
12709 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12710 ways:
12711
12712 @itemize @bullet
12713
12714 @item
12715 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12716 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12717 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12718 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12719
12720 @item
12721 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12722 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12723 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12724 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12725 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12726 digits.
12727
12728 @item
12729 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12730 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12731 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12732 followed by a @samp{C}.
12733
12734 @item
12735 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12736 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12737 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12738 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12739 sequences.
12740
12741 @item
12742 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12743
12744 @item
12745 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12746 @code{FALSE}.
12747
12748 @item
12749 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12750
12751 @item
12752 Set constants are not yet supported.
12753 @end itemize
12754
12755 @node M2 Types
12756 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12757 @cindex Modula-2 types
12758
12759 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12760 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12761 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12762 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12763 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12764 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12765
12766 The first example contains the following section of code:
12767
12768 @smallexample
12769 VAR
12770 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12771 r: [20..40] ;
12772 @end smallexample
12773
12774 @noindent
12775 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12776 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12777
12778 @smallexample
12779 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12780 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12781 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12782 SET OF CHAR
12783 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12784 21
12785 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12786 [20..40]
12787 @end smallexample
12788
12789 @noindent
12790 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12791
12792 @smallexample
12793 VAR
12794 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12795 @end smallexample
12796
12797 @noindent
12798 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12799
12800 @smallexample
12801 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12802 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12803 @end smallexample
12804
12805 @noindent
12806 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12807 expressions using the debugger.
12808
12809 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12810 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12811
12812 @smallexample
12813 VAR
12814 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12815 @end smallexample
12816
12817 @smallexample
12818 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12819 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12820 @end smallexample
12821
12822 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12823 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12824 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12825 above.
12826
12827 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12828
12829 @smallexample
12830 TYPE
12831 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12832 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12833 VAR
12834 s: t ;
12835 BEGIN
12836 s := blue ;
12837 @end smallexample
12838
12839 @noindent
12840 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12841 and value of a variable.
12842
12843 @smallexample
12844 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12845 $1 = blue
12846 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12847 type = [blue..yellow]
12848 @end smallexample
12849
12850 @noindent
12851 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12852 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12853 their @code{C} counterparts.
12854
12855 @smallexample
12856 VAR
12857 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12858 BEGIN
12859 s[1] := 1 ;
12860 @end smallexample
12861
12862 @smallexample
12863 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12864 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12865 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12866 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12867 @end smallexample
12868
12869 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12870 pointer types as shown in this example:
12871
12872 @smallexample
12873 VAR
12874 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12875 BEGIN
12876 NEW(s) ;
12877 s^[1] := 1 ;
12878 @end smallexample
12879
12880 @noindent
12881 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12882
12883 @smallexample
12884 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12885 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12886 @end smallexample
12887
12888 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12889 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12890 types:
12891
12892 @smallexample
12893 TYPE
12894 foo = RECORD
12895 f1: CARDINAL ;
12896 f2: CHAR ;
12897 f3: myarray ;
12898 END ;
12899
12900 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12901 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12902 VAR
12903 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12904 @end smallexample
12905
12906 @noindent
12907 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12908 below.
12909
12910 @smallexample
12911 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12912 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12913 f1 : CARDINAL;
12914 f2 : CHAR;
12915 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12916 END
12917 @end smallexample
12918
12919 @node M2 Defaults
12920 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12921 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12922
12923 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12924 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12925 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12926 selected the working language.
12927
12928 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12929 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12930 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12931 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12932
12933 @node Deviations
12934 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12935 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12936
12937 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12938 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12939
12940 @itemize @bullet
12941 @item
12942 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12943 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12944 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12945 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12946 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12947 returned a pointer.)
12948
12949 @item
12950 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12951 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12952 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12953 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12954
12955 @item
12956 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12957 argument.
12958
12959 @item
12960 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12961 @end itemize
12962
12963 @node M2 Checks
12964 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12965 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12966
12967 @quotation
12968 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12969 range checking.
12970 @end quotation
12971 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12972
12973 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12974
12975 @itemize @bullet
12976 @item
12977 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12978 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12979
12980 @item
12981 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12982 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12983 @end itemize
12984
12985 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12986 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12987
12988 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12989 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12990
12991 @node M2 Scope
12992 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12993 @cindex scope
12994 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12995 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12996 @ifinfo
12997 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12998 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12999 @end ifinfo
13000 @ifnotinfo
13001 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
13002 @end ifnotinfo
13003
13004 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
13005 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
13006 similar syntax:
13007
13008 @smallexample
13009
13010 @var{module} . @var{id}
13011 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
13012 @end smallexample
13013
13014 @noindent
13015 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
13016 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
13017 identifier within your program, except another module.
13018
13019 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
13020 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
13021 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
13022 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
13023
13024 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
13025 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
13026 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
13027 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
13028 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
13029 @var{module}.
13030
13031 @node GDB/M2
13032 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13033
13034 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
13035 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
13036 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13037 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13038 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13039 analogue in Modula-2.
13040
13041 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13042 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13043 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13044 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13045 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13046 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13047
13048 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13049 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13050 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13051
13052 @node Ada
13053 @subsection Ada
13054 @cindex Ada
13055
13056 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13057 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13058 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13059 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13060 to be difficult.
13061
13062
13063 @cindex expressions in Ada
13064 @menu
13065 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13066 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13067 in @value{GDBN}.
13068 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13069 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13070 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13071 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13072 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13073 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13074 Profile
13075 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13076 @end menu
13077
13078 @node Ada Mode Intro
13079 @subsubsection Introduction
13080 @cindex Ada mode, general
13081
13082 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13083 syntax, with some extensions.
13084 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13085
13086 @itemize @bullet
13087 @item
13088 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13089 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13090 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13091 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13092
13093 @item
13094 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13095 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13096
13097 @item
13098 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13099 @end itemize
13100
13101 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13102 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13103 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13104 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13105 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13106
13107 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13108 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13109 was translated from an Ada source file.
13110
13111 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13112 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13113 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13114 middle (to allow based literals).
13115
13116 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13117 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13118 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13119 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13120 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13121 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13122
13123 @node Omissions from Ada
13124 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13125 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13126
13127 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13128
13129 @itemize @bullet
13130 @item
13131 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13132
13133 @itemize @minus
13134 @item
13135 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13136 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13137
13138 @item
13139 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13140
13141 @item
13142 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13143
13144 @item
13145 @t{'Tag}.
13146
13147 @item
13148 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13149 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13150
13151 @item
13152 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13153 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13154
13155 @item
13156 @t{'Address}.
13157 @end itemize
13158
13159 @item
13160 The names in
13161 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13162 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13163 not currently available.
13164
13165 @item
13166 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13167 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13168 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13169 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13170 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13171 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13172 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13173 indeterminate values.
13174
13175 @item
13176 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13177 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13178 are not implemented.
13179
13180 @item
13181 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13182 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13183 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13184 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13185 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13186
13187 @smallexample
13188 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13189 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13190 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13191 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13192 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13193 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13194 @end smallexample
13195
13196 Changing a
13197 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13198 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13199 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13200 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13201 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13202 declared to have a type such as:
13203
13204 @smallexample
13205 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13206 Id : Integer;
13207 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13208 end record;
13209 @end smallexample
13210
13211 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13212 assignments:
13213
13214 @smallexample
13215 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13216 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13217 @end smallexample
13218
13219 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13220 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13221 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13222 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13223 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13224 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13225 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13226 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13227
13228 @item
13229 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13230
13231 @item
13232 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13233 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13234 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13235 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13236 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13237 the proper resolution.
13238
13239 @item
13240 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13241
13242 @item
13243 Entry calls are not implemented.
13244
13245 @item
13246 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13247 formats are not supported.
13248
13249 @item
13250 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13251
13252 @item
13253 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13254 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13255 context.
13256 Should your program
13257 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13258 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13259 @end itemize
13260
13261 @node Additions to Ada
13262 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13263 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13264
13265 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13266 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13267
13268 @itemize @bullet
13269 @item
13270 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13271 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13272 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13273 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13274 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13275 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13276 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13277 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13278
13279 @item
13280 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13281 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13282 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13283
13284 @item
13285 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13286 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13287
13288 @item
13289 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13290 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13291 @end itemize
13292
13293 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13294 additions specific to Ada:
13295
13296 @itemize @bullet
13297 @item
13298 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13299 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13300
13301 @smallexample
13302 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13303 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13304 @end smallexample
13305
13306 @item
13307 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13308 the value of its right-hand operand.
13309 This allows, for example,
13310 complex conditional breaks:
13311
13312 @smallexample
13313 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13314 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13315 @end smallexample
13316
13317 @item
13318 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13319 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13320 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13321 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13322 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13323 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13324 in strings. For example,
13325 @smallexample
13326 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13327 @end smallexample
13328 @noindent
13329 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13330 after each period.
13331
13332 @item
13333 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13334 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13335 to write
13336
13337 @smallexample
13338 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13339 @end smallexample
13340
13341 @item
13342 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13343 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13344 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13345 of 3 might print as
13346
13347 @smallexample
13348 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
13349 @end smallexample
13350
13351 @noindent
13352 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13353 clause.
13354
13355 @item
13356 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13357 multi-character subsequence of
13358 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13359 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13360 in place of @t{a'length}.
13361
13362 @item
13363 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13364 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13365 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13366 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13367 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13368 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13369 For example,
13370 @smallexample
13371 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13372 @end smallexample
13373
13374 @item
13375 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13376 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13377 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13378 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13379 object.
13380
13381 @end itemize
13382
13383 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13384 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13385
13386 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13387 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13388 before reaching the main procedure.
13389 As defined in the Ada Reference
13390 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13391 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13392 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13393 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13394
13395 @node Ada Tasks
13396 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13397 @cindex Ada, tasking
13398
13399 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13400 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13401
13402 @table @code
13403 @kindex info tasks
13404 @item info tasks
13405 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13406
13407
13408 @smallexample
13409 @iftex
13410 @leftskip=0.5cm
13411 @end iftex
13412 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13413 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13414 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13415 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13416 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13417 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
13418
13419 @end smallexample
13420
13421 @noindent
13422 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
13423 task currently being inspected.
13424
13425 @table @asis
13426 @item ID
13427 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13428
13429 @item TID
13430 The Ada task ID.
13431
13432 @item P-ID
13433 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13434
13435 @item Pri
13436 The base priority of the task.
13437
13438 @item State
13439 Current state of the task.
13440
13441 @table @code
13442 @item Unactivated
13443 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13444 executing.
13445
13446 @item Runnable
13447 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13448 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13449
13450 @item Terminated
13451 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13452 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13453 terminated themselves.
13454
13455 @item Child Activation Wait
13456 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13457
13458 @item Accept Statement
13459 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13460
13461 @item Waiting on entry call
13462 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13463
13464 @item Async Select Wait
13465 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13466 select statement.
13467
13468 @item Delay Sleep
13469 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13470 alternative open.
13471
13472 @item Child Termination Wait
13473 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13474 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13475 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13476
13477 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13478 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13479 finish terminating.
13480
13481 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13482 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13483 @end table
13484
13485 @item Name
13486 Name of the task in the program.
13487
13488 @end table
13489
13490 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13491 @item info task @var{taskno}
13492 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13493 the following example:
13494 @smallexample
13495 @iftex
13496 @leftskip=0.5cm
13497 @end iftex
13498 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13499 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13500 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13501 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13502 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13503 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13504 Name: task_1
13505 Thread: 0x807f378
13506 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13507 Base Priority: 15
13508 State: Runnable
13509 @end smallexample
13510
13511 @item task
13512 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13513 @cindex current Ada task ID
13514 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13515
13516 @smallexample
13517 @iftex
13518 @leftskip=0.5cm
13519 @end iftex
13520 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13521 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13522 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13523 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13524 (@value{GDBP}) task
13525 [Current task is 2]
13526 @end smallexample
13527
13528 @item task @var{taskno}
13529 @cindex Ada task switching
13530 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13531 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13532 from the current task to the given task.
13533
13534 @smallexample
13535 @iftex
13536 @leftskip=0.5cm
13537 @end iftex
13538 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13539 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13540 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13541 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13542 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13543 [Switching to task 1]
13544 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13545 (@value{GDBP}) bt
13546 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13547 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13548 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13549 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13550 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13551 @end smallexample
13552
13553 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13554 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13555 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13556 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13557 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13558 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13559 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13560 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13561 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13562
13563 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13564 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13565 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13566 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13567 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13568
13569 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13570 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13571 program.
13572
13573 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13574 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13575 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13576
13577 For example,
13578
13579 @smallexample
13580 @iftex
13581 @leftskip=0.5cm
13582 @end iftex
13583 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13584 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13585 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13586 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13587 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13588 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13589 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13590 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13591 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13592 Continuing.
13593 task # 1 running
13594 task # 2 running
13595
13596 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13597 15 flush;
13598 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13599 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13600 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13601 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13602 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13603 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13604 @end smallexample
13605 @end table
13606
13607 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13608 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13609 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13610
13611 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13612 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13613 the platform being used.
13614 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13615 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13616 as usual.
13617
13618 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13619 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13620 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13621 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13622 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13623 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13624
13625 @node Ravenscar Profile
13626 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
13627 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
13628
13629 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
13630 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
13631 requirements.
13632
13633 @table @code
13634 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
13635 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
13636 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
13637 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13638 Profile. This is the default.
13639
13640 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
13641 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
13642 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13643 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
13644 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
13645 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
13646 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
13647
13648 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
13649 @item show ravenscar task-switching
13650 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
13651 using the Ravenscar Profile.
13652
13653 @end table
13654
13655 @node Ada Glitches
13656 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13657 @cindex Ada, problems
13658
13659 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13660 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13661 @value{GDBN},
13662 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13663 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13664
13665 @itemize @bullet
13666 @item
13667 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13668 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13669
13670 @item
13671 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13672 argument lists are treated as positional).
13673
13674 @item
13675 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13676
13677 @item
13678 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13679 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13680 the host machine.
13681
13682 @item
13683 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13684 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13685 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13686 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13687 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13688 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13689 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13690 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13691 you can usually resolve the confusion
13692 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13693 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13694 @end itemize
13695
13696 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13697 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13698 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13699 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13700 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13701 enabled.
13702
13703 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13704 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13705 @table @code
13706
13707 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13708 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13709 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13710 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13711 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13712 This is the default.
13713
13714 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13715 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13716 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13717 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13718 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13719 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13720 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13721
13722 @end table
13723
13724 @node Unsupported Languages
13725 @section Unsupported Languages
13726
13727 @cindex unsupported languages
13728 @cindex minimal language
13729 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13730 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13731 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13732 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13733 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13734 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13735
13736 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13737 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13738 language.
13739
13740 @node Symbols
13741 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13742
13743 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13744 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13745 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13746 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13747 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13748 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13749 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13750
13751 @cindex symbol names
13752 @cindex names of symbols
13753 @cindex quoting names
13754 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13755 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13756 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13757 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13758 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13759 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13760 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13761 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13762
13763 @smallexample
13764 p 'foo.c'::x
13765 @end smallexample
13766
13767 @noindent
13768 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13769
13770 @table @code
13771 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13772 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13773 @kindex set case-sensitive
13774 @item set case-sensitive on
13775 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13776 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13777 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13778 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13779 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13780 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13781 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13782 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13783 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13784 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13785 case-insensitive matches.
13786
13787 @kindex show case-sensitive
13788 @item show case-sensitive
13789 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13790 lookups.
13791
13792 @kindex info address
13793 @cindex address of a symbol
13794 @item info address @var{symbol}
13795 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13796 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13797 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13798 is always stored.
13799
13800 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13801 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13802 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13803
13804 @kindex info symbol
13805 @cindex symbol from address
13806 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13807 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13808 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13809 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13810 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13811
13812 @smallexample
13813 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13814 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13815 @end smallexample
13816
13817 @noindent
13818 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13819 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13820
13821 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13822 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13823
13824 @smallexample
13825 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13826 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13827 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13828 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13829 @end smallexample
13830
13831 @kindex whatis
13832 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13833 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13834 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13835 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13836 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13837 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13838 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13839 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13840 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13841 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13842 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13843
13844 @kindex ptype
13845 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13846 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13847 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13848 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13849
13850 For example, for this variable declaration:
13851
13852 @smallexample
13853 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13854 @end smallexample
13855
13856 @noindent
13857 the two commands give this output:
13858
13859 @smallexample
13860 @group
13861 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13862 type = struct complex
13863 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13864 type = struct complex @{
13865 double real;
13866 double imag;
13867 @}
13868 @end group
13869 @end smallexample
13870
13871 @noindent
13872 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13873 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13874
13875 @cindex incomplete type
13876 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13877 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13878 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13879 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13880 given these declarations:
13881
13882 @smallexample
13883 struct foo;
13884 struct foo *fooptr;
13885 @end smallexample
13886
13887 @noindent
13888 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13889
13890 @smallexample
13891 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13892 $1 = <incomplete type>
13893 @end smallexample
13894
13895 @noindent
13896 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13897 completely specified.
13898
13899 @kindex info types
13900 @item info types @var{regexp}
13901 @itemx info types
13902 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13903 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13904 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13905 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13906 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13907 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13908 name is @code{value}.
13909
13910 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13911 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13912 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13913
13914 @kindex info scope
13915 @cindex local variables
13916 @item info scope @var{location}
13917 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13918 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13919 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13920 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13921 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13922
13923 @smallexample
13924 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13925 Scope for command_line_handler:
13926 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13927 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13928 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13929 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13930 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13931 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13932 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13933 @end smallexample
13934
13935 @noindent
13936 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13937 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13938 collect}.
13939
13940 @kindex info source
13941 @item info source
13942 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13943 the function containing the current point of execution:
13944 @itemize @bullet
13945 @item
13946 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13947 @item
13948 the directory it was compiled in,
13949 @item
13950 its length, in lines,
13951 @item
13952 which programming language it is written in,
13953 @item
13954 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13955 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13956 @item
13957 whether the debugging information includes information about
13958 preprocessor macros.
13959 @end itemize
13960
13961
13962 @kindex info sources
13963 @item info sources
13964 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13965 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13966 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13967
13968 @kindex info functions
13969 @item info functions
13970 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13971
13972 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13973 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13974 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13975 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13976 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13977 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13978 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13979 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13980
13981 @kindex info variables
13982 @item info variables
13983 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13984 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13985
13986 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13987 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13988 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13989 @var{regexp}.
13990
13991 @kindex info classes
13992 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13993 @item info classes
13994 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13995 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13996 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13997 expression.
13998
13999 @kindex info selectors
14000 @item info selectors
14001 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
14002 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
14003 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14004 expression.
14005
14006 @ignore
14007 This was never implemented.
14008 @kindex info methods
14009 @item info methods
14010 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
14011 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
14012 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
14013 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
14014 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
14015 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
14016 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
14017 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
14018 @end ignore
14019
14020 @cindex reloading symbols
14021 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
14022 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
14023 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
14024 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
14025 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
14026
14027 @table @code
14028 @kindex set symbol-reloading
14029 @item set symbol-reloading on
14030 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
14031 object file with a particular name is seen again.
14032
14033 @item set symbol-reloading off
14034 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
14035 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
14036 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14037 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14038 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14039 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14040 name.
14041
14042 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14043 @item show symbol-reloading
14044 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14045 @end table
14046
14047 @cindex opaque data types
14048 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14049 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14050 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14051 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14052 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14053 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14054 another source file. The default is on.
14055
14056 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14057 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14058
14059 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14060 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14061 is printed as follows:
14062 @smallexample
14063 @{<no data fields>@}
14064 @end smallexample
14065
14066 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14067 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14068 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14069
14070 @kindex maint print symbols
14071 @cindex symbol dump
14072 @kindex maint print psymbols
14073 @cindex partial symbol dump
14074 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14075 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14076 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14077 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14078 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14079 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14080 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14081 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14082 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14083 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14084 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14085 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14086 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14087 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14088 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14089 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14090 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14091
14092 @kindex maint info symtabs
14093 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14094 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14095 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14096 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14097 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14098 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14099 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14100
14101 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14102 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14103 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14104 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14105 structure in more detail. For example:
14106
14107 @smallexample
14108 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14109 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14110 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14111 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14112 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14113 readin no
14114 fullname (null)
14115 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14116 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14117 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14118 dependencies (none)
14119 @}
14120 @}
14121 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14122 (@value{GDBP})
14123 @end smallexample
14124 @noindent
14125 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14126 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14127 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14128 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14129 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14130
14131 @smallexample
14132 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14133 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14134 line 1574.
14135 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14136 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14137 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14138 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14139 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14140 dirname (null)
14141 fullname (null)
14142 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14143 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14144 debugformat DWARF 2
14145 @}
14146 @}
14147 (@value{GDBP})
14148 @end smallexample
14149 @end table
14150
14151
14152 @node Altering
14153 @chapter Altering Execution
14154
14155 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14156 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14157 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14158 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14159 program.
14160
14161 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14162 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14163 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14164
14165 @menu
14166 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14167 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14168 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14169 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14170 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14171 * Patching:: Patching your program
14172 @end menu
14173
14174 @node Assignment
14175 @section Assignment to Variables
14176
14177 @cindex assignment
14178 @cindex setting variables
14179 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14180 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14181
14182 @smallexample
14183 print x=4
14184 @end smallexample
14185
14186 @noindent
14187 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14188 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14189 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14190 information on operators in supported languages.
14191
14192 @kindex set variable
14193 @cindex variables, setting
14194 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14195 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14196 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14197 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14198 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14199
14200 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14201 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14202 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14203 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14204 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14205 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14206 command @code{set width}:
14207
14208 @smallexample
14209 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14210 type = double
14211 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14212 $4 = 13
14213 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14214 Invalid syntax in expression.
14215 @end smallexample
14216
14217 @noindent
14218 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14219 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14220
14221 @smallexample
14222 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14223 @end smallexample
14224
14225 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14226 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14227 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14228 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14229 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14230 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14231
14232 @smallexample
14233 @group
14234 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14235 type = double
14236 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14237 $1 = 1
14238 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14239 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14240 $2 = 1
14241 (@value{GDBP}) r
14242 The program being debugged has been started already.
14243 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14244 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14245 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14246 Invalid bfd target.
14247 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14248 The current BFD target is "=4".
14249 @end group
14250 @end smallexample
14251
14252 @noindent
14253 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14254 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14255 @code{g}, use
14256
14257 @smallexample
14258 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14259 @end smallexample
14260
14261 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14262 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14263 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14264 same length or shorter.
14265 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14266 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14267
14268 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14269 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14270 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14271 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14272 and representation in memory), and
14273
14274 @smallexample
14275 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14276 @end smallexample
14277
14278 @noindent
14279 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14280
14281 @node Jumping
14282 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14283
14284 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14285 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14286 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14287
14288 @table @code
14289 @kindex jump
14290 @item jump @var{linespec}
14291 @itemx jump @var{location}
14292 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14293 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14294 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14295 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14296 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14297 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14298
14299 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14300 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14301 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14302 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14303 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14304 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14305 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14306 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14307 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14308 @end table
14309
14310 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14311 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14312 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14313 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14314 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14315 example,
14316
14317 @smallexample
14318 set $pc = 0x485
14319 @end smallexample
14320
14321 @noindent
14322 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14323 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14324 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14325
14326 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14327 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14328 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14329 detail.
14330
14331 @c @group
14332 @node Signaling
14333 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14334 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14335
14336 @table @code
14337 @kindex signal
14338 @item signal @var{signal}
14339 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14340 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14341 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14342 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14343
14344 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14345 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14346 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14347 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14348 signal.
14349
14350 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14351 after executing the command.
14352 @end table
14353 @c @end group
14354
14355 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14356 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14357 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14358 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14359 passes the signal directly to your program.
14360
14361
14362 @node Returning
14363 @section Returning from a Function
14364
14365 @table @code
14366 @cindex returning from a function
14367 @kindex return
14368 @item return
14369 @itemx return @var{expression}
14370 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14371 command. If you give an
14372 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14373 value.
14374 @end table
14375
14376 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
14377 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
14378 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
14379 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
14380
14381 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
14382 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
14383 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
14384 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
14385 of functions.
14386
14387 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
14388 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
14389 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
14390 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
14391 selected stack frame returns naturally.
14392
14393 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
14394 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
14395 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
14396 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
14397 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
14398 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
14399 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
14400 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
14401 assignment into the right register(s).
14402
14403 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
14404 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
14405 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
14406 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
14407 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
14408 into a @code{long long int}:
14409
14410 @smallexample
14411 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
14412 29 return 31;
14413 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14414 Make func return now? (y or n) y
14415 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
14416 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
14417 (@value{GDBP})
14418 @end smallexample
14419
14420 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
14421 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
14422 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
14423 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
14424 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
14425 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
14426 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
14427 an appropriate cast explicitly:
14428
14429 @smallexample
14430 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
14431 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14432 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
14433 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
14434 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
14435 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
14436 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
14437 (@value{GDBP})
14438 @end smallexample
14439
14440 @node Calling
14441 @section Calling Program Functions
14442
14443 @table @code
14444 @cindex calling functions
14445 @cindex inferior functions, calling
14446 @item print @var{expr}
14447 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
14448 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
14449 debugged.
14450
14451 @kindex call
14452 @item call @var{expr}
14453 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
14454 returned values.
14455
14456 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
14457 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
14458 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
14459 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
14460 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
14461 value history.
14462 @end table
14463
14464 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
14465 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
14466 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
14467 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
14468
14469 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
14470 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
14471 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14472 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14473 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14474 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14475 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14476 in that case is controlled by the
14477 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14478
14479 @table @code
14480 @item set unwindonsignal
14481 @kindex set unwindonsignal
14482 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
14483 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14484 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14485 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14486 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14487 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14488 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14489 received.
14490
14491 @item show unwindonsignal
14492 @kindex show unwindonsignal
14493 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14494 @value{GDBN}.
14495
14496 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14497 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14498 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14499 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14500 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14501 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14502 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14503 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14504 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14505 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14506
14507 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14508 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14509 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14510 @value{GDBN}.
14511
14512 @end table
14513
14514 @cindex weak alias functions
14515 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14516 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14517 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14518 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14519 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14520 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14521 function instead.
14522
14523 @node Patching
14524 @section Patching Programs
14525
14526 @cindex patching binaries
14527 @cindex writing into executables
14528 @cindex writing into corefiles
14529
14530 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14531 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14532 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14533 patching your program's binary.
14534
14535 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14536 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14537 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14538 repairs.
14539
14540 @table @code
14541 @kindex set write
14542 @item set write on
14543 @itemx set write off
14544 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14545 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14546 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14547
14548 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14549 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14550 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14551
14552 @item show write
14553 @kindex show write
14554 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14555 as well as reading.
14556 @end table
14557
14558 @node GDB Files
14559 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14560
14561 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14562 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14563 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14564 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14565
14566 @menu
14567 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14568 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14569 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
14570 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14571 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14572 @end menu
14573
14574 @node Files
14575 @section Commands to Specify Files
14576
14577 @cindex symbol table
14578 @cindex core dump file
14579
14580 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14581 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14582 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14583 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14584
14585 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14586 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14587 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14588 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14589 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14590 new files are useful.
14591
14592 @table @code
14593 @cindex executable file
14594 @kindex file
14595 @item file @var{filename}
14596 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14597 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14598 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14599 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14600 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14601 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14602 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14603 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14604
14605 @cindex unlinked object files
14606 @cindex patching object files
14607 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14608 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14609 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14610 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14611 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14612 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14613 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14614 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14615
14616 @item file
14617 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14618 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14619
14620 @kindex exec-file
14621 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14622 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14623 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14624 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14625 discard information on the executable file.
14626
14627 @kindex symbol-file
14628 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14629 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14630 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14631 table and program to run from the same file.
14632
14633 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14634 program's symbol table.
14635
14636 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14637 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14638 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14639 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14640 @value{GDBN}.
14641
14642 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14643 executing it once.
14644
14645 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14646 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14647 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14648 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14649 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14650 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14651 optimized code.
14652
14653 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14654 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14655 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14656 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14657 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14658
14659 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14660 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14661 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14662 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14663 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14664 Warnings and Messages}.)
14665
14666 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14667 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14668 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14669 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14670 in stabs format.
14671
14672 @kindex readnow
14673 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14674 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14675 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14676 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14677 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14678 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14679 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14680 entire symbol table available.
14681
14682 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14683 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14684 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14685 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14686 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14687 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14688 @c files.
14689
14690 @kindex core-file
14691 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14692 @itemx core
14693 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14694 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14695 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14696 executable file itself for other parts.
14697
14698 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14699 to be used.
14700
14701 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14702 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14703 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14704 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14705 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14706
14707 @kindex add-symbol-file
14708 @cindex dynamic linking
14709 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14710 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14711 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14712 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14713 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14714 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14715 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14716 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14717 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14718 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14719 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14720 @var{address} as an expression.
14721
14722 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14723 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14724 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14725 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14726 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14727
14728 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14729 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14730 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14731 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14732 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14733 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14734 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14735 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14736 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14737
14738 @itemize @bullet
14739 @item
14740 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14741 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14742 @item
14743 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14744 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14745 @item
14746 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14747 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14748 @end itemize
14749
14750 @noindent
14751 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14752 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14753 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14754 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14755 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14756 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14757 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14758 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14759 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14760 way.
14761
14762 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14763
14764 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14765 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14766 @cindex load symbols from memory
14767 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14768 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14769 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14770 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14771 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14772 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14773 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14774 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14775 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14776
14777 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14778 @kindex assf
14779 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14780 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14781 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14782 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14783 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14784 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14785 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14786 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14787 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14788 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14789
14790 @kindex section
14791 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14792 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14793 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14794 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14795 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14796 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14797 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14798 their addresses.
14799
14800 @kindex info files
14801 @kindex info target
14802 @item info files
14803 @itemx info target
14804 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14805 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14806 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14807 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14808 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14809 current ones.
14810
14811 @kindex maint info sections
14812 @item maint info sections
14813 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14814 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14815 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14816 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14817 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14818 may be arbitrarily combined):
14819
14820 @table @code
14821 @item ALLOBJ
14822 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14823 @item @var{sections}
14824 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14825 @item @var{section-flags}
14826 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14827 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14828 @table @code
14829 @item ALLOC
14830 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14831 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14832 @item LOAD
14833 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14834 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14835 @item RELOC
14836 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14837 @item READONLY
14838 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14839 @item CODE
14840 Section contains executable code only.
14841 @item DATA
14842 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14843 @item ROM
14844 Section will reside in ROM.
14845 @item CONSTRUCTOR
14846 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14847 @item HAS_CONTENTS
14848 Section is not empty.
14849 @item NEVER_LOAD
14850 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14851 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14852 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14853 COFF shared library information.
14854 @item IS_COMMON
14855 Section contains common symbols.
14856 @end table
14857 @end table
14858 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14859 @cindex read-only sections
14860 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14861 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14862 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14863 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14864 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14865 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14866 enhancement to debugging performance.
14867
14868 The default is off.
14869
14870 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14871 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14872 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14873 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14874
14875 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14876 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14877 @end table
14878
14879 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14880 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14881 name and remembers it that way.
14882
14883 @cindex shared libraries
14884 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14885 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14886 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14887
14888 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14889 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14890
14891 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14892 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14893 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14894 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14895 debugging a core file).
14896
14897 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14898 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14899
14900 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14901 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14902 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14903
14904 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14905 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14906 particularly large or there are many of them.
14907
14908 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14909 commands:
14910
14911 @table @code
14912 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14913 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14914 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14915 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14916 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14917 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14918 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14919 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14920
14921 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14922 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14923 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14924 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14925 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14926 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14927 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14928 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14929 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14930
14931 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14932 @item show auto-solib-add
14933 Display the current autoloading mode.
14934 @end table
14935
14936 @cindex load shared library
14937 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14938 command:
14939
14940 @table @code
14941 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14942 @kindex info share
14943 @item info share @var{regex}
14944 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14945 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14946 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14947 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14948
14949 @kindex sharedlibrary
14950 @kindex share
14951 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14952 @itemx share @var{regex}
14953 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14954 Unix regular expression.
14955 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14956 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14957 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14958 loaded.
14959
14960 @item nosharedlibrary
14961 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14962 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14963 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14964 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14965 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14966 discarded.
14967 @end table
14968
14969 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14970 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14971 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14972
14973 @table @code
14974 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14975 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14976 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14977 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14978 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14979 shared library.
14980
14981 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14982 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14983 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14984 library events happen.
14985 @end table
14986
14987 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14988 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14989 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14990 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14991 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14992 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14993 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14994 not.
14995
14996 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14997 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14998 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14999 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
15000 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
15001
15002 @table @code
15003 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
15004 @cindex system root, alternate
15005 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
15006 @kindex set sysroot
15007 @item set sysroot @var{path}
15008 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
15009 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
15010 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
15011 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
15012 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
15013 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
15014 under @var{path}.
15015
15016 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
15017 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
15018 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
15019 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
15020 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
15021 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
15022 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
15023 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
15024 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
15025
15026 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
15027 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
15028 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
15029 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
15030 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
15031
15032 @smallexample
15033 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
15034 @end smallexample
15035
15036 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15037 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15038 system:
15039
15040 @smallexample
15041 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15042 @end smallexample
15043
15044 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15045 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15046 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15047 colons:
15048
15049 @smallexample
15050 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15051 @end smallexample
15052
15053 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15054 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15055 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15056 @samp{z}):
15057
15058 @smallexample
15059 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15060 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15061 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15062 @end smallexample
15063
15064 @noindent
15065 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15066 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15067 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15068
15069 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15070 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15071
15072 @smallexample
15073 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15074 @end smallexample
15075
15076 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15077 if you don't want or need to.
15078
15079 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15080 sysroot}.
15081
15082 @cindex default system root
15083 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15084 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15085 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15086 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15087 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15088 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15089 location.
15090
15091 @kindex show sysroot
15092 @item show sysroot
15093 Display the current shared library prefix.
15094
15095 @kindex set solib-search-path
15096 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15097 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15098 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15099 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15100 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15101 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15102 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15103 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15104 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15105 of shared library symbols.
15106
15107 @kindex show solib-search-path
15108 @item show solib-search-path
15109 Display the current shared library search path.
15110
15111 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15112 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15113 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15114 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15115 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15116
15117 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15118 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15119 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15120 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15121 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15122 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15123 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15124 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15125 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15126 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15127 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15128 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15129 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15130 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15131 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15132 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15133 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15134 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15135 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15136 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15137 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15138 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15139
15140 @table @code
15141 @item unix
15142 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15143 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15144 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15145 the forward slash.
15146
15147 @item dos-based
15148 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15149 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15150 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15151 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15152 considered directory separators.
15153
15154 @item auto
15155 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15156 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15157 This is the default.
15158 @end table
15159 @end table
15160
15161
15162 @node Separate Debug Files
15163 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15164 @cindex separate debugging information files
15165 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15166 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15167 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15168 @cindex global debugging information directory
15169 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15170 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15171
15172 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15173 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15174 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15175 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15176 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15177 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15178 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15179
15180 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15181 file:
15182
15183 @itemize @bullet
15184 @item
15185 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15186 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15187 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15188 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15189 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15190 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15191 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15192 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15193
15194 @item
15195 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15196 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15197 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15198 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15199 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15200 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15201 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15202 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15203 below.
15204 @end itemize
15205
15206 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15207 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15208
15209 @itemize @bullet
15210 @item
15211 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15212 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15213 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15214 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15215 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15216
15217 @item
15218 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15219 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15220 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15221 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15222 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15223 hex characters, not 10.)
15224 @end itemize
15225
15226 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15227 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15228 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15229 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15230 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15231 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15232
15233 @itemize @minus
15234 @item
15235 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15236 @item
15237 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15238 @item
15239 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15240 @item
15241 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15242 @end itemize
15243
15244 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15245 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15246
15247 @table @code
15248
15249 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15250 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15251 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15252 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15253 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15254
15255 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15256 @item show debug-file-directory
15257 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15258 information files.
15259
15260 @end table
15261
15262 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15263 @cindex debug link sections
15264 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15265 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15266
15267 @itemize
15268 @item
15269 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15270 a zero byte,
15271 @item
15272 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15273 boundary within the section, and
15274 @item
15275 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15276 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15277 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15278 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15279 @end itemize
15280
15281 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15282 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15283 described above.
15284
15285 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15286 @cindex build ID sections
15287 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15288 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15289 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15290 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15291 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15292 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15293 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15294 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15295 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15296
15297 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15298 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15299 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15300 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15301 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15302 in an ordinary executable.
15303
15304 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15305 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15306 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15307 following commands:
15308
15309 @smallexample
15310 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15311 @kbd{strip -g foo}
15312 @end smallexample
15313
15314 @noindent
15315 These commands remove the debugging
15316 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15317 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15318 two files:
15319
15320 @itemize @bullet
15321 @item
15322 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15323 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15324
15325 @smallexample
15326 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15327 @end smallexample
15328
15329 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15330 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15331 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15332 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15333
15334 @item
15335 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15336 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15337 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15338 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15339 @end itemize
15340
15341 @noindent
15342
15343 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
15344 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15345 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15346
15347 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
15348 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
15349 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
15350 @c different ways!
15351 @ifhtml
15352 @display
15353 @html
15354 <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>
15355 + <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
15356 @end html
15357 @end display
15358 @end ifhtml
15359 @ifnothtml
15360 @display
15361 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
15362 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
15363 @end display
15364 @end ifnothtml
15365
15366 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
15367 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
15368 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
15369 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
15370 CRC.
15371
15372 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
15373 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
15374 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
15375 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
15376 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
15377 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
15378
15379 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
15380 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
15381 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
15382 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
15383 @code{0xffffffff}.
15384
15385 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
15386 @smallexample
15387 unsigned long
15388 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
15389 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
15390 @{
15391 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
15392 @{
15393 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
15394 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
15395 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
15396 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
15397 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
15398 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
15399 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
15400 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
15401 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
15402 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
15403 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
15404 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
15405 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
15406 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
15407 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
15408 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
15409 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
15410 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
15411 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
15412 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
15413 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
15414 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
15415 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
15416 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
15417 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
15418 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
15419 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
15420 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
15421 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
15422 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
15423 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
15424 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
15425 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
15426 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
15427 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
15428 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
15429 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
15430 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
15431 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
15432 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
15433 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
15434 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
15435 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
15436 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
15437 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
15438 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
15439 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
15440 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
15441 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
15442 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
15443 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
15444 0x2d02ef8d
15445 @};
15446 unsigned char *end;
15447
15448 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15449 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
15450 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
15451 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15452 @}
15453 @end smallexample
15454
15455 @noindent
15456 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
15457
15458
15459 @node Index Files
15460 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
15461 @cindex index files
15462 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
15463
15464 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
15465 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
15466 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
15467 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
15468 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
15469 startup.
15470
15471 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
15472 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
15473 using @command{objcopy}.
15474
15475 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
15476
15477 @table @code
15478 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
15479 @kindex save gdb-index
15480 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
15481 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
15482 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
15483 @var{directory}.
15484 @end table
15485
15486 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
15487 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
15488
15489 @smallexample
15490 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
15491 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
15492 @end smallexample
15493
15494 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
15495 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
15496 currently work for programs using Ada.
15497
15498 @node Symbol Errors
15499 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
15500
15501 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
15502 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
15503 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
15504 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
15505 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
15506 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
15507 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
15508 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
15509 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
15510 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15511 Messages}).
15512
15513 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15514
15515 @table @code
15516 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15517
15518 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15519 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15520 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15521 in its outer scope blocks.
15522
15523 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15524 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15525 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15526 function.
15527
15528 @item block at @var{address} out of order
15529
15530 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15531 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15532 do so.
15533
15534 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15535 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15536 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15537 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15538 Messages}.)
15539
15540 @item bad block start address patched
15541
15542 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15543 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15544 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15545
15546 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15547 starting on the previous source line.
15548
15549 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15550
15551 @cindex foo
15552 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15553 larger than the size of the string table.
15554
15555 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15556 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15557 with this name.
15558
15559 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15560
15561 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15562 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15563 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15564
15565 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15566 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15567 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15568 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15569 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15570 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15571
15572 @item stub type has NULL name
15573
15574 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15575
15576 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15577 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15578 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15579 it.
15580
15581 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15582
15583 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15584
15585 @end table
15586
15587 @node Data Files
15588 @section GDB Data Files
15589
15590 @cindex prefix for data files
15591 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15592 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15593
15594 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15595 is currently using.
15596
15597 @table @code
15598 @kindex set data-directory
15599 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15600 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15601 to @var{directory}.
15602
15603 @kindex show data-directory
15604 @item show data-directory
15605 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15606 @end table
15607
15608 @cindex default data directory
15609 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15610 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15611 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15612 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15613 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15614 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15615 location.
15616
15617 The data directory may also be specified with the
15618 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
15619 @xref{Mode Options}.
15620
15621 @node Targets
15622 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15623
15624 @cindex debugging target
15625 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15626
15627 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15628 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15629 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15630 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15631 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15632 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15633 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15634 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15635
15636 @cindex target architecture
15637 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15638 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15639 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15640 command.
15641
15642 @table @code
15643 @kindex set architecture
15644 @kindex show architecture
15645 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15646 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15647 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15648 supported architectures.
15649
15650 @item show architecture
15651 Show the current target architecture.
15652
15653 @item set processor
15654 @itemx processor
15655 @kindex set processor
15656 @kindex show processor
15657 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15658 and @code{show architecture}.
15659 @end table
15660
15661 @menu
15662 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15663 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15664 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15665 @end menu
15666
15667 @node Active Targets
15668 @section Active Targets
15669
15670 @cindex stacking targets
15671 @cindex active targets
15672 @cindex multiple targets
15673
15674 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
15675 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
15676 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
15677 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
15678 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
15679 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
15680 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
15681 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
15682 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
15683
15684 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
15685 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
15686 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
15687 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
15688
15689 @node Target Commands
15690 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15691
15692 @table @code
15693 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15694 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15695 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15696 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15697 protocol of the target machine.
15698
15699 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15700 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15701 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15702
15703 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15704 after executing the command.
15705
15706 @kindex help target
15707 @item help target
15708 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15709 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15710 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15711
15712 @item help target @var{name}
15713 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15714 select it.
15715
15716 @kindex set gnutarget
15717 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15718 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15719 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15720 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15721 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15722 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15723
15724 @quotation
15725 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15726 you must know the actual BFD name.
15727 @end quotation
15728
15729 @noindent
15730 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15731
15732 @kindex show gnutarget
15733 @item show gnutarget
15734 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15735 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15736 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15737 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15738 @end table
15739
15740 @cindex common targets
15741 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15742 configuration):
15743
15744 @table @code
15745 @kindex target
15746 @item target exec @var{program}
15747 @cindex executable file target
15748 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15749 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15750
15751 @item target core @var{filename}
15752 @cindex core dump file target
15753 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15754 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15755
15756 @item target remote @var{medium}
15757 @cindex remote target
15758 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15759 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15760 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15761
15762 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15763 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15764
15765 @smallexample
15766 target remote /dev/ttya
15767 @end smallexample
15768
15769 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15770 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15771 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15772 clobbered by the download.
15773
15774 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15775 @cindex built-in simulator target
15776 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15777 In general,
15778 @smallexample
15779 target sim
15780 load
15781 run
15782 @end smallexample
15783 @noindent
15784 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15785 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15786 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15787 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15788 Processors}.
15789
15790 @end table
15791
15792 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15793
15794 @table @code
15795
15796 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15797 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15798 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15799
15800 @end table
15801
15802 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15803 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15804
15805 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15806 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15807 various aspects of this process.
15808
15809 @table @code
15810
15811 @item set hash
15812 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15813 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15814 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15815 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15816 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15817 monitor.
15818
15819 @item show hash
15820 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15821 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15822
15823 @item set debug monitor
15824 @kindex set debug monitor
15825 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15826 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15827 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15828
15829 @item show debug monitor
15830 @kindex show debug monitor
15831 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15832 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15833 @end table
15834
15835 @table @code
15836
15837 @kindex load @var{filename}
15838 @item load @var{filename}
15839 @anchor{load}
15840 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15841 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15842 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15843 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15844 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15845 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15846
15847 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15848 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15849 target is @dots{}}''
15850
15851 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15852 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15853 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15854 specifies a fixed address.
15855 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15856
15857 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15858 load programs into flash memory.
15859
15860 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15861 @end table
15862
15863 @node Byte Order
15864 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15865
15866 @cindex choosing target byte order
15867 @cindex target byte order
15868
15869 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15870 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15871 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15872 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15873 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15874 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15875
15876 @table @code
15877 @kindex set endian
15878 @item set endian big
15879 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15880
15881 @item set endian little
15882 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15883
15884 @item set endian auto
15885 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15886 executable.
15887
15888 @item show endian
15889 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15890
15891 @end table
15892
15893 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15894 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15895 target system.
15896
15897
15898 @node Remote Debugging
15899 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15900 @cindex remote debugging
15901
15902 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15903 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15904 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15905 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15906 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15907
15908 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15909 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15910 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15911 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15912 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15913 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15914
15915 Other remote targets may be available in your
15916 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15917
15918 @menu
15919 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15920 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15921 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15922 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15923 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15924 @end menu
15925
15926 @node Connecting
15927 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15928
15929 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15930 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15931 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15932 program as the first argument.
15933
15934 @cindex @code{target remote}
15935 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15936 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15937 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15938 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15939 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15940 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15941
15942 @table @code
15943
15944 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15945 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15946 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15947 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15948
15949 @smallexample
15950 target remote /dev/ttyb
15951 @end smallexample
15952
15953 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15954 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15955 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15956 @code{target} command.
15957
15958 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15959 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15960 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15961 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15962 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15963 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15964 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15965 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15966 target.
15967
15968 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15969 @code{manyfarms}:
15970
15971 @smallexample
15972 target remote manyfarms:2828
15973 @end smallexample
15974
15975 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15976 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15977 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15978 port 1234 on your local machine:
15979
15980 @smallexample
15981 target remote :1234
15982 @end smallexample
15983 @noindent
15984
15985 Note that the colon is still required here.
15986
15987 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15988 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15989 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15990 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15991
15992 @smallexample
15993 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15994 @end smallexample
15995
15996 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15997 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15998 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15999 cause havoc with your debugging session.
16000
16001 @item target remote | @var{command}
16002 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
16003 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
16004 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
16005 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
16006 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
16007 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
16008 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
16009 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
16010
16011 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
16012 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
16013 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
16014
16015 @end table
16016
16017 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
16018 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
16019 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
16020 need to use @kbd{run}.
16021
16022 @cindex interrupting remote programs
16023 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
16024 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
16025 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
16026 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
16027 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
16028 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
16029
16030 @smallexample
16031 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
16032 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
16033 @end smallexample
16034
16035 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
16036 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16037 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16038 goes back to waiting.
16039
16040 @table @code
16041 @kindex detach (remote)
16042 @item detach
16043 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16044 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16045 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16046 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16047 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16048
16049 @kindex disconnect
16050 @item disconnect
16051 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16052 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16053 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16054 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16055 another target.
16056
16057 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16058 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16059 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16060 @kindex monitor
16061 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16062 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16063 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16064 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16065 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16066 and implement.
16067 @end table
16068
16069 @node File Transfer
16070 @section Sending files to a remote system
16071 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16072 @cindex file transfer
16073 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16074
16075 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16076 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16077 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16078 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16079 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16080 the only way to upload or download files.
16081
16082 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16083
16084 @table @code
16085 @kindex remote put
16086 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16087 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16088 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16089
16090 @kindex remote get
16091 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16092 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16093 on the host system.
16094
16095 @kindex remote delete
16096 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16097 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16098
16099 @end table
16100
16101 @node Server
16102 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16103
16104 @kindex gdbserver
16105 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16106 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16107 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16108 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16109
16110 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16111 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16112 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16113 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16114 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16115 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16116 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16117 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16118 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16119 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16120 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16121 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16122 choice for debugging.
16123
16124 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16125 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16126 protocol.
16127
16128 @quotation
16129 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16130 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16131 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16132 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16133 @code{gdbserver}.
16134 @end quotation
16135
16136 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16137 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16138
16139 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16140 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16141 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16142 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16143 system does all the symbol handling.
16144
16145 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16146 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16147 syntax is:
16148
16149 @smallexample
16150 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16151 @end smallexample
16152
16153 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
16154 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16155 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16156 @file{/dev/com1}:
16157
16158 @smallexample
16159 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16160 @end smallexample
16161
16162 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16163 with it.
16164
16165 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16166
16167 @smallexample
16168 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16169 @end smallexample
16170
16171 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16172 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16173 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16174 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16175 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16176 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16177 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16178 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16179 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16180 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16181 @code{target remote} command.
16182
16183 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16184
16185 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16186 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16187
16188 @smallexample
16189 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16190 @end smallexample
16191
16192 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16193 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16194
16195 @pindex pidof
16196 @cindex attach to a program by name
16197 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16198 @code{pidof} utility:
16199
16200 @smallexample
16201 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16202 @end smallexample
16203
16204 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16205 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16206 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16207
16208 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16209 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
16210 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
16211
16212 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16213 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16214 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16215 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16216
16217 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16218 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16219 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16220 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16221 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16222 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16223 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16224 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16225 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16226
16227 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16228 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16229 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16230 the program you want to debug.
16231
16232 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
16233 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
16234 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
16235
16236 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16237
16238 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16239 status information about the debugging process. The
16240 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16241 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16242 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16243
16244 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16245 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16246 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16247 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16248
16249 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16250 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16251 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16252 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16253
16254 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16255 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16256 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16257 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16258
16259 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16260 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16261 environment:
16262
16263 @smallexample
16264 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16265 @end smallexample
16266
16267 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16268
16269 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16270
16271 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16272 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16273 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16274 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16275
16276 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16277 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16278 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16279 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16280 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16281 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16282 programs.
16283
16284 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16285 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16286 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16287 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16288 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
16289 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
16290 already on the target.
16291
16292 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
16293 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
16294 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
16295
16296 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
16297 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
16298 Here are the available commands.
16299
16300 @table @code
16301 @item monitor help
16302 List the available monitor commands.
16303
16304 @item monitor set debug 0
16305 @itemx monitor set debug 1
16306 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
16307
16308 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
16309 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
16310 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
16311 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
16312
16313 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
16314 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
16315 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16316 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
16317 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
16318 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
16319
16320 @item monitor exit
16321 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
16322 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
16323 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
16324 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
16325 of a multi-process mode debug session.
16326
16327 @end table
16328
16329 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16330 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16331
16332 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
16333 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
16334
16335 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
16336 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
16337 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
16338 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
16339 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
16340 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
16341 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
16342 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
16343 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
16344 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
16345 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
16346 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
16347
16348 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
16349
16350 @table @code
16351 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
16352
16353 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
16354 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
16355 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
16356
16357 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
16358
16359 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
16360 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
16361 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
16362 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
16363 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
16364 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
16365
16366 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
16367
16368 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
16369 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
16370 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
16371 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
16372 command for that. For example:
16373
16374 @smallexample
16375 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
16376 @end smallexample
16377
16378 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
16379 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
16380 @end table
16381
16382 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
16383 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
16384 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
16385 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
16386 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
16387 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
16388 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
16389 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
16390 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
16391 @code{gdbserver} like so:
16392
16393 @smallexample
16394 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
16395 @end smallexample
16396
16397 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
16398
16399 @smallexample
16400 $ gdb myprogram
16401 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
16402 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
16403 (@value{GDBP}) b main
16404 (@value{GDBP}) continue
16405 @end smallexample
16406
16407 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
16408 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
16409 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
16410 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
16411 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
16412 tracing.
16413
16414 @node Remote Configuration
16415 @section Remote Configuration
16416
16417 @kindex set remote
16418 @kindex show remote
16419 This section documents the configuration options available when
16420 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
16421 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
16422 system-call-allowed}.
16423
16424 @table @code
16425 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
16426 @cindex address size for remote targets
16427 @cindex bits in remote address
16428 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
16429 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
16430 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
16431 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
16432
16433 @item show remoteaddresssize
16434 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
16435
16436 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
16437 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
16438 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
16439 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
16440 remote targets.
16441
16442 @item show remotebaud
16443 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
16444
16445 @item set remotebreak
16446 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16447 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
16448 @anchor{set remotebreak}
16449 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
16450 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
16451 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
16452 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
16453 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
16454
16455 @item show remotebreak
16456 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
16457 interrupt the remote program.
16458
16459 @item set remoteflow on
16460 @itemx set remoteflow off
16461 @kindex set remoteflow
16462 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
16463 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
16464
16465 @item show remoteflow
16466 @kindex show remoteflow
16467 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
16468
16469 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
16470 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
16471 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
16472 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
16473 @code{ascii}.
16474
16475 @item show remotelogbase
16476 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
16477 protocol.
16478
16479 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
16480 @cindex record serial communications on file
16481 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
16482 default is not to record at all.
16483
16484 @item show remotelogfile.
16485 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
16486 serial communications.
16487
16488 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
16489 @cindex timeout for serial communications
16490 @cindex remote timeout
16491 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
16492 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
16493
16494 @item show remotetimeout
16495 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
16496 responses.
16497
16498 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
16499 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
16500 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
16501 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
16502 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
16503 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
16504 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
16505 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
16506
16507 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
16508 @itemx show remote exec-file
16509 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
16510 @cindex executable file, for remote target
16511 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16512 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16513 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16514 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16515
16516 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
16517 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16518 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16519 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16520 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
16521 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16522 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16523 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16524 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16525 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16526
16527 @item show interrupt-sequence
16528 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16529 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16530 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16531 also known as Magic SysRq g.
16532
16533 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16534 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16535 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16536 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16537 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16538 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16539
16540 @item show interrupt-on-connect
16541 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16542 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16543
16544 @kindex set tcp
16545 @kindex show tcp
16546 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16547 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16548 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16549 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16550 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16551 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16552 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16553 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16554 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16555
16556 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16557 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16558
16559 @item show tcp auto-retry
16560 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16561
16562 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16563 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16564 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16565 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16566 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16567 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16568 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16569 value.
16570
16571 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16572 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16573 @end table
16574
16575 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16576 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16577 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16578 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16579 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16580 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16581 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16582 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16583 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16584
16585 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16586 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16587 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16588 @value{GDBN} developers.
16589
16590 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16591 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16592 are:
16593
16594 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16595 @item Command Name
16596 @tab Remote Packet
16597 @tab Related Features
16598
16599 @item @code{fetch-register}
16600 @tab @code{p}
16601 @tab @code{info registers}
16602
16603 @item @code{set-register}
16604 @tab @code{P}
16605 @tab @code{set}
16606
16607 @item @code{binary-download}
16608 @tab @code{X}
16609 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16610
16611 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16612 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16613 @tab @code{info auxv}
16614
16615 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16616 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16617 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16618
16619 @item @code{attach}
16620 @tab @code{vAttach}
16621 @tab @code{attach}
16622
16623 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16624 @tab @code{vCont}
16625 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16626
16627 @item @code{run}
16628 @tab @code{vRun}
16629 @tab @code{run}
16630
16631 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16632 @tab @code{Z0}
16633 @tab @code{break}
16634
16635 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16636 @tab @code{Z1}
16637 @tab @code{hbreak}
16638
16639 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16640 @tab @code{Z2}
16641 @tab @code{watch}
16642
16643 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16644 @tab @code{Z3}
16645 @tab @code{rwatch}
16646
16647 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16648 @tab @code{Z4}
16649 @tab @code{awatch}
16650
16651 @item @code{target-features}
16652 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16653 @tab @code{set architecture}
16654
16655 @item @code{library-info}
16656 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16657 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16658
16659 @item @code{memory-map}
16660 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16661 @tab @code{info mem}
16662
16663 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
16664 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
16665 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
16666
16667 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16668 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16669 @tab @code{info spu}
16670
16671 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16672 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16673 @tab @code{info spu}
16674
16675 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16676 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16677 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16678
16679 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16680 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16681 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16682
16683 @item @code{threads}
16684 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16685 @tab @code{info threads}
16686
16687 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16688 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16689 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16690
16691 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16692 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16693 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16694
16695 @item @code{search-memory}
16696 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16697 @tab @code{find}
16698
16699 @item @code{supported-packets}
16700 @tab @code{qSupported}
16701 @tab Remote communications parameters
16702
16703 @item @code{pass-signals}
16704 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16705 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16706
16707 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16708 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16709 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16710
16711 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16712 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16713 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16714
16715 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16716 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16717 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16718
16719 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16720 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16721 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16722
16723 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16724 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16725 @tab @code{remote delete}
16726
16727 @item @code{noack-packet}
16728 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16729 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16730
16731 @item @code{osdata}
16732 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16733 @tab @code{info os}
16734
16735 @item @code{query-attached}
16736 @tab @code{qAttached}
16737 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16738
16739 @item @code{traceframe-info}
16740 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
16741 @tab Traceframe info
16742 @end multitable
16743
16744 @node Remote Stub
16745 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16746
16747 @cindex debugging stub, example
16748 @cindex remote stub, example
16749 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16750 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16751 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16752 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16753 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16754 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16755 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16756 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16757
16758 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16759 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16760 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16761 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16762 program, you need:
16763
16764 @enumerate
16765 @item
16766 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16767 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16768 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16769
16770 @item
16771 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16772 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16773
16774 @item
16775 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16776 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16777 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16778 documentation.
16779 @end enumerate
16780
16781 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16782 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16783 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16784
16785 @table @emph
16786 @item On the host,
16787 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16788 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16789 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16790
16791 @item On the target,
16792 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16793 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16794 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16795
16796 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16797 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16798 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16799 @end table
16800
16801 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16802 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16803 @sc{sparc} boards.
16804
16805 @cindex remote serial stub list
16806 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16807
16808 @table @code
16809
16810 @item i386-stub.c
16811 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16812 @cindex Intel
16813 @cindex i386
16814 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16815
16816 @item m68k-stub.c
16817 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16818 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16819 @cindex m680x0
16820 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16821
16822 @item sh-stub.c
16823 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16824 @cindex Renesas
16825 @cindex SH
16826 For Renesas SH architectures.
16827
16828 @item sparc-stub.c
16829 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16830 @cindex Sparc
16831 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16832
16833 @item sparcl-stub.c
16834 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16835 @cindex Fujitsu
16836 @cindex SparcLite
16837 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16838
16839 @end table
16840
16841 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16842 recently added stubs.
16843
16844 @menu
16845 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16846 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16847 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16848 @end menu
16849
16850 @node Stub Contents
16851 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16852
16853 @cindex remote serial stub
16854 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16855 subroutines:
16856
16857 @table @code
16858 @item set_debug_traps
16859 @findex set_debug_traps
16860 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16861 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16862 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16863 beginning of your program.
16864
16865 @item handle_exception
16866 @findex handle_exception
16867 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16868 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16869 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16870 run when a trap is triggered.
16871
16872 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16873 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16874 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16875 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16876 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16877 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16878 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16879 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16880 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16881 machine.
16882
16883 @item breakpoint
16884 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16885 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16886 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16887 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16888 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16889 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16890 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16891 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16892 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16893 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16894 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16895
16896 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16897 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16898 start of your debugging session.
16899 @end table
16900
16901 @node Bootstrapping
16902 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16903
16904 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16905 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16906 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16907 debugging target machine.
16908
16909 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16910 serial port.
16911
16912 @table @code
16913 @item int getDebugChar()
16914 @findex getDebugChar
16915 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16916 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16917 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16918
16919 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16920 @findex putDebugChar
16921 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16922 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16923 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16924 @end table
16925
16926 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16927 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16928 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16929 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16930 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16931 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16932 remote system to stop.
16933
16934 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16935 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16936 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16937 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16938
16939 Other routines you need to supply are:
16940
16941 @table @code
16942 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16943 @findex exceptionHandler
16944 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16945 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16946 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16947 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16948 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16949 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16950 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16951 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16952 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16953 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16954 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16955 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16956 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16957
16958 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16959 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16960 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16961 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16962 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16963
16964 @item void flush_i_cache()
16965 @findex flush_i_cache
16966 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16967 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16968 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16969
16970 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16971 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16972 @end table
16973
16974 @noindent
16975 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16976
16977 @table @code
16978 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16979 @findex memset
16980 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16981 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16982 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16983 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16984 @end table
16985
16986 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16987 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16988 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16989 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16990
16991
16992 @node Debug Session
16993 @subsection Putting it All Together
16994
16995 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16996 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16997 steps.
16998
16999 @enumerate
17000 @item
17001 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
17002 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
17003 @display
17004 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
17005 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
17006 @end display
17007
17008 @item
17009 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
17010
17011 @smallexample
17012 set_debug_traps();
17013 breakpoint();
17014 @end smallexample
17015
17016 @item
17017 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
17018 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
17019
17020 @smallexample
17021 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
17022 @end smallexample
17023
17024 @noindent
17025 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
17026 function in your program, that function is called when
17027 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
17028 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
17029 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
17030
17031 @item
17032 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
17033 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
17034
17035 @item
17036 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
17037 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
17038
17039 @item
17040 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17041 @c document that. FIXME.
17042 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17043 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17044
17045 @item
17046 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17047 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17048
17049 @end enumerate
17050
17051 @node Configurations
17052 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17053
17054 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17055 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17056 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17057
17058 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17059 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17060 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17061 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17062 are quite different from each other.
17063
17064 @menu
17065 * Native::
17066 * Embedded OS::
17067 * Embedded Processors::
17068 * Architectures::
17069 @end menu
17070
17071 @node Native
17072 @section Native
17073
17074 This section describes details specific to particular native
17075 configurations.
17076
17077 @menu
17078 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17079 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17080 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17081 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17082 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17083 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17084 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17085 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17086 @end menu
17087
17088 @node HP-UX
17089 @subsection HP-UX
17090
17091 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17092 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17093 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17094
17095
17096 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17097 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17098
17099 @cindex libkvm
17100 @cindex kernel memory image
17101 @cindex kernel crash dump
17102
17103 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17104 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17105 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17106 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17107 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17108 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17109 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17110 @code{kvm} target:
17111
17112 @smallexample
17113 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17114 @end smallexample
17115
17116 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17117 argument:
17118
17119 @smallexample
17120 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17121 @end smallexample
17122
17123 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17124 available:
17125
17126 @table @code
17127 @kindex kvm
17128 @item kvm pcb
17129 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17130
17131 @item kvm proc
17132 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17133 modern FreeBSD systems.
17134 @end table
17135
17136 @node SVR4 Process Information
17137 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17138 @cindex /proc
17139 @cindex examine process image
17140 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17141
17142 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17143 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17144 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17145 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17146 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17147 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17148 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17149 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17150 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17151
17152 @table @code
17153 @kindex info proc
17154 @cindex process ID
17155 @item info proc
17156 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17157 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17158 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17159 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17160 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17161 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17162 executable file's absolute file name.
17163
17164 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17165 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17166 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17167 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17168 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17169 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17170
17171 @item info proc mappings
17172 @cindex memory address space mappings
17173 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17174 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17175 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17176 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17177 memory access rights to that range.
17178
17179 @item info proc stat
17180 @itemx info proc status
17181 @cindex process detailed status information
17182 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17183 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17184 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17185 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17186 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17187 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17188 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17189
17190 @item info proc all
17191 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17192 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17193
17194 @ignore
17195 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17196 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17197 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17198 @kindex info proc times
17199 @item info proc times
17200 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17201 its children.
17202
17203 @kindex info proc id
17204 @item info proc id
17205 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17206 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17207 @end ignore
17208
17209 @item set procfs-trace
17210 @kindex set procfs-trace
17211 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17212 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17213
17214 @item show procfs-trace
17215 @kindex show procfs-trace
17216 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17217
17218 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17219 @kindex set procfs-file
17220 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17221 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17222 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17223 standard output.
17224
17225 @item show procfs-file
17226 @kindex show procfs-file
17227 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17228
17229 @item proc-trace-entry
17230 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17231 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17232 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17233 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17234 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17235 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17236 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17237 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17238 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17239
17240 @item info pidlist
17241 @kindex info pidlist
17242 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17243 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17244 processes and all the threads within each process.
17245
17246 @item info meminfo
17247 @kindex info meminfo
17248 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
17249 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
17250 @end table
17251
17252 @node DJGPP Native
17253 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17254 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17255 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17256 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
17257
17258 @cindex DPMI
17259 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
17260 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
17261 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
17262 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
17263
17264 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
17265 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
17266 subsection describes those commands.
17267
17268 @table @code
17269 @kindex info dos
17270 @item info dos
17271 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
17272 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17273
17274 @kindex sysinfo
17275 @cindex MS-DOS system info
17276 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
17277 @item info dos sysinfo
17278 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
17279 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
17280 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
17281
17282 @cindex GDT
17283 @cindex LDT
17284 @cindex IDT
17285 @cindex segment descriptor tables
17286 @cindex descriptor tables display
17287 @item info dos gdt
17288 @itemx info dos ldt
17289 @itemx info dos idt
17290 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
17291 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
17292 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
17293 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
17294 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
17295 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
17296 rights.
17297
17298 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
17299 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
17300 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
17301 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
17302 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
17303
17304 @cindex garbled pointers
17305 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
17306 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
17307 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
17308 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
17309 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
17310 debugged program's data segment:
17311
17312 @smallexample
17313 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
17314 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
17315 @end smallexample
17316
17317 @noindent
17318 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
17319 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
17320
17321 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
17322 @item info dos pde
17323 @itemx info dos pte
17324 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
17325 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
17326 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
17327 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
17328 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
17329 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
17330 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
17331 that is currently in use.
17332
17333 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
17334 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
17335 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
17336 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
17337 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
17338 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
17339 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
17340
17341 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
17342 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
17343 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
17344 controller.
17345
17346 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
17347
17348 @cindex physical address from linear address
17349 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
17350 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
17351 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
17352 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
17353 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
17354 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
17355 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
17356
17357 @smallexample
17358 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
17359 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
17360 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
17361 @end smallexample
17362
17363 @noindent
17364 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
17365 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
17366 attributes of that page.
17367
17368 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
17369 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
17370 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
17371 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
17372 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
17373 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
17374
17375 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
17376 transfer buffer:
17377
17378 @smallexample
17379 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
17380 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
17381 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
17382 @end smallexample
17383
17384 @noindent
17385 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
17386 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
17387 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
17388 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
17389 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
17390
17391 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
17392 @end table
17393
17394 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
17395 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
17396 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
17397 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
17398
17399 @table @code
17400 @kindex set com1base
17401 @kindex set com1irq
17402 @kindex set com2base
17403 @kindex set com2irq
17404 @kindex set com3base
17405 @kindex set com3irq
17406 @kindex set com4base
17407 @kindex set com4irq
17408 @item set com1base @var{addr}
17409 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
17410 port.
17411
17412 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
17413 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
17414 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
17415
17416 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
17417 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
17418 other 3 COM ports.
17419
17420 @kindex show com1base
17421 @kindex show com1irq
17422 @kindex show com2base
17423 @kindex show com2irq
17424 @kindex show com3base
17425 @kindex show com3irq
17426 @kindex show com4base
17427 @kindex show com4irq
17428 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
17429 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
17430 lines used by the COM ports.
17431
17432 @item info serial
17433 @kindex info serial
17434 @cindex DOS serial port status
17435 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
17436 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
17437 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
17438 counts of various errors encountered so far.
17439 @end table
17440
17441
17442 @node Cygwin Native
17443 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
17444 @cindex MS Windows debugging
17445 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
17446 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
17447
17448 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
17449 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
17450
17451 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
17452 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
17453 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
17454 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
17455 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
17456 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
17457 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
17458 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
17459
17460 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
17461 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
17462 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
17463
17464 @table @code
17465 @kindex info w32
17466 @item info w32
17467 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
17468 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17469
17470 @item info w32 selector
17471 This command displays information returned by
17472 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
17473 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
17474 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
17475 Without argument, this command displays information
17476 about the six segment registers.
17477
17478 @item info w32 thread-information-block
17479 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
17480 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
17481 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
17482
17483 @kindex info dll
17484 @item info dll
17485 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
17486
17487 @kindex dll-symbols
17488 @item dll-symbols
17489 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
17490 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
17491
17492 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
17493 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
17494 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
17495 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
17496 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
17497 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
17498 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
17499 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
17500 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
17501 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
17502 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
17503
17504 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
17505 @item show cygwin-exceptions
17506 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
17507 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
17508
17509 @kindex set new-console
17510 @item set new-console @var{mode}
17511 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
17512 be started in a new console on next start.
17513 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
17514 be started in the same console as the debugger.
17515
17516 @kindex show new-console
17517 @item show new-console
17518 Displays whether a new console is used
17519 when the debuggee is started.
17520
17521 @kindex set new-group
17522 @item set new-group @var{mode}
17523 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17524 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17525 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17526 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
17527
17528 @kindex show new-group
17529 @item show new-group
17530 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17531
17532 @kindex set debugevents
17533 @item set debugevents
17534 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17535 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17536 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17537 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17538 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17539
17540 @kindex set debugexec
17541 @item set debugexec
17542 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17543 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17544
17545 @kindex set debugexceptions
17546 @item set debugexceptions
17547 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17548 debuggee seen by the debugger.
17549
17550 @kindex set debugmemory
17551 @item set debugmemory
17552 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17553 and writes by the debugger.
17554
17555 @kindex set shell
17556 @item set shell
17557 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17558 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17559
17560 @kindex show shell
17561 @item show shell
17562 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17563
17564 @end table
17565
17566 @menu
17567 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17568 @end menu
17569
17570 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17571 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17572 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17573 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17574
17575 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17576 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17577 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17578 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17579 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17580 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17581 ``minimal symbols''.
17582
17583 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17584 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17585 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17586 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17587 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17588 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17589 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17590 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17591 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17592 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17593
17594 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17595
17596 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17597 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17598 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17599 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17600 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17601 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17602 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17603 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17604 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17605
17606 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17607 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17608 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17609 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17610 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17611 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17612
17613 @smallexample
17614 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17615 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17616
17617 Non-debugging symbols:
17618 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17619 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17620 @end smallexample
17621
17622 @smallexample
17623 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17624 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17625
17626 Non-debugging symbols:
17627 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17628 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17629 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17630 [etc...]
17631 @end smallexample
17632
17633 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17634
17635 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17636 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17637 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17638 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17639 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17640 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17641 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17642
17643 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17644 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17645 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17646 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17647 problem:
17648
17649 @smallexample
17650 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17651 $1 = 268572168
17652 @end smallexample
17653
17654 @smallexample
17655 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17656 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17657 @end smallexample
17658
17659 And two possible solutions:
17660
17661 @smallexample
17662 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17663 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17664 @end smallexample
17665
17666 @smallexample
17667 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17668 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17669 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17670 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17671 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17672 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17673 @end smallexample
17674
17675 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17676 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17677 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17678 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17679 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17680
17681 @smallexample
17682 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17683 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17684 @end smallexample
17685
17686 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17687 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17688 safe.
17689
17690 @node Hurd Native
17691 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17692 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17693
17694 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17695 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17696
17697 @table @code
17698 @item set signals
17699 @itemx set sigs
17700 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17701 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17702 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17703 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17704 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17705 @code{signals}.
17706
17707 @item show signals
17708 @itemx show sigs
17709 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17710 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17711 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17712
17713 @item set signal-thread
17714 @itemx set sigthread
17715 @kindex set signal-thread
17716 @kindex set sigthread
17717 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17718 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17719 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17720 signal-thread}.
17721
17722 @item show signal-thread
17723 @itemx show sigthread
17724 @kindex show signal-thread
17725 @kindex show sigthread
17726 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17727 delivered a signal.
17728
17729 @item set stopped
17730 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17731 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17732 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17733 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17734
17735 @item show stopped
17736 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17737 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17738 stopped.
17739
17740 @item set exceptions
17741 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17742 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17743 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17744 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17745 trapping on.
17746
17747 @item show exceptions
17748 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17749 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17750
17751 @item set task pause
17752 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17753 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17754 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17755 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17756 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17757 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17758 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17759 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17760 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17761
17762 @item show task pause
17763 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17764 Show the current state of task suspension.
17765
17766 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17767 @cindex task suspend count
17768 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17769 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17770 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17771
17772 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17773 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17774
17775 @item set task exception-port
17776 @itemx set task excp
17777 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17778 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17779 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17780 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17781
17782 @item set noninvasive
17783 @cindex noninvasive task options
17784 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17785 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17786 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17787 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17788
17789 @item info send-rights
17790 @itemx info receive-rights
17791 @itemx info port-rights
17792 @itemx info port-sets
17793 @itemx info dead-names
17794 @itemx info ports
17795 @itemx info psets
17796 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17797 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17798 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17799 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17800 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17801 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17802 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17803 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17804 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17805
17806 @item set thread pause
17807 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17808 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17809 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17810 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17811 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17812 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17813 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17814 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17815 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17816 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17817 only the current thread.
17818
17819 @item show thread pause
17820 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17821 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17822
17823 @item set thread run
17824 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17825
17826 @item show thread run
17827 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17828
17829 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17830 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17831 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17832 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17833 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17834 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17835 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17836
17837 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17838 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17839 detaching.
17840
17841 @item set thread exception-port
17842 @itemx set thread excp
17843 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17844 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17845 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17846
17847 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17848 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17849 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17850 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17851
17852 @item set thread default
17853 @itemx show thread default
17854 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17855 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17856 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17857 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17858 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17859 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17860 the non-default commands.
17861 @end table
17862
17863
17864 @node Neutrino
17865 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17866 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17867
17868 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17869 Neutrino target:
17870
17871 @table @code
17872 @item set debug nto-debug
17873 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17874 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17875 Neutrino support.
17876
17877 @item show debug nto-debug
17878 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17879 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17880 @end table
17881
17882 @node Darwin
17883 @subsection Darwin
17884 @cindex Darwin
17885
17886 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17887
17888 @table @code
17889 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17890 @kindex set debug darwin
17891 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17892 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17893
17894 @item show debug darwin
17895 @kindex show debug darwin
17896 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17897
17898 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17899 @kindex set debug mach-o
17900 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17901 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17902 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17903 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17904 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17905 usage.
17906
17907 @item show debug mach-o
17908 @kindex show debug mach-o
17909 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17910
17911 @item set mach-exceptions on
17912 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17913 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17914 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17915 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17916 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17917 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17918
17919 @item show mach-exceptions
17920 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17921 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17922 @end table
17923
17924
17925 @node Embedded OS
17926 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17927
17928 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17929 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17930 architectures.
17931
17932 @menu
17933 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17934 @end menu
17935
17936 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17937 various real-time operating systems.
17938
17939 @node VxWorks
17940 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17941
17942 @cindex VxWorks
17943
17944 @table @code
17945
17946 @kindex target vxworks
17947 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17948 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17949 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17950
17951 @end table
17952
17953 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17954 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17955
17956 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17957 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17958 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17959 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17960 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17961 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17962 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17963
17964 @table @code
17965 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17966 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17967 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17968 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17969 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17970 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17971 of a thin network line.
17972 @end table
17973
17974 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17975 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17976 procedures.
17977
17978 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17979 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17980 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17981 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17982 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17983 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17984 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17985 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17986 manual.
17987 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17988
17989 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17990 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17991 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17992 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17993
17994 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17995
17996 @smallexample
17997 (vxgdb)
17998 @end smallexample
17999
18000 @menu
18001 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
18002 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
18003 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
18004 @end menu
18005
18006 @node VxWorks Connection
18007 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
18008
18009 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
18010 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
18011
18012 @smallexample
18013 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
18014 @end smallexample
18015
18016 @need 750
18017 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18018
18019 @smallexample
18020 Attaching remote machine across net...
18021 Connected to tt.
18022 @end smallexample
18023
18024 @need 1000
18025 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
18026 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
18027 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
18028 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
18029 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
18030
18031 @smallexample
18032 prog.o: No such file or directory.
18033 @end smallexample
18034
18035 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
18036 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
18037 command again.
18038
18039 @node VxWorks Download
18040 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18041
18042 @cindex download to VxWorks
18043 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18044 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18045 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18046 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18047 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18048 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18049 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18050 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18051 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18052 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18053 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18054 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18055 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18056 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18057 program, type this on VxWorks:
18058
18059 @smallexample
18060 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18061 @end smallexample
18062
18063 @noindent
18064 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18065
18066 @smallexample
18067 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18068 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18069 @end smallexample
18070
18071 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18072
18073 @smallexample
18074 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18075 @end smallexample
18076
18077 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18078 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18079 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18080 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18081 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18082 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18083 table.)
18084
18085 @node VxWorks Attach
18086 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18087
18088 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18089 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18090 follows:
18091
18092 @smallexample
18093 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18094 @end smallexample
18095
18096 @noindent
18097 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18098 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18099 the time of attachment.
18100
18101 @node Embedded Processors
18102 @section Embedded Processors
18103
18104 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18105 configurations.
18106
18107 @cindex send command to simulator
18108 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18109 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18110
18111 @table @code
18112 @item sim @var{command}
18113 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18114 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18115 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18116 acceptable commands.
18117 @end table
18118
18119
18120 @menu
18121 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18122 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18123 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18124 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18125 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18126 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18127 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18128 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18129 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18130 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18131 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18132 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18133 * CRIS:: CRIS
18134 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18135 @end menu
18136
18137 @node ARM
18138 @subsection ARM
18139 @cindex ARM RDI
18140
18141 @table @code
18142 @kindex target rdi
18143 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18144 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18145 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18146 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18147
18148 @kindex target rdp
18149 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18150 ARM Demon monitor.
18151
18152 @end table
18153
18154 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18155
18156 @table @code
18157 @item set arm disassembler
18158 @kindex set arm
18159 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18160 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18161
18162 @item show arm disassembler
18163 @kindex show arm
18164 Show the current disassembly style.
18165
18166 @item set arm apcs32
18167 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18168 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18169
18170 @item show arm apcs32
18171 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18172
18173 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18174 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18175 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18176
18177 @table @code
18178 @item auto
18179 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18180 @item softfpa
18181 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18182 processors.
18183 @item fpa
18184 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18185 @item softvfp
18186 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18187 @item vfp
18188 VFP co-processor.
18189 @end table
18190
18191 @item show arm fpu
18192 Show the current type of the FPU.
18193
18194 @item set arm abi
18195 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18196
18197 @item show arm abi
18198 Show the currently used ABI.
18199
18200 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18201 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18202 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18203 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18204 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18205 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18206 register).
18207
18208 @item show arm fallback-mode
18209 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18210
18211 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18212 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18213 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18214 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18215 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18216
18217 @item show arm force-mode
18218 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18219
18220 @item set debug arm
18221 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18222 target support subsystem.
18223
18224 @item show debug arm
18225 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18226 @end table
18227
18228 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18229 using the RDI interface:
18230
18231 @table @code
18232 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18233 @kindex rdilogfile
18234 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18235 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18236 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18237 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18238 @file{rdi.log}.
18239
18240 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18241 @kindex rdilogenable
18242 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18243 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18244 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18245 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
18246 are logged to a file.
18247
18248 @item set rdiromatzero
18249 @kindex set rdiromatzero
18250 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18251 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18252 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18253 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18254 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18255
18256 @item show rdiromatzero
18257 @kindex show rdiromatzero
18258 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
18259
18260 @item set rdiheartbeat
18261 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
18262 @cindex RDI heartbeat
18263 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
18264 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
18265 well as the Angel monitor.
18266
18267 @item show rdiheartbeat
18268 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
18269 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
18270 @end table
18271
18272 @table @code
18273 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18274 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
18275
18276 @table @code
18277 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
18278 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
18279 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
18280 The default value is @code{all}.
18281
18282 @table @code
18283 @item none
18284 @item demon
18285 @item angel
18286 @item redboot
18287 @item all
18288 @end table
18289 @end table
18290 @end table
18291
18292 @node M32R/D
18293 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
18294
18295 @table @code
18296 @kindex target m32r
18297 @item target m32r @var{dev}
18298 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
18299
18300 @kindex target m32rsdi
18301 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
18302 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
18303 @end table
18304
18305 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
18306
18307 @table @code
18308 @item set download-path @var{path}
18309 @kindex set download-path
18310 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
18311 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18312
18313 @item show download-path
18314 @kindex show download-path
18315 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18316
18317 @item set board-address @var{addr}
18318 @kindex set board-address
18319 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
18320 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
18321
18322 @item show board-address
18323 @kindex show board-address
18324 Show the current IP address of the target board.
18325
18326 @item set server-address @var{addr}
18327 @kindex set server-address
18328 @cindex download server address (M32R)
18329 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
18330 host machine.
18331
18332 @item show server-address
18333 @kindex show server-address
18334 Display the IP address of the download server.
18335
18336 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18337 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
18338 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
18339 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
18340 executable file is uploaded.
18341
18342 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18343 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
18344 Test the @code{upload} command.
18345 @end table
18346
18347 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
18348
18349 @table @code
18350 @item sdireset
18351 @kindex sdireset
18352 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
18353 This command resets the SDI connection.
18354
18355 @item sdistatus
18356 @kindex sdistatus
18357 This command shows the SDI connection status.
18358
18359 @item debug_chaos
18360 @kindex debug_chaos
18361 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
18362 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
18363
18364 @item use_debug_dma
18365 @kindex use_debug_dma
18366 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
18367
18368 @item use_mon_code
18369 @kindex use_mon_code
18370 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
18371
18372 @item use_ib_break
18373 @kindex use_ib_break
18374 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
18375
18376 @item use_dbt_break
18377 @kindex use_dbt_break
18378 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
18379 @end table
18380
18381 @node M68K
18382 @subsection M68k
18383
18384 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
18385 target command for the following ROM monitor.
18386
18387 @table @code
18388
18389 @kindex target dbug
18390 @item target dbug @var{dev}
18391 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
18392
18393 @end table
18394
18395 @node MicroBlaze
18396 @subsection MicroBlaze
18397 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
18398 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
18399
18400 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
18401 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
18402 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
18403 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
18404 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
18405 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
18406 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
18407 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
18408 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
18409 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
18410 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
18411
18412 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
18413
18414 @table @code
18415 @item target remote :1234
18416 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
18417 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
18418
18419 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
18420 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
18421 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
18422
18423 @item load
18424 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
18425
18426 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
18427 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
18428
18429 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
18430 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
18431 @end table
18432
18433 @node MIPS Embedded
18434 @subsection MIPS Embedded
18435
18436 @cindex MIPS boards
18437 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
18438 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
18439 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
18440
18441 @need 1000
18442 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
18443
18444 @table @code
18445 @item target mips @var{port}
18446 @kindex target mips @var{port}
18447 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
18448 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
18449 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
18450 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
18451 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
18452 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
18453
18454 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
18455 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
18456 debugger:
18457
18458 @smallexample
18459 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
18460 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
18461 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
18462 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
18463 (@value{GDBP}) run
18464 @end smallexample
18465
18466 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
18467 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
18468 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
18469 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
18470 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
18471
18472 @item target pmon @var{port}
18473 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
18474 PMON ROM monitor.
18475
18476 @item target ddb @var{port}
18477 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
18478 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
18479
18480 @item target lsi @var{port}
18481 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
18482 LSI variant of PMON.
18483
18484 @kindex target r3900
18485 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
18486 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
18487
18488 @kindex target array
18489 @item target array @var{dev}
18490 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
18491
18492 @end table
18493
18494
18495 @noindent
18496 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
18497
18498 @table @code
18499 @item set mipsfpu double
18500 @itemx set mipsfpu single
18501 @itemx set mipsfpu none
18502 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
18503 @itemx show mipsfpu
18504 @kindex set mipsfpu
18505 @kindex show mipsfpu
18506 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
18507 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
18508 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
18509 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
18510 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
18511 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
18512 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
18513 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
18514 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
18515 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
18516 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
18517 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
18518 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
18519
18520 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18521 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18522 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18523
18524 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18525 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
18526
18527 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
18528 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18529 @itemx show timeout
18530 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
18531 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18532 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18533 @kindex set timeout
18534 @kindex show timeout
18535 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
18536 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
18537 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18538 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18539 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18540 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18541 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18542 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18543 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18544 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18545
18546 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18547 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18548 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18549 to run before stopping.
18550
18551 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18552 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18553 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18554 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18555 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18556 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18557
18558 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18559 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18560 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18561 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18562
18563 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18564 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18565 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18566 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18567 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18568 @table @asis
18569 @item pmon target
18570 @samp{PMON}
18571 @item ddb target
18572 @samp{NEC010}
18573 @item lsi target
18574 @samp{PMON>}
18575 @end table
18576
18577 @item show monitor-prompt
18578 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18579 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18580 remote monitor.
18581
18582 @item set monitor-warnings
18583 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18584 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18585 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18586 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18587 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18588
18589 @item show monitor-warnings
18590 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18591 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18592
18593 @item pmon @var{command}
18594 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18595 @cindex send PMON command
18596 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18597 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18598 @end table
18599
18600 @node OpenRISC 1000
18601 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18602 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18603
18604 @cindex or1k boards
18605 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18606 about platform and commands.
18607
18608 @table @code
18609
18610 @kindex target jtag
18611 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18612
18613 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18614 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18615 connected via parallel port to the board.
18616
18617 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18618
18619 @kindex or1ksim
18620 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18621 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18622 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18623
18624 @kindex info or1k spr
18625 @item info or1k spr
18626 Displays spr groups.
18627
18628 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18629 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18630 Displays register names in selected group.
18631
18632 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18633 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18634 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18635 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18636 Shows information about specified spr register.
18637
18638 @kindex spr
18639 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18640 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18641 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18642 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18643 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18644 @end table
18645
18646 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18647 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18648 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18649 triggers can be set using:
18650 @table @code
18651 @item $LEA/$LDATA
18652 Load effective address/data
18653 @item $SEA/$SDATA
18654 Store effective address/data
18655 @item $AEA/$ADATA
18656 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18657 @item $FETCH
18658 Fetch data
18659 @end table
18660
18661 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18662 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18663
18664 @code{htrace} commands:
18665 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18666 @table @code
18667 @kindex hwatch
18668 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18669 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18670 or Data. For example:
18671
18672 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18673
18674 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18675
18676 @kindex htrace
18677 @item htrace info
18678 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18679
18680 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18681 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18682
18683 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18684 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18685
18686 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18687 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18688
18689 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18690 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18691 triggered.
18692
18693 @item htrace enable
18694 @itemx htrace disable
18695 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18696
18697 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18698 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18699
18700 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18701 will be written there.
18702
18703 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18704 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18705
18706 @item htrace mode continuous
18707 Set continuous trace mode.
18708
18709 @item htrace mode suspend
18710 Set suspend trace mode.
18711
18712 @end table
18713
18714 @node PowerPC Embedded
18715 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18716
18717 @cindex DVC register
18718 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
18719 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
18720
18721 @smallexample
18722 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
18723 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
18724 @end smallexample
18725
18726 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
18727 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
18728 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
18729 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
18730 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
18731 or newer.
18732
18733 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
18734 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
18735 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
18736 watching variables of scalar types.
18737
18738 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
18739 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
18740
18741 @smallexample
18742 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
18743 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
18744 @end smallexample
18745
18746 @cindex ranged breakpoint
18747 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
18748 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
18749 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
18750 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
18751 use the @code{break-range} command.
18752
18753 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18754
18755 @table @code
18756 @kindex break-range
18757 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
18758 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
18759 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
18760 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
18761 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
18762 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
18763 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
18764 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
18765 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
18766
18767 @kindex set powerpc
18768 @item set powerpc soft-float
18769 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18770 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18771 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18772 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18773
18774 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18775 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18776 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18777 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18778 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18779 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18780 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18781 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18782
18783 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
18784 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
18785 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
18786 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
18787 address of its first byte.
18788
18789 @kindex target dink32
18790 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18791 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18792
18793 @kindex target ppcbug
18794 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18795 @kindex target ppcbug1
18796 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18797 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18798
18799 @kindex target sds
18800 @item target sds @var{dev}
18801 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18802 @end table
18803
18804 @cindex SDS protocol
18805 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18806 by @value{GDBN}:
18807
18808 @table @code
18809 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18810 @kindex set sdstimeout
18811 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18812 default is 2 seconds.
18813
18814 @item show sdstimeout
18815 @kindex show sdstimeout
18816 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18817
18818 @item sds @var{command}
18819 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18820 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18821 @end table
18822
18823
18824 @node PA
18825 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18826
18827 @table @code
18828
18829 @kindex target op50n
18830 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18831 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18832
18833 @kindex target w89k
18834 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18835 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18836
18837 @end table
18838
18839 @node Sparclet
18840 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18841
18842 @cindex Sparclet
18843
18844 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18845 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18846 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18847 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18848 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18849
18850 @table @code
18851 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18852 @kindex remotetimeout
18853 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18854 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18855 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18856 @end table
18857
18858 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18859 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18860 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18861 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18862 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18863
18864 @smallexample
18865 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18866 @end smallexample
18867
18868 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18869
18870 @smallexample
18871 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18872 @end smallexample
18873
18874 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18875 Once you have set
18876 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18877 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18878 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18879
18880 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18881
18882 @smallexample
18883 (gdbslet)
18884 @end smallexample
18885
18886 @menu
18887 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18888 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18889 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18890 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18891 @end menu
18892
18893 @node Sparclet File
18894 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18895
18896 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18897
18898 @smallexample
18899 (gdbslet) file prog
18900 @end smallexample
18901
18902 @need 1000
18903 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18904 @value{GDBN} locates
18905 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18906 path.
18907 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18908 files will be searched as well.
18909 @value{GDBN} locates
18910 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18911 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18912 If it fails
18913 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18914
18915 @smallexample
18916 prog: No such file or directory.
18917 @end smallexample
18918
18919 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18920 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18921 @code{target} command again.
18922
18923 @node Sparclet Connection
18924 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18925
18926 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18927 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18928
18929 @smallexample
18930 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18931 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18932 main () at ../prog.c:3
18933 @end smallexample
18934
18935 @need 750
18936 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18937
18938 @smallexample
18939 Connected to ttya.
18940 @end smallexample
18941
18942 @node Sparclet Download
18943 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18944
18945 @cindex download to Sparclet
18946 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18947 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18948 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18949 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18950 command.
18951 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18952 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18953 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18954 of each of the file's sections.
18955 For instance, if the program
18956 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18957 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18958
18959 @smallexample
18960 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18961 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18962 @end smallexample
18963
18964 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18965 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18966 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18967
18968 @node Sparclet Execution
18969 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18970
18971 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18972 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18973 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18974 manual for the list of commands.
18975
18976 @smallexample
18977 (gdbslet) b main
18978 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18979 (gdbslet) run
18980 Starting program: prog
18981 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18982 3 char *symarg = 0;
18983 (gdbslet) step
18984 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18985 (gdbslet)
18986 @end smallexample
18987
18988 @node Sparclite
18989 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18990
18991 @table @code
18992
18993 @kindex target sparclite
18994 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18995 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18996 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18997 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18998 remote protocol.
18999
19000 @end table
19001
19002 @node Z8000
19003 @subsection Zilog Z8000
19004
19005 @cindex Z8000
19006 @cindex simulator, Z8000
19007 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
19008
19009 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
19010 a Z8000 simulator.
19011
19012 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
19013 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
19014 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
19015 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
19016
19017 @table @code
19018 @item target sim @var{args}
19019 @kindex sim
19020 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
19021 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
19022 options, specify them via @var{args}.
19023 @end table
19024
19025 @noindent
19026 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
19027 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
19028 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
19029 to run your program, and so on.
19030
19031 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
19032 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
19033 additional items of information as specially named registers:
19034
19035 @table @code
19036
19037 @item cycles
19038 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
19039
19040 @item insts
19041 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
19042
19043 @item time
19044 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
19045
19046 @end table
19047
19048 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
19049 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
19050 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
19051 simulated clock ticks.
19052
19053 @node AVR
19054 @subsection Atmel AVR
19055 @cindex AVR
19056
19057 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
19058 following AVR-specific commands:
19059
19060 @table @code
19061 @item info io_registers
19062 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19063 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19064 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19065 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19066 @end table
19067
19068 @node CRIS
19069 @subsection CRIS
19070 @cindex CRIS
19071
19072 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19073 following CRIS-specific commands:
19074
19075 @table @code
19076 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19077 @cindex CRIS version
19078 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19079 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19080 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19081
19082 @item show cris-version
19083 Show the current CRIS version.
19084
19085 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19086 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19087 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19088 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19089 @code{R59}.
19090
19091 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19092 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19093
19094 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19095 @cindex CRIS mode
19096 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19097 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19098 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19099
19100 @item show cris-mode
19101 Show the current CRIS mode.
19102 @end table
19103
19104 @node Super-H
19105 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19106 @cindex Super-H
19107
19108 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19109 commands:
19110
19111 @table @code
19112 @item regs
19113 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19114 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19115
19116 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19117 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19118 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19119 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19120 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19121 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19122 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19123 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19124 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19125 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19126 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19127 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19128
19129 @item show sh calling-convention
19130 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19131 Show the current calling convention setting.
19132
19133 @end table
19134
19135
19136 @node Architectures
19137 @section Architectures
19138
19139 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19140 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19141
19142 @menu
19143 * i386::
19144 * A29K::
19145 * Alpha::
19146 * MIPS::
19147 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19148 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19149 * PowerPC::
19150 @end menu
19151
19152 @node i386
19153 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19154
19155 @table @code
19156 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19157 @kindex set struct-convention
19158 @cindex struct return convention
19159 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19160 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19161 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19162 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19163 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19164 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19165 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19166 be returned in a register.
19167
19168 @item show struct-convention
19169 @kindex show struct-convention
19170 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19171 from functions.
19172 @end table
19173
19174 @node A29K
19175 @subsection A29K
19176
19177 @table @code
19178
19179 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19180 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19181 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19182 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19183 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19184 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19185 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19186 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19187 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19188 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19189 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19190 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19191 hexadecimal.
19192
19193 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19194 @item show rstack_high_address
19195 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19196 processors.
19197
19198 @end table
19199
19200 @node Alpha
19201 @subsection Alpha
19202
19203 See the following section.
19204
19205 @node MIPS
19206 @subsection MIPS
19207
19208 @cindex stack on Alpha
19209 @cindex stack on MIPS
19210 @cindex Alpha stack
19211 @cindex MIPS stack
19212 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19213 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19214 find the beginning of a function.
19215
19216 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19217 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19218 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19219 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19220 commands:
19221
19222 @table @code
19223 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19224 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19225 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19226 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19227 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19228 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19229 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19230 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19231
19232 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19233 Display the current limit.
19234 @end table
19235
19236 @noindent
19237 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19238 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19239
19240 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19241 programs:
19242
19243 @table @code
19244 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
19245 @kindex set mips abi
19246 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
19247 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
19248 values of @var{arg} are:
19249
19250 @table @samp
19251 @item auto
19252 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
19253 default).
19254 @item o32
19255 @item o64
19256 @item n32
19257 @item n64
19258 @item eabi32
19259 @item eabi64
19260 @item auto
19261 @end table
19262
19263 @item show mips abi
19264 @kindex show mips abi
19265 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
19266
19267 @item set mipsfpu
19268 @itemx show mipsfpu
19269 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
19270
19271 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
19272 @kindex set mips mask-address
19273 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
19274 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
19275 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
19276 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
19277 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
19278
19279 @item show mips mask-address
19280 @kindex show mips mask-address
19281 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
19282 not.
19283
19284 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19285 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19286 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
19287 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
19288 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
19289 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
19290
19291 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19292 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19293 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
19294
19295 @item set debug mips
19296 @kindex set debug mips
19297 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
19298 target code in @value{GDBN}.
19299
19300 @item show debug mips
19301 @kindex show debug mips
19302 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
19303 @end table
19304
19305
19306 @node HPPA
19307 @subsection HPPA
19308 @cindex HPPA support
19309
19310 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
19311 following special commands:
19312
19313 @table @code
19314 @item set debug hppa
19315 @kindex set debug hppa
19316 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
19317 messages are to be displayed.
19318
19319 @item show debug hppa
19320 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
19321
19322 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
19323 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
19324 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
19325 given @var{address}.
19326
19327 @end table
19328
19329
19330 @node SPU
19331 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19332 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
19333 @cindex SPU
19334
19335 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
19336 it provides the following special commands:
19337
19338 @table @code
19339 @item info spu event
19340 @kindex info spu
19341 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
19342 and pending event status.
19343
19344 @item info spu signal
19345 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
19346 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
19347 notification channels.
19348
19349 @item info spu mailbox
19350 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
19351 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
19352 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
19353
19354 @item info spu dma
19355 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19356 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19357 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19358
19359 @item info spu proxydma
19360 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19361 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19362 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19363
19364 @end table
19365
19366 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
19367 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
19368 special commands:
19369
19370 @table @code
19371 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
19372 @kindex set spu
19373 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
19374 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
19375 function. The default is @code{off}.
19376
19377 @item show spu stop-on-load
19378 @kindex show spu
19379 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
19380
19381 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
19382 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
19383 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
19384 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
19385 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
19386 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
19387
19388 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
19389 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
19390
19391 @end table
19392
19393 @node PowerPC
19394 @subsection PowerPC
19395 @cindex PowerPC architecture
19396
19397 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
19398 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
19399 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
19400 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
19401 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
19402
19403 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
19404 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
19405 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
19406
19407 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
19408 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
19409
19410
19411 @node Controlling GDB
19412 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
19413
19414 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
19415 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
19416 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
19417 described here.
19418
19419 @menu
19420 * Prompt:: Prompt
19421 * Editing:: Command editing
19422 * Command History:: Command history
19423 * Screen Size:: Screen size
19424 * Numbers:: Numbers
19425 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
19426 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
19427 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
19428 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
19429 @end menu
19430
19431 @node Prompt
19432 @section Prompt
19433
19434 @cindex prompt
19435
19436 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
19437 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
19438 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
19439 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
19440 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
19441 which one you are talking to.
19442
19443 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
19444 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
19445 or a prompt that does not.
19446
19447 @table @code
19448 @kindex set prompt
19449 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
19450 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
19451
19452 @kindex show prompt
19453 @item show prompt
19454 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
19455 @end table
19456
19457 @node Editing
19458 @section Command Editing
19459 @cindex readline
19460 @cindex command line editing
19461
19462 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
19463 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
19464 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
19465 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
19466 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
19467 debugging sessions.
19468
19469 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
19470 command @code{set}.
19471
19472 @table @code
19473 @kindex set editing
19474 @cindex editing
19475 @item set editing
19476 @itemx set editing on
19477 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
19478
19479 @item set editing off
19480 Disable command line editing.
19481
19482 @kindex show editing
19483 @item show editing
19484 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
19485 @end table
19486
19487 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19488 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
19489 @end ifset
19490 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19491 @xref{Command Line Editing},
19492 @end ifclear
19493 for more details about the Readline
19494 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
19495 encouraged to read that chapter.
19496
19497 @node Command History
19498 @section Command History
19499 @cindex command history
19500
19501 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
19502 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
19503 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
19504 history facility.
19505
19506 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
19507 package, to provide the history facility.
19508 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19509 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
19510 @end ifset
19511 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19512 @xref{Using History Interactively},
19513 @end ifclear
19514 for the detailed description of the History library.
19515
19516 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
19517 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
19518 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
19519 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
19520 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
19521 pressed on a line by itself.
19522
19523 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
19524 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
19525 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
19526 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
19527
19528 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
19529 history.
19530
19531 @table @code
19532 @cindex history substitution
19533 @cindex history file
19534 @kindex set history filename
19535 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
19536 @item set history filename @var{fname}
19537 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
19538 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
19539 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
19540 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
19541 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
19542 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
19543 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
19544 is not set.
19545
19546 @cindex save command history
19547 @kindex set history save
19548 @item set history save
19549 @itemx set history save on
19550 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
19551 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
19552
19553 @item set history save off
19554 Stop recording command history in a file.
19555
19556 @cindex history size
19557 @kindex set history size
19558 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
19559 @item set history size @var{size}
19560 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
19561 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
19562 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
19563 @end table
19564
19565 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
19566 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19567 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
19568 @end ifset
19569 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19570 @xref{Event Designators},
19571 @end ifclear
19572 for more details.
19573
19574 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
19575 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
19576 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
19577 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
19578 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
19579 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
19580 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
19581 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
19582
19583 The commands to control history expansion are:
19584
19585 @table @code
19586 @item set history expansion on
19587 @itemx set history expansion
19588 @kindex set history expansion
19589 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
19590
19591 @item set history expansion off
19592 Disable history expansion.
19593
19594 @c @group
19595 @kindex show history
19596 @item show history
19597 @itemx show history filename
19598 @itemx show history save
19599 @itemx show history size
19600 @itemx show history expansion
19601 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19602 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19603 @c @end group
19604 @end table
19605
19606 @table @code
19607 @kindex show commands
19608 @cindex show last commands
19609 @cindex display command history
19610 @item show commands
19611 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19612
19613 @item show commands @var{n}
19614 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19615
19616 @item show commands +
19617 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19618 @end table
19619
19620 @node Screen Size
19621 @section Screen Size
19622 @cindex size of screen
19623 @cindex pauses in output
19624
19625 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19626 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19627 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19628 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19629 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19630 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19631 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19632 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19633
19634 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19635 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19636 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19637 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19638 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19639 width} commands:
19640
19641 @table @code
19642 @kindex set height
19643 @kindex set width
19644 @kindex show width
19645 @kindex show height
19646 @item set height @var{lpp}
19647 @itemx show height
19648 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19649 @itemx show width
19650 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19651 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19652 commands display the current settings.
19653
19654 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19655 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19656 file or to an editor buffer.
19657
19658 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19659 from wrapping its output.
19660
19661 @item set pagination on
19662 @itemx set pagination off
19663 @kindex set pagination
19664 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19665 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19666 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19667 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19668
19669 @item show pagination
19670 @kindex show pagination
19671 Show the current pagination mode.
19672 @end table
19673
19674 @node Numbers
19675 @section Numbers
19676 @cindex number representation
19677 @cindex entering numbers
19678
19679 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19680 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19681 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19682 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19683 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19684 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19685 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19686 both input and output with the commands described below.
19687
19688 @table @code
19689 @kindex set input-radix
19690 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19691 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19692 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19693 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19694 example, any of
19695
19696 @smallexample
19697 set input-radix 012
19698 set input-radix 10.
19699 set input-radix 0xa
19700 @end smallexample
19701
19702 @noindent
19703 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19704 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19705 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19706 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19707 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19708 change the radix.
19709
19710 @kindex set output-radix
19711 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19712 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19713 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19714 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19715
19716 @kindex show input-radix
19717 @item show input-radix
19718 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19719
19720 @kindex show output-radix
19721 @item show output-radix
19722 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19723
19724 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19725 @itemx show radix
19726 @kindex set radix
19727 @kindex show radix
19728 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19729 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19730 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19731 default value of 10.
19732
19733 @end table
19734
19735 @node ABI
19736 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19737
19738 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19739 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19740 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19741 current ABI.
19742
19743 @cindex OS ABI
19744 @kindex set osabi
19745 @kindex show osabi
19746
19747 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19748 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19749 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19750 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19751 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19752 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19753 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19754 platform provides.
19755
19756 @table @code
19757 @item show osabi
19758 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19759
19760 @item set osabi
19761 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19762
19763 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19764 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19765 @end table
19766
19767 @cindex float promotion
19768
19769 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19770 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19771 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19772 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19773 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19774 @code{double} and then passed.
19775
19776 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19777 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19778 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19779
19780 @table @code
19781 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19782 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19783 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19784 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19785 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19786
19787 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19788 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19789 functions.
19790
19791 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19792 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19793 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19794 @end table
19795
19796 @kindex set cp-abi
19797 @kindex show cp-abi
19798 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19799 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19800 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19801 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19802 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19803 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19804 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19805 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19806 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19807 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19808 ``auto''.
19809
19810 @table @code
19811 @item show cp-abi
19812 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19813
19814 @item set cp-abi
19815 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19816
19817 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19818 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19819 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19820 @end table
19821
19822 @node Messages/Warnings
19823 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19824
19825 @cindex verbose operation
19826 @cindex optional warnings
19827 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19828 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19829 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19830 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19831
19832 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19833 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19834 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19835
19836 @table @code
19837 @kindex set verbose
19838 @item set verbose on
19839 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19840
19841 @item set verbose off
19842 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19843
19844 @kindex show verbose
19845 @item show verbose
19846 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19847 @end table
19848
19849 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19850 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19851 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19852 Symbol Files}).
19853
19854 @table @code
19855
19856 @kindex set complaints
19857 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19858 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19859 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19860 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19861 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19862
19863 @kindex show complaints
19864 @item show complaints
19865 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19866
19867 @end table
19868
19869 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19870 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19871 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19872 you try to run a program which is already running:
19873
19874 @smallexample
19875 (@value{GDBP}) run
19876 The program being debugged has been started already.
19877 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19878 @end smallexample
19879
19880 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19881 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19882
19883 @table @code
19884
19885 @kindex set confirm
19886 @cindex flinching
19887 @cindex confirmation
19888 @cindex stupid questions
19889 @item set confirm off
19890 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19891 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19892 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19893
19894 @item set confirm on
19895 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19896
19897 @kindex show confirm
19898 @item show confirm
19899 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19900
19901 @end table
19902
19903 @cindex command tracing
19904 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19905 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19906 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19907 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19908
19909 @table @code
19910 @kindex set trace-commands
19911 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19912 @item set trace-commands on
19913 Enable command tracing.
19914 @item set trace-commands off
19915 Disable command tracing.
19916 @item show trace-commands
19917 Display the current state of command tracing.
19918 @end table
19919
19920 @node Debugging Output
19921 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19922 @cindex optional debugging messages
19923
19924 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19925 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19926 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19927 section documents those commands.
19928
19929 @table @code
19930 @kindex set exec-done-display
19931 @item set exec-done-display
19932 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19933 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19934 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19935 @kindex show exec-done-display
19936 @item show exec-done-display
19937 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19938 notification.
19939 @kindex set debug
19940 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19941 @cindex architecture debugging info
19942 @item set debug arch
19943 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19944 @kindex show debug
19945 @item show debug arch
19946 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19947 @item set debug aix-thread
19948 @cindex AIX threads
19949 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19950 module.
19951 @item show debug aix-thread
19952 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19953 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19954 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19955 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19956 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19957 A value of zero turns off the display.
19958 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19959 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19960 @item set debug displaced
19961 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19962 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19963 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19964 @item show debug displaced
19965 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19966 related to displaced stepping.
19967 @item set debug event
19968 @cindex event debugging info
19969 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19970 default is off.
19971 @item show debug event
19972 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19973 info.
19974 @item set debug expression
19975 @cindex expression debugging info
19976 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19977 expression parsing. The default is off.
19978 @item show debug expression
19979 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19980 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19981 @item set debug frame
19982 @cindex frame debugging info
19983 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19984 default is off.
19985 @item show debug frame
19986 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19987 info.
19988 @item set debug gnu-nat
19989 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19990 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19991 @item show debug gnu-nat
19992 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19993 @item set debug infrun
19994 @cindex inferior debugging info
19995 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19996 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19997 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19998 @item show debug infrun
19999 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
20000 @item set debug jit
20001 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
20002 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
20003 @item show debug jit
20004 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
20005 @item set debug lin-lwp
20006 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
20007 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20008 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
20009 @item show debug lin-lwp
20010 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
20011 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
20012 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
20013 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20014 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
20015 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
20016 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
20017 @item set debug observer
20018 @cindex observer debugging info
20019 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
20020 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
20021 @item show debug observer
20022 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
20023 @item set debug overload
20024 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
20025 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
20026 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
20027 is off.
20028 @item show debug overload
20029 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
20030 debugging info.
20031 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
20032 @cindex debug expression parser
20033 @item set debug parser
20034 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
20035 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
20036 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
20037 details. The default is off.
20038 @item show debug parser
20039 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
20040 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
20041 @cindex serial connections, debugging
20042 @cindex debug remote protocol
20043 @cindex remote protocol debugging
20044 @cindex display remote packets
20045 @item set debug remote
20046 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
20047 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
20048 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
20049 @item show debug remote
20050 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
20051 @item set debug serial
20052 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
20053 default is off.
20054 @item show debug serial
20055 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
20056 info.
20057 @item set debug solib-frv
20058 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20059 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20060 @item show debug solib-frv
20061 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20062 messages.
20063 @item set debug target
20064 @cindex target debugging info
20065 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20066 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20067 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20068 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20069 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20070 @item show debug target
20071 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20072 info.
20073 @item set debug timestamp
20074 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20075 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20076 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20077 message.
20078 @item show debug timestamp
20079 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20080 debugging info.
20081 @item set debugvarobj
20082 @cindex variable object debugging info
20083 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20084 info. The default is off.
20085 @item show debugvarobj
20086 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20087 debugging info.
20088 @item set debug xml
20089 @cindex XML parser debugging
20090 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20091 @item show debug xml
20092 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20093 @end table
20094
20095 @node Other Misc Settings
20096 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20097 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20098
20099 @table @code
20100 @kindex set interactive-mode
20101 @item set interactive-mode
20102 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20103 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20104 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20105 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20106 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20107 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20108 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20109 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20110
20111 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20112 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20113 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20114 inside a cygwin window.
20115
20116 @kindex show interactive-mode
20117 @item show interactive-mode
20118 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20119 @end table
20120
20121 @node Extending GDB
20122 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20123 @cindex extending GDB
20124
20125 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20126 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
20127 Python scripting language.
20128
20129 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20130 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20131 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20132 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20133 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20134 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20135
20136 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20137 setting:
20138
20139 @table @code
20140 @kindex set script-extension
20141 @kindex show script-extension
20142 @item set script-extension off
20143 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20144
20145 @item set script-extension soft
20146 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20147 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20148 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20149 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20150
20151 @item set script-extension strict
20152 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20153 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20154 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20155
20156 @item show script-extension
20157 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20158
20159 @end table
20160
20161 @menu
20162 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20163 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20164 @end menu
20165
20166 @node Sequences
20167 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20168
20169 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20170 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20171 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20172 files.
20173
20174 @menu
20175 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20176 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20177 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20178 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20179 @end menu
20180
20181 @node Define
20182 @subsection User-defined Commands
20183
20184 @cindex user-defined command
20185 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20186 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20187 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20188 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20189 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20190 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20191
20192 @smallexample
20193 define adder
20194 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20195 end
20196 @end smallexample
20197
20198 @noindent
20199 To execute the command use:
20200
20201 @smallexample
20202 adder 1 2 3
20203 @end smallexample
20204
20205 @noindent
20206 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20207 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20208 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
20209 functions calls.
20210
20211 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
20212 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
20213 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
20214 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
20215
20216 @smallexample
20217 define adder
20218 if $argc == 2
20219 print $arg0 + $arg1
20220 end
20221 if $argc == 3
20222 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20223 end
20224 end
20225 @end smallexample
20226
20227 @table @code
20228
20229 @kindex define
20230 @item define @var{commandname}
20231 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
20232 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
20233 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
20234 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
20235 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
20236 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
20237
20238 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
20239 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
20240 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20241
20242 @kindex document
20243 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
20244 @item document @var{commandname}
20245 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
20246 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
20247 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
20248 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
20249 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
20250 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
20251
20252 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
20253 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
20254 does not change the documentation.
20255
20256 @kindex dont-repeat
20257 @cindex don't repeat command
20258 @item dont-repeat
20259 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
20260 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
20261 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
20262
20263 @kindex help user-defined
20264 @item help user-defined
20265 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
20266 (if any) for each.
20267
20268 @kindex show user
20269 @item show user
20270 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
20271 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
20272 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
20273 definitions for all user-defined commands.
20274
20275 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
20276 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
20277 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
20278 @item show max-user-call-depth
20279 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
20280 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
20281 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
20282 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
20283 @end table
20284
20285 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
20286 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
20287
20288 When user-defined commands are executed, the
20289 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
20290 stops execution of the user-defined command.
20291
20292 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
20293 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
20294 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
20295 messages when used in a user-defined command.
20296
20297 @node Hooks
20298 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
20299 @cindex command hooks
20300 @cindex hooks, for commands
20301 @cindex hooks, pre-command
20302
20303 @kindex hook
20304 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
20305 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
20306 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
20307 before that command.
20308
20309 @cindex hooks, post-command
20310 @kindex hookpost
20311 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
20312 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
20313 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
20314 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
20315 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
20316
20317 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
20318 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
20319
20320 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
20321 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
20322
20323 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
20324 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
20325 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
20326 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
20327 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
20328
20329 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
20330 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
20331 you could define:
20332
20333 @smallexample
20334 define hook-stop
20335 handle SIGALRM nopass
20336 end
20337
20338 define hook-run
20339 handle SIGALRM pass
20340 end
20341
20342 define hook-continue
20343 handle SIGALRM pass
20344 end
20345 @end smallexample
20346
20347 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
20348 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
20349 you could define:
20350
20351 @smallexample
20352 define hook-echo
20353 echo <<<---
20354 end
20355
20356 define hookpost-echo
20357 echo --->>>\n
20358 end
20359
20360 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
20361 <<<---Hello World--->>>
20362 (@value{GDBP})
20363
20364 @end smallexample
20365
20366 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
20367 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
20368 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
20369 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
20370 @c or not?
20371 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
20372 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
20373 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
20374
20375 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
20376 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
20377 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
20378
20379 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
20380 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
20381
20382 @node Command Files
20383 @subsection Command Files
20384
20385 @cindex command files
20386 @cindex scripting commands
20387 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
20388 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
20389 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
20390 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
20391 terminal.
20392
20393 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
20394 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
20395 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
20396 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
20397 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
20398
20399 @table @code
20400 @kindex source
20401 @cindex execute commands from a file
20402 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
20403 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
20404 @end table
20405
20406 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
20407 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
20408 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
20409 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
20410 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
20411
20412 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
20413 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
20414 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
20415 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
20416 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
20417 is not relevant to scripts.
20418
20419 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
20420 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
20421 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
20422 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
20423 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20424 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
20425 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
20426 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
20427 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20428 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
20429 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
20430 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
20431 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
20432 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
20433
20434 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
20435 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
20436 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
20437
20438 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
20439 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
20440 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
20441 when called from command files.
20442
20443 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
20444 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
20445 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
20446 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
20447 the next command.
20448
20449 @smallexample
20450 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
20451 @end smallexample
20452
20453 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
20454 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
20455 would be directed to @file{log}.
20456
20457 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
20458 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
20459 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
20460 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
20461 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
20462 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
20463 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
20464 conditionally, etc.
20465
20466 @table @code
20467 @kindex if
20468 @kindex else
20469 @item if
20470 @itemx else
20471 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
20472 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
20473 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
20474 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
20475 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
20476 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
20477 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20478
20479 @kindex while
20480 @item while
20481 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
20482 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
20483 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
20484 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
20485 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
20486 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
20487
20488 @kindex loop_break
20489 @item loop_break
20490 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
20491 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
20492 line.
20493
20494 @kindex loop_continue
20495 @item loop_continue
20496 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
20497 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
20498 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
20499 the controlling expression.
20500
20501 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
20502 @item end
20503 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
20504 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
20505 @end table
20506
20507
20508 @node Output
20509 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
20510
20511 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
20512 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
20513 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
20514 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
20515 want.
20516
20517 @table @code
20518 @kindex echo
20519 @item echo @var{text}
20520 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
20521 @c because it is not in ANSI.
20522 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
20523 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
20524 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
20525 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
20526 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
20527 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
20528 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
20529 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
20530 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
20531
20532 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
20533 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
20534
20535 @smallexample
20536 echo This is some text\n\
20537 which is continued\n\
20538 onto several lines.\n
20539 @end smallexample
20540
20541 produces the same output as
20542
20543 @smallexample
20544 echo This is some text\n
20545 echo which is continued\n
20546 echo onto several lines.\n
20547 @end smallexample
20548
20549 @kindex output
20550 @item output @var{expression}
20551 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
20552 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
20553 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
20554 on expressions.
20555
20556 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
20557 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
20558 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
20559 Formats}, for more information.
20560
20561 @kindex printf
20562 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20563 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20564 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
20565 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
20566 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
20567 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
20568 executing the code below:
20569
20570 @smallexample
20571 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
20572 @end smallexample
20573
20574 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
20575 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
20576 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
20577 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
20578 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
20579 printed.
20580
20581 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
20582
20583 @smallexample
20584 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
20585 @end smallexample
20586
20587 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
20588 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
20589 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
20590
20591 @itemize @bullet
20592 @item
20593 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
20594
20595 @item
20596 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
20597 width.
20598
20599 @item
20600 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20601 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20602
20603 @item
20604 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20605 supported.
20606
20607 @item
20608 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20609
20610 @item
20611 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20612 @end itemize
20613
20614 @noindent
20615 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20616 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20617 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20618 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20619
20620 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20621 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20622 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20623 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20624 supported.
20625
20626 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20627 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20628 together with a floating point specifier.
20629 letters:
20630
20631 @itemize @bullet
20632 @item
20633 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20634
20635 @item
20636 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20637
20638 @item
20639 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20640 @end itemize
20641
20642 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20643 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20644 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20645
20646 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20647 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20648
20649 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20650 @smallexample
20651 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20652 @end smallexample
20653
20654 @kindex eval
20655 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20656 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20657 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
20658
20659 @end table
20660
20661 @node Python
20662 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20663 @cindex python scripting
20664 @cindex scripting with python
20665
20666 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20667 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20668 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20669
20670 @cindex python directory
20671 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
20672 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
20673 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
20674 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
20675 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
20676 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
20677
20678 @menu
20679 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20680 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20681 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20682 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
20683 @end menu
20684
20685 @node Python Commands
20686 @subsection Python Commands
20687 @cindex python commands
20688 @cindex commands to access python
20689
20690 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20691 and one related setting:
20692
20693 @table @code
20694 @kindex python
20695 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20696 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20697
20698 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20699 argument as a Python command. For example:
20700
20701 @smallexample
20702 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20703 23
20704 @end smallexample
20705
20706 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20707 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20708 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20709 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20710 containing @code{end}. For example:
20711
20712 @smallexample
20713 (@value{GDBP}) python
20714 Type python script
20715 End with a line saying just "end".
20716 >print 23
20717 >end
20718 23
20719 @end smallexample
20720
20721 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20722 @item maint set python print-stack
20723 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20724 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20725 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20726 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20727 disabled.
20728 @end table
20729
20730 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20731 interpreter:
20732
20733 @table @code
20734 @item source @file{script-name}
20735 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20736 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20737 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20738
20739 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20740 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20741 and thus is always available.
20742 @end table
20743
20744 @node Python API
20745 @subsection Python API
20746 @cindex python api
20747 @cindex programming in python
20748
20749 @cindex python stdout
20750 @cindex python pagination
20751 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20752 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20753 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20754 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20755 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20756
20757 @menu
20758 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20759 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
20760 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
20761 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20762 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20763 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20764 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
20765 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
20766 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
20767 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
20768 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20769 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20770 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20771 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20772 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20773 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20774 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20775 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20776 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20777 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20778 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20779 @end menu
20780
20781 @node Basic Python
20782 @subsubsection Basic Python
20783
20784 @cindex python functions
20785 @cindex python module
20786 @cindex gdb module
20787 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20788 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20789 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20790 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20791
20792 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
20793 @defvar PYTHONDIR
20794 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
20795 @end defvar
20796
20797 @findex gdb.execute
20798 @defun execute command [from_tty] [to_string]
20799 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20800 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20801 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20802
20803 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20804 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20805 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20806
20807 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
20808 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
20809 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
20810 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
20811 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
20812 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
20813 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
20814 @end defun
20815
20816 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20817 @defun breakpoints
20818 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20819 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20820 @end defun
20821
20822 @findex gdb.parameter
20823 @defun parameter parameter
20824 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20825 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20826 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20827 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20828
20829 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20830 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
20831 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
20832 type, and returned.
20833 @end defun
20834
20835 @findex gdb.history
20836 @defun history number
20837 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20838 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20839 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20840 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20841 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20842 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20843 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
20844 raised.
20845
20846 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20847 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20848 @end defun
20849
20850 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20851 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20852 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20853 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20854 @var{expression} must be a string.
20855
20856 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20857 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20858 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20859 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20860 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20861 @end defun
20862
20863 @findex gdb.post_event
20864 @defun post_event event
20865 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
20866 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
20867 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
20868 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
20869 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
20870 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
20871
20872 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
20873 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
20874 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
20875 this. For example:
20876
20877 @smallexample
20878 (@value{GDBP}) python
20879 >import threading
20880 >
20881 >class Writer():
20882 > def __init__(self, message):
20883 > self.message = message;
20884 > def __call__(self):
20885 > gdb.write(self.message)
20886 >
20887 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
20888 > def run (self):
20889 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
20890 >
20891 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
20892 > def run (self):
20893 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
20894 >
20895 >MyThread1().start()
20896 >MyThread2().start()
20897 >end
20898 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
20899 @end smallexample
20900 @end defun
20901
20902 @findex gdb.write
20903 @defun write string @r{[}stream{]}
20904 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
20905 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
20906 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
20907 values are:
20908
20909 @table @code
20910 @findex STDOUT
20911 @findex gdb.STDOUT
20912 @item STDOUT
20913 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
20914
20915 @findex STDERR
20916 @findex gdb.STDERR
20917 @item STDERR
20918 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
20919
20920 @findex STDLOG
20921 @findex gdb.STDLOG
20922 @item STDLOG
20923 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
20924 @end table
20925
20926 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20927 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
20928 relevant stream.
20929 @end defun
20930
20931 @findex gdb.flush
20932 @defun flush
20933 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
20934 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
20935 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
20936 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
20937 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
20938 stream values are:
20939
20940 @table @code
20941 @findex STDOUT
20942 @findex gdb.STDOUT
20943 @item STDOUT
20944 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
20945
20946 @findex STDERR
20947 @findex gdb.STDERR
20948 @item STDERR
20949 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
20950
20951 @findex STDLOG
20952 @findex gdb.STDLOG
20953 @item STDLOG
20954 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
20955
20956 @end table
20957
20958 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20959 call this function for the relevant stream.
20960 @end defun
20961
20962 @findex gdb.target_charset
20963 @defun target_charset
20964 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20965 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20966 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20967 @end defun
20968
20969 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20970 @defun target_wide_charset
20971 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20972 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20973 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20974 never returned.
20975 @end defun
20976
20977 @findex gdb.solib_name
20978 @defun solib_name address
20979 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
20980 as a string, or @code{None}.
20981 @end defun
20982
20983 @findex gdb.decode_line
20984 @defun decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
20985 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
20986 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
20987 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
20988 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
20989 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
20990 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
20991 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
20992 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
20993 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
20994 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
20995 @end defun
20996
20997 @node Exception Handling
20998 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20999 @cindex python exceptions
21000 @cindex exceptions, python
21001
21002 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
21003 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
21004 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
21005 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
21006 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
21007 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
21008 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
21009
21010 @smallexample
21011 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
21012 Traceback (most recent call last):
21013 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
21014 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
21015 @end smallexample
21016
21017 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
21018 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
21019 Python exception depends on the error.
21020
21021 @ftable @code
21022 @item gdb.error
21023 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
21024 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
21025 versions of @value{GDBN}.
21026
21027 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
21028 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
21029
21030 @item gdb.MemoryError
21031 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
21032 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
21033
21034 @item KeyboardInterrupt
21035 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
21036 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
21037 @end ftable
21038
21039 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
21040 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
21041 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
21042 traceback.
21043
21044 @findex gdb.GdbError
21045 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
21046 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
21047 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
21048 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
21049 to handle this case. Example:
21050
21051 @smallexample
21052 (gdb) python
21053 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21054 > """Greet the whole world."""
21055 > def __init__ (self):
21056 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21057 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
21058 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
21059 > if len (argv) != 0:
21060 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
21061 > print "Hello, World!"
21062 >HelloWorld ()
21063 >end
21064 (gdb) hello-world 42
21065 hello-world takes no arguments
21066 @end smallexample
21067
21068 @node Values From Inferior
21069 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
21070 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
21071 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
21072
21073 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
21074 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
21075 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
21076 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
21077 fetching values when necessary.
21078
21079 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
21080 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
21081 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
21082
21083 @smallexample
21084 bar = some_val + 2
21085 @end smallexample
21086
21087 @noindent
21088 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
21089 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
21090
21091 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
21092 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
21093 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
21094 can access its @code{foo} element with:
21095
21096 @smallexample
21097 bar = some_val['foo']
21098 @end smallexample
21099
21100 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
21101
21102 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
21103 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
21104 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
21105 by that prototype.
21106
21107 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
21108 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
21109 execute this function, call it like so:
21110
21111 @smallexample
21112 result = some_val (10,20)
21113 @end smallexample
21114
21115 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
21116 @code{gdb.Value}.
21117
21118 The following attributes are provided:
21119
21120 @table @code
21121 @defivar Value address
21122 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
21123 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
21124 this attribute holds @code{None}.
21125 @end defivar
21126
21127 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21128 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
21129 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21130 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21131 @end defivar
21132
21133 @defivar Value type
21134 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21135 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21136 @end defivar
21137
21138 @defivar Value dynamic_type
21139 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21140 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21141 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21142 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21143 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21144 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21145 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21146 type.
21147
21148 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21149 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21150 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21151 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21152 @end defivar
21153 @end table
21154
21155 The following methods are provided:
21156
21157 @table @code
21158 @defmethod Value __init__ @var{val}
21159 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21160 this object initializer. Specifically:
21161
21162 @table @asis
21163 @item Python boolean
21164 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21165 language.
21166
21167 @item Python integer
21168 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
21169 current architecture.
21170
21171 @item Python long
21172 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
21173 current architecture.
21174
21175 @item Python float
21176 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
21177 current architecture.
21178
21179 @item Python string
21180 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
21181 target encoding.
21182
21183 @item @code{gdb.Value}
21184 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
21185
21186 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
21187 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
21188 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
21189 its result is used.
21190 @end table
21191 @end defmethod
21192
21193 @defmethod Value cast type
21194 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
21195 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
21196 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
21197 reason, this method throws an exception.
21198 @end defmethod
21199
21200 @defmethod Value dereference
21201 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
21202 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
21203 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
21204
21205 @smallexample
21206 int *foo;
21207 @end smallexample
21208
21209 @noindent
21210 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
21211 @code{foo} points to like this:
21212
21213 @smallexample
21214 bar = foo.dereference ()
21215 @end smallexample
21216
21217 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
21218 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
21219 @end defmethod
21220
21221 @defmethod Value dynamic_cast type
21222 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
21223 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21224 @end defmethod
21225
21226 @defmethod Value reinterpret_cast type
21227 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
21228 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21229 @end defmethod
21230
21231 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21232 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21233 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
21234 throw an exception.
21235
21236 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
21237 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
21238 language.
21239
21240 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
21241 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
21242 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
21243 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
21244 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
21245
21246 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21247 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
21248 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
21249 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
21250 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
21251 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
21252 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
21253 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
21254 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
21255
21256 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
21257 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
21258
21259 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21260 fetched and converted to the given length.
21261 @end defmethod
21262
21263 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21264 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21265 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
21266 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
21267
21268 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21269 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
21270 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
21271 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
21272 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
21273
21274 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
21275 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
21276 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
21277 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
21278 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
21279 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
21280
21281 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21282 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
21283 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
21284 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
21285 @end defmethod
21286 @end table
21287
21288 @node Types In Python
21289 @subsubsection Types In Python
21290 @cindex types in Python
21291 @cindex Python, working with types
21292
21293 @tindex gdb.Type
21294 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
21295 @code{gdb.Type}.
21296
21297 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21298 module:
21299
21300 @findex gdb.lookup_type
21301 @defun lookup_type name [block]
21302 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
21303 type to look up. It must be a string.
21304
21305 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21306 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21307
21308 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
21309 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
21310 @end defun
21311
21312 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
21313
21314 @table @code
21315 @defivar Type code
21316 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
21317 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
21318 @end defivar
21319
21320 @defivar Type sizeof
21321 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
21322 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
21323 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
21324 @end defivar
21325
21326 @defivar Type tag
21327 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
21328 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
21329 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
21330 @code{None} is returned.
21331 @end defivar
21332 @end table
21333
21334 The following methods are provided:
21335
21336 @table @code
21337 @defmethod Type fields
21338 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
21339 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
21340 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
21341 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
21342 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
21343 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
21344
21345 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
21346 @table @code
21347 @item bitpos
21348 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
21349 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
21350 position of the field.
21351
21352 @item name
21353 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
21354
21355 @item artificial
21356 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
21357 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
21358 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
21359
21360 @item is_base_class
21361 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
21362 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
21363 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
21364 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
21365
21366 @item bitsize
21367 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
21368 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
21369 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
21370
21371 @item type
21372 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
21373 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
21374 @end table
21375 @end defmethod
21376
21377 @defmethod Type array @var{n1} @r{[}@var{n2}@r{]}
21378 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
21379 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
21380 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
21381 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
21382 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
21383 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
21384 @end defmethod
21385
21386 @defmethod Type const
21387 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21388 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
21389 @end defmethod
21390
21391 @defmethod Type volatile
21392 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21393 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
21394 @end defmethod
21395
21396 @defmethod Type unqualified
21397 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
21398 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
21399 @code{volatile}.
21400 @end defmethod
21401
21402 @defmethod Type range
21403 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
21404 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
21405 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
21406 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
21407 @end defmethod
21408
21409 @defmethod Type reference
21410 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
21411 type.
21412 @end defmethod
21413
21414 @defmethod Type pointer
21415 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
21416 type.
21417 @end defmethod
21418
21419 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
21420 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
21421 after removing all layers of typedefs.
21422 @end defmethod
21423
21424 @defmethod Type target
21425 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
21426 of this type.
21427
21428 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
21429 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
21430 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
21431 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
21432 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
21433 target type is the aliased type.
21434
21435 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
21436 exception.
21437 @end defmethod
21438
21439 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
21440 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
21441 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
21442 @var{n}th template argument.
21443
21444 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
21445 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
21446
21447 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21448 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21449 @end defmethod
21450 @end table
21451
21452
21453 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
21454 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
21455 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21456
21457 @table @code
21458 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
21459 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
21460 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
21461 The type is a pointer.
21462
21463 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21464 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21465 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21466 The type is an array.
21467
21468 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21469 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21470 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21471 The type is a structure.
21472
21473 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
21474 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
21475 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
21476 The type is a union.
21477
21478 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21479 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21480 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21481 The type is an enum.
21482
21483 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21484 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21485 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21486 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
21487
21488 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21489 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21490 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21491 The type is a function.
21492
21493 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
21494 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
21495 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
21496 The type is an integer type.
21497
21498 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
21499 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
21500 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
21501 A floating point type.
21502
21503 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
21504 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
21505 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
21506 The special type @code{void}.
21507
21508 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
21509 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
21510 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
21511 A Pascal set type.
21512
21513 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21514 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21515 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21516 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
21517
21518 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
21519 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
21520 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
21521 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
21522 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
21523
21524 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21525 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21526 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21527 A string of bits.
21528
21529 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21530 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21531 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21532 An unknown or erroneous type.
21533
21534 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21535 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21536 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21537 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
21538
21539 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21540 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21541 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21542 A pointer-to-member-function.
21543
21544 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21545 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21546 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21547 A pointer-to-member.
21548
21549 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
21550 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
21551 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
21552 A reference type.
21553
21554 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21555 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21556 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21557 A character type.
21558
21559 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21560 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21561 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21562 A boolean type.
21563
21564 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21565 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21566 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21567 A complex float type.
21568
21569 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21570 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21571 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21572 A typedef to some other type.
21573
21574 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21575 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21576 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21577 A C@t{++} namespace.
21578
21579 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21580 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21581 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21582 A decimal floating point type.
21583
21584 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21585 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21586 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21587 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
21588 convenience functions.
21589 @end table
21590
21591 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
21592 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
21593
21594 @node Pretty Printing API
21595 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
21596
21597 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
21598
21599 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
21600 specific interface, defined here.
21601
21602 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
21603 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
21604 children of the pretty-printer's value.
21605
21606 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
21607 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
21608 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
21609 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
21610 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
21611
21612 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
21613 as though the value has no children.
21614 @end defop
21615
21616 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
21617 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
21618 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
21619 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
21620 printed.
21621
21622 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
21623 string.
21624
21625 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
21626
21627 @table @samp
21628 @item array
21629 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
21630 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
21631 @code{set print array}.
21632
21633 @item map
21634 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
21635 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
21636 values.
21637
21638 @item string
21639 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
21640 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
21641 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
21642 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
21643 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
21644 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
21645 @end table
21646 @end defop
21647
21648 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
21649 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
21650 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
21651
21652 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
21653 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
21654 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
21655 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
21656 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
21657 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
21658 the result of @code{children}.
21659
21660 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
21661
21662 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
21663 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
21664 another pretty-printer.
21665
21666 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
21667 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
21668 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
21669 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
21670 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
21671
21672 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
21673 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
21674
21675 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
21676 @end defop
21677
21678 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
21679 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
21680
21681 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
21682 @defun default_visualizer value
21683 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
21684 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
21685 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
21686 @end defun
21687
21688 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
21689 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
21690
21691 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
21692 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
21693 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
21694 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
21695 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
21696 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
21697 attribute.
21698
21699 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
21700 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
21701 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
21702 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
21703 @code{None}.
21704
21705 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
21706 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
21707 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
21708 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
21709 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
21710 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
21711 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
21712 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
21713 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
21714 object is returned.
21715
21716 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
21717 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
21718 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
21719 object is returned.
21720
21721 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
21722 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
21723 the pretty-printer is out of date.
21724
21725 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
21726 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
21727 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
21728 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
21729 with a broken printer.
21730
21731 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
21732 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
21733 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
21734 the printer is enabled.
21735
21736 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
21737 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
21738 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
21739
21740 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
21741 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
21742
21743 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
21744 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
21745 must provide.
21746
21747 @smallexample
21748 class StdStringPrinter(object):
21749 "Print a std::string"
21750
21751 def __init__(self, val):
21752 self.val = val
21753
21754 def to_string(self):
21755 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
21756
21757 def display_hint(self):
21758 return 'string'
21759 @end smallexample
21760
21761 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
21762 example above might be written.
21763
21764 @smallexample
21765 def str_lookup_function(val):
21766 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
21767 if lookup_tag == None:
21768 return None
21769 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
21770 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
21771 return StdStringPrinter(val)
21772 return None
21773 @end smallexample
21774
21775 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
21776 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
21777 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
21778 returns @code{None}.
21779
21780 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
21781 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
21782 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
21783 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
21784 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
21785 different names.
21786
21787 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
21788 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
21789 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
21790 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
21791 the current objfile.
21792
21793 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
21794 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
21795 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
21796 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
21797 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
21798 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
21799 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
21800 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
21801 inferior.
21802
21803 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
21804 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
21805
21806 @smallexample
21807 def register_printers(objfile):
21808 objfile.pretty_printers.add(str_lookup_function)
21809 @end smallexample
21810
21811 @noindent
21812 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
21813
21814 @smallexample
21815 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
21816 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
21817 @end smallexample
21818
21819 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
21820 There are a few things that can be improved on.
21821 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
21822 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
21823 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
21824
21825 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
21826 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
21827 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
21828 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
21829 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
21830 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
21831
21832 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
21833 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
21834 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
21835
21836 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
21837
21838 @smallexample
21839 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
21840 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
21841 @end smallexample
21842
21843 Here are the printers:
21844
21845 @smallexample
21846 class fooPrinter:
21847 """Print a foo object."""
21848
21849 def __init__(self, val):
21850 self.val = val
21851
21852 def to_string(self):
21853 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
21854 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
21855
21856 class barPrinter:
21857 """Print a bar object."""
21858
21859 def __init__(self, val):
21860 self.val = val
21861
21862 def to_string(self):
21863 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
21864 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
21865 @end smallexample
21866
21867 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
21868 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
21869 the object that handles the lookup.
21870
21871 @smallexample
21872 import gdb.printing
21873
21874 def build_pretty_printer():
21875 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
21876 "my_library")
21877 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
21878 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
21879 return pp
21880 @end smallexample
21881
21882 And here is the autoload support:
21883
21884 @smallexample
21885 import gdb.printing
21886 import my_library
21887 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
21888 gdb.current_objfile(),
21889 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
21890 @end smallexample
21891
21892 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
21893 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
21894
21895 @smallexample
21896 (gdb) info pretty-printer
21897 my_library.so:
21898 my_library
21899 foo
21900 bar
21901 @end smallexample
21902
21903 @node Inferiors In Python
21904 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
21905 @cindex inferiors in Python
21906
21907 @findex gdb.Inferior
21908 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
21909 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
21910 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
21911 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
21912
21913 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21914 module:
21915
21916 @defun inferiors
21917 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
21918 @end defun
21919
21920 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
21921
21922 @table @code
21923 @defivar Inferior num
21924 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
21925 @end defivar
21926
21927 @defivar Inferior pid
21928 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
21929 system.
21930 @end defivar
21931
21932 @defivar Inferior was_attached
21933 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
21934 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
21935 @end defivar
21936 @end table
21937
21938 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
21939
21940 @table @code
21941 @defmethod Inferior is_valid
21942 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
21943 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
21944 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
21945 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
21946 at the time the method is called.
21947 @end defmethod
21948
21949 @defmethod Inferior threads
21950 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
21951 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
21952 return an empty tuple.
21953 @end defmethod
21954
21955 @findex gdb.read_memory
21956 @defmethod Inferior read_memory address length
21957 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
21958 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
21959 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
21960 function.
21961 @end defmethod
21962
21963 @findex gdb.write_memory
21964 @defmethod Inferior write_memory address buffer @r{[}length@r{]}
21965 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
21966 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
21967 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21968 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
21969 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
21970 @end defmethod
21971
21972 @findex gdb.search_memory
21973 @defmethod Inferior search_memory address length pattern
21974 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
21975 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
21976 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
21977 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21978 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
21979 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
21980 the pattern could not be found.
21981 @end defmethod
21982 @end table
21983
21984 @node Events In Python
21985 @subsubsection Events In Python
21986 @cindex inferior events in Python
21987
21988 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
21989 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
21990 the inferior.
21991
21992 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
21993 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
21994 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
21995
21996 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
21997 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
21998 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
21999 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
22000
22001 @table @code
22002 @defmethod EventRegistry connect object
22003 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
22004 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
22005 @end defmethod
22006
22007 @defmethod EventRegistry disconnect object
22008 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
22009 will no longer receive notifications of events.
22010 @end defmethod
22011 @end table
22012
22013 Here is an example:
22014
22015 @smallexample
22016 def exit_handler (event):
22017 print "event type: exit"
22018 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
22019
22020 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
22021 @end smallexample
22022
22023 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
22024 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
22025 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
22026 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
22027 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
22028 the inferior.
22029
22030 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
22031 details of the events they emit:
22032
22033 @table @code
22034
22035 @item events.cont
22036 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22037
22038 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22039 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
22040 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
22041 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
22042 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
22043 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
22044
22045 @table @code
22046 @defivar ThreadEvent inferior_thread
22047 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
22048 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
22049 @end defivar
22050 @end table
22051
22052 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22053
22054 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
22055 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
22056
22057 @item events.exited
22058 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
22059 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has one attribute:
22060 @table @code
22061 @defivar ExitedEvent exit_code
22062 An integer representing the exit code which the inferior has returned.
22063 @end defivar
22064 @end table
22065
22066 @item events.stop
22067 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22068
22069 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
22070 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
22071 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22072 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
22073
22074 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22075
22076 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
22077 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
22078
22079 @table @code
22080 @defivar SignalEvent stop_signal
22081 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
22082 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
22083 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22084 @end defivar
22085 @end table
22086
22087 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22088
22089 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that a breakpoint has been hit, and
22090 has the following attributes:
22091
22092 @table @code
22093 @defivar BreakpointEvent breakpoint
22094 A reference to the breakpoint that was hit of type @code{gdb.Breakpoint}.
22095 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
22096 @end defivar
22097 @end table
22098
22099 @end table
22100
22101 @node Threads In Python
22102 @subsubsection Threads In Python
22103 @cindex threads in python
22104
22105 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
22106 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
22107 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
22108
22109 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22110 module:
22111
22112 @findex gdb.selected_thread
22113 @defun selected_thread
22114 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
22115 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
22116 @end defun
22117
22118 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
22119
22120 @table @code
22121 @defivar InferiorThread name
22122 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
22123 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
22124 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
22125 returns @code{None}.
22126
22127 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
22128 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
22129 user-specified thread name.
22130 @end defivar
22131
22132 @defivar InferiorThread num
22133 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
22134 @end defivar
22135
22136 @defivar InferiorThread ptid
22137 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
22138 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
22139 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
22140 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
22141 does not use that identifier.
22142 @end defivar
22143 @end table
22144
22145 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
22146
22147 @table @code
22148 @defmethod InferiorThread is_valid
22149 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
22150 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
22151 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
22152 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
22153 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22154 @end defmethod
22155
22156 @defmethod InferiorThread switch
22157 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
22158 by this object.
22159 @end defmethod
22160
22161 @defmethod InferiorThread is_stopped
22162 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
22163 @end defmethod
22164
22165 @defmethod InferiorThread is_running
22166 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
22167 @end defmethod
22168
22169 @defmethod InferiorThread is_exited
22170 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
22171 @end defmethod
22172 @end table
22173
22174 @node Commands In Python
22175 @subsubsection Commands In Python
22176
22177 @cindex commands in python
22178 @cindex python commands
22179 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
22180 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
22181 class, most commonly using a subclass.
22182
22183 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
22184 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
22185 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
22186 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
22187
22188 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
22189 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
22190 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
22191 an exception is raised.
22192
22193 There is no support for multi-line commands.
22194
22195 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
22196 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
22197 new command in the help system.
22198
22199 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
22200 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
22201 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
22202 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
22203 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
22204 error will occur when completion is attempted.
22205
22206 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
22207 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
22208 registered.
22209
22210 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
22211 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
22212 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
22213 not documented.'' is used.
22214 @end defmethod
22215
22216 @cindex don't repeat Python command
22217 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
22218 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
22219 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
22220 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
22221 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
22222 @end defmethod
22223
22224 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
22225 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
22226
22227 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
22228 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
22229
22230 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
22231 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
22232 that the command came from elsewhere.
22233
22234 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
22235 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
22236
22237 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
22238 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
22239 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
22240 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
22241 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
22242 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
22243 Example:
22244
22245 @smallexample
22246 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
22247 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
22248 @end smallexample
22249
22250 @end defmethod
22251
22252 @cindex completion of Python commands
22253 @defmethod Command complete text word
22254 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
22255 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
22256 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
22257 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
22258 complete}).
22259
22260 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
22261 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
22262 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
22263 using a word-breaking heuristic.
22264
22265 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
22266 @itemize @bullet
22267 @item
22268 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
22269 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
22270 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
22271 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
22272 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
22273 sequence are ignored.
22274
22275 @item
22276 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
22277 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
22278 function is invoked, and its result is used.
22279
22280 @item
22281 All other results are treated as though there were no available
22282 completions.
22283 @end itemize
22284 @end defmethod
22285
22286 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
22287 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
22288 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
22289 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
22290 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
22291 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22292
22293 @table @code
22294 @findex COMMAND_NONE
22295 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
22296 @item COMMAND_NONE
22297 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
22298 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
22299
22300 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
22301 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
22302 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
22303 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
22304 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
22305 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22306 commands in this category.
22307
22308 @findex COMMAND_DATA
22309 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
22310 @item COMMAND_DATA
22311 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
22312 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
22313 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
22314 in this category.
22315
22316 @findex COMMAND_STACK
22317 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
22318 @item COMMAND_STACK
22319 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
22320 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
22321 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
22322 list of commands in this category.
22323
22324 @findex COMMAND_FILES
22325 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
22326 @item COMMAND_FILES
22327 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
22328 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
22329 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22330 commands in this category.
22331
22332 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
22333 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
22334 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
22335 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
22336 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
22337 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
22338 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
22339 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22340 commands in this category.
22341
22342 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
22343 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
22344 @item COMMAND_STATUS
22345 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
22346 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
22347 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
22348 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
22349
22350 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22351 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22352 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22353 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
22354 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22355 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
22356 this category.
22357
22358 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22359 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22360 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22361 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
22362 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
22363 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22364 commands in this category.
22365
22366 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
22367 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
22368 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
22369 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
22370 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
22371 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22372 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
22373 category.
22374
22375 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22376 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22377 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22378 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
22379 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
22380 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22381 commands in this category.
22382 @end table
22383
22384 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
22385 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
22386 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
22387 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22388
22389 @table @code
22390 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
22391 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
22392 @item COMPLETE_NONE
22393 This constant means that no completion should be done.
22394
22395 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
22396 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
22397 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
22398 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
22399
22400 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
22401 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
22402 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
22403 This constant means that location completion should be done.
22404 @xref{Specify Location}.
22405
22406 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
22407 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
22408 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
22409 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
22410 command names.
22411
22412 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22413 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22414 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22415 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
22416 as the source.
22417 @end table
22418
22419 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
22420 implemented in Python:
22421
22422 @smallexample
22423 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22424 """Greet the whole world."""
22425
22426 def __init__ (self):
22427 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
22428
22429 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
22430 print "Hello, World!"
22431
22432 HelloWorld ()
22433 @end smallexample
22434
22435 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22436 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22437 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22438 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22439
22440 @node Parameters In Python
22441 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
22442
22443 @cindex parameters in python
22444 @cindex python parameters
22445 @tindex gdb.Parameter
22446 @tindex Parameter
22447 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
22448 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
22449 class.
22450
22451 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
22452 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
22453
22454 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
22455 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
22456 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
22457 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
22458 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
22459
22460 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
22461 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
22462 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
22463 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
22464
22465 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
22466 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
22467 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
22468 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
22469 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
22470 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
22471 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
22472
22473 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
22474 can be found, an exception is raised.
22475
22476 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
22477 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
22478 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
22479
22480 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
22481 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
22482 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
22483 completion.
22484
22485 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
22486 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
22487 represent the possible values for the parameter.
22488
22489 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
22490 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
22491
22492 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
22493 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
22494 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
22495 @end defmethod
22496
22497 @defivar Parameter set_doc
22498 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22499 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
22500 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22501 have no effect.
22502 @end defivar
22503
22504 @defivar Parameter show_doc
22505 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22506 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
22507 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22508 have no effect.
22509 @end defivar
22510
22511 @defivar Parameter value
22512 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
22513 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
22514 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
22515 @end defivar
22516
22517 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
22518 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
22519
22520 @defop Operation {parameter} get_set_string self
22521 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
22522 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
22523 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
22524 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
22525 @end defop
22526
22527 @defop Operation {parameter} get_show_string self svalue
22528 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
22529 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
22530 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
22531 current value. This method must return a string.
22532 @end defop
22533
22534 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
22535 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22536 module:
22537
22538 @table @code
22539 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
22540 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
22541 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
22542 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
22543 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
22544
22545 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22546 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22547 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22548 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
22549 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
22550 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
22551
22552 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
22553 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
22554 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
22555 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
22556 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
22557
22558 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
22559 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
22560 @item PARAM_INTEGER
22561 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
22562 to mean ``unlimited''.
22563
22564 @findex PARAM_STRING
22565 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
22566 @item PARAM_STRING
22567 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
22568 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
22569 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
22570 host charset.
22571
22572 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22573 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22574 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22575 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
22576 passed through untranslated.
22577
22578 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22579 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22580 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22581 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
22582
22583 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
22584 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
22585 @item PARAM_FILENAME
22586 The value is a filename. This is just like
22587 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
22588
22589 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
22590 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
22591 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
22592 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
22593 is interpreted as itself.
22594
22595 @findex PARAM_ENUM
22596 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
22597 @item PARAM_ENUM
22598 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
22599 constants provided when the parameter is created.
22600 @end table
22601
22602 @node Functions In Python
22603 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
22604
22605 @cindex writing convenience functions
22606 @cindex convenience functions in python
22607 @cindex python convenience functions
22608 @tindex gdb.Function
22609 @tindex Function
22610 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
22611 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
22612 class @code{gdb.Function}.
22613
22614 @defmethod Function __init__ name
22615 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
22616 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
22617 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
22618 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
22619 the given @var{name}.
22620
22621 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
22622 string for the new class.
22623 @end defmethod
22624
22625 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
22626 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
22627 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
22628 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
22629 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
22630 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
22631 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
22632 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
22633
22634 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
22635 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
22636 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
22637 @end defmethod
22638
22639 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
22640 be implemented in Python:
22641
22642 @smallexample
22643 class Greet (gdb.Function):
22644 """Return string to greet someone.
22645 Takes a name as argument."""
22646
22647 def __init__ (self):
22648 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
22649
22650 def invoke (self, name):
22651 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
22652
22653 Greet ()
22654 @end smallexample
22655
22656 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22657 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22658 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22659 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22660
22661 @node Progspaces In Python
22662 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
22663
22664 @cindex progspaces in python
22665 @tindex gdb.Progspace
22666 @tindex Progspace
22667 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
22668 of an address space.
22669 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
22670 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22671 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
22672 about program spaces.
22673
22674 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
22675 @code{gdb} module:
22676
22677 @findex gdb.current_progspace
22678 @defun current_progspace
22679 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
22680 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
22681 @end defun
22682
22683 @findex gdb.progspaces
22684 @defun progspaces
22685 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
22686 @end defun
22687
22688 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
22689 class.
22690
22691 @defivar Progspace filename
22692 The file name of the progspace as a string.
22693 @end defivar
22694
22695 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
22696 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22697 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22698 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22699 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22700 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22701 information.
22702 @end defivar
22703
22704 @node Objfiles In Python
22705 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
22706
22707 @cindex objfiles in python
22708 @tindex gdb.Objfile
22709 @tindex Objfile
22710 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
22711 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
22712 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
22713 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
22714 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
22715
22716 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
22717 @code{gdb} module:
22718
22719 @findex gdb.current_objfile
22720 @defun current_objfile
22721 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
22722 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
22723 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
22724 this function returns @code{None}.
22725 @end defun
22726
22727 @findex gdb.objfiles
22728 @defun objfiles
22729 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
22730 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22731 @end defun
22732
22733 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
22734 class.
22735
22736 @defivar Objfile filename
22737 The file name of the objfile as a string.
22738 @end defivar
22739
22740 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
22741 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22742 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22743 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22744 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22745 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22746 information.
22747 @end defivar
22748
22749 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
22750
22751 @defmethod Objfile is_valid
22752 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
22753 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
22754 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
22755 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
22756 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22757 @end defmethod
22758
22759 @node Frames In Python
22760 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22761
22762 @cindex frames in python
22763 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
22764 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
22765 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
22766 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
22767 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
22768 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22769
22770 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
22771 operator, like:
22772
22773 @smallexample
22774 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
22775 True
22776 @end smallexample
22777
22778 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
22779
22780 @findex gdb.selected_frame
22781 @defun selected_frame
22782 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
22783 @end defun
22784
22785 @findex gdb.newest_frame
22786 @defun newest_frame
22787 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
22788 @end defun
22789
22790 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
22791 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
22792 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
22793 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
22794 @end defun
22795
22796 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
22797
22798 @table @code
22799 @defmethod Frame is_valid
22800 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
22801 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
22802 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
22803 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22804 @end defmethod
22805
22806 @defmethod Frame name
22807 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
22808 obtained.
22809 @end defmethod
22810
22811 @defmethod Frame type
22812 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
22813 @table @code
22814 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
22815 An ordinary stack frame.
22816
22817 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
22818 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
22819 inferior function call.
22820
22821 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
22822 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
22823 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
22824
22825 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
22826 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
22827 it calls into a signal handler.
22828
22829 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
22830 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
22831
22832 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
22833 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
22834 newest frame.
22835 @end table
22836 @end defmethod
22837
22838 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
22839 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
22840 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
22841 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
22842 function to a string.
22843 @end defmethod
22844
22845 @defmethod Frame pc
22846 Returns the frame's resume address.
22847 @end defmethod
22848
22849 @defmethod Frame block
22850 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
22851 @end defmethod
22852
22853 @defmethod Frame function
22854 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
22855 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
22856 @end defmethod
22857
22858 @defmethod Frame older
22859 Return the frame that called this frame.
22860 @end defmethod
22861
22862 @defmethod Frame newer
22863 Return the frame called by this frame.
22864 @end defmethod
22865
22866 @defmethod Frame find_sal
22867 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
22868 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
22869 @end defmethod
22870
22871 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
22872 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
22873 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
22874 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
22875 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
22876 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
22877 @code{gdb.Block} object.
22878 @end defmethod
22879
22880 @defmethod Frame select
22881 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
22882 Stack}.
22883 @end defmethod
22884 @end table
22885
22886 @node Blocks In Python
22887 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22888
22889 @cindex blocks in python
22890 @tindex gdb.Block
22891
22892 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
22893 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
22894 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
22895 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
22896 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
22897 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
22898 stack.
22899
22900 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22901 module:
22902
22903 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
22904 @defun block_for_pc pc
22905 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
22906 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
22907 will return @code{None}.
22908 @end defun
22909
22910 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
22911
22912 @table @code
22913 @defmethod Block is_valid
22914 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
22915 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
22916 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
22917 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
22918 the time the method is called. This method is also made available to
22919 the Python iterator object that @code{gdb.Block} provides in an iteration
22920 context and via the Python @code{iter} built-in function.
22921 @end defmethod
22922 @end table
22923
22924 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
22925
22926 @table @code
22927 @defivar Block start
22928 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22929 @end defivar
22930
22931 @defivar Block end
22932 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22933 @end defivar
22934
22935 @defivar Block function
22936 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
22937 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
22938 attribute is not writable.
22939 @end defivar
22940
22941 @defivar Block superblock
22942 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
22943 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22944 @end defivar
22945 @end table
22946
22947 @node Symbols In Python
22948 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
22949
22950 @cindex symbols in python
22951 @tindex gdb.Symbol
22952
22953 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
22954 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
22955 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
22956 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
22957
22958 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22959 module:
22960
22961 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
22962 @defun lookup_symbol name @r{[}block@r{]} @r{[}domain@r{]}
22963 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
22964 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
22965 arguments.
22966
22967 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
22968 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
22969 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
22970 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
22971 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
22972 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
22973 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
22974 in this chapter.
22975
22976 The result is a tuple of two elements.
22977 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
22978 is not found.
22979 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
22980 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
22981 otherwise it is @code{False}.
22982 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
22983 @end defun
22984
22985 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
22986 @defun lookup_global_symbol name @r{[}domain@r{]}
22987 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
22988 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
22989
22990 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
22991 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
22992 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
22993 module and described later in this chapter.
22994
22995 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
22996 is not found.
22997 @end defun
22998
22999 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
23000
23001 @table @code
23002 @defivar Symbol symtab
23003 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
23004 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
23005 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23006 @end defivar
23007
23008 @defivar Symbol name
23009 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
23010 @end defivar
23011
23012 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
23013 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
23014 This attribute is not writable.
23015 @end defivar
23016
23017 @defivar Symbol print_name
23018 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
23019 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
23020 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
23021 @end defivar
23022
23023 @defivar Symbol addr_class
23024 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
23025 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
23026 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
23027 @end defivar
23028
23029 @defivar Symbol is_argument
23030 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
23031 @end defivar
23032
23033 @defivar Symbol is_constant
23034 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
23035 @end defivar
23036
23037 @defivar Symbol is_function
23038 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
23039 @end defivar
23040
23041 @defivar Symbol is_variable
23042 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
23043 @end defivar
23044 @end table
23045
23046 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
23047
23048 @table @code
23049 @defmethod Symbol is_valid
23050 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
23051 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
23052 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
23053 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
23054 invalid at the time the method is called.
23055 @end defmethod
23056 @end table
23057
23058 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
23059 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
23060
23061 @table @code
23062 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23063 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23064 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23065 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
23066 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
23067 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
23068 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23069 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23070 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23071 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
23072 type values.
23073 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23074 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23075 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23076 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
23077 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23078 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23079 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23080 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
23081 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23082 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23083 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23084 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
23085 contains everything minus functions and types.
23086 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
23087 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
23088 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
23089 This domain contains all functions.
23090 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23091 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23092 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23093 This domain contains all types.
23094 @end table
23095
23096 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
23097 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
23098
23099 @table @code
23100 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23101 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23102 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23103 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
23104 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
23105 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23106 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23107 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23108 Value is constant int.
23109 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23110 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23111 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23112 Value is at a fixed address.
23113 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23114 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23115 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23116 Value is in a register.
23117 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23118 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23119 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23120 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
23121 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
23122 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23123 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23124 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23125 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
23126 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
23127 offset, not the value itself.
23128 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23129 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23130 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23131 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
23132 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
23133 itself.
23134 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23135 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23136 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23137 Value is a local variable.
23138 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23139 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23140 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23141 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
23142 have this class.
23143 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23144 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23145 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23146 Value is a block.
23147 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23148 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23149 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23150 Value is a byte-sequence.
23151 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
23152 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
23153 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
23154 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
23155 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
23156 referenced.
23157 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
23158 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
23159 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
23160 The value does not actually exist in the program.
23161 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
23162 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
23163 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
23164 The value's address is a computed location.
23165 @end table
23166
23167 @node Symbol Tables In Python
23168 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
23169
23170 @cindex symbol tables in python
23171 @tindex gdb.Symtab
23172 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
23173
23174 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
23175 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
23176 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
23177 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
23178 @xref{Frames In Python}.
23179
23180 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
23181 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
23182
23183 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
23184
23185 @table @code
23186 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
23187 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
23188 This attribute is not writable.
23189 @end defivar
23190
23191 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
23192 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
23193 writable.
23194 @end defivar
23195
23196 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
23197 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
23198 attribute is not writable.
23199 @end defivar
23200 @end table
23201
23202 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
23203
23204 @table @code
23205 @defmethod Symtab_and_line is_valid
23206 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
23207 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
23208 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
23209 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
23210 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
23211 invalid at the time the method is called.
23212 @end defmethod
23213 @end table
23214
23215 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
23216
23217 @table @code
23218 @defivar Symtab filename
23219 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
23220 @end defivar
23221
23222 @defivar Symtab objfile
23223 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23224 This attribute is not writable.
23225 @end defivar
23226 @end table
23227
23228 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
23229
23230 @table @code
23231 @defmethod Symtab is_valid
23232 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
23233 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
23234 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
23235 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
23236 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23237 @end defmethod
23238
23239 @defmethod Symtab fullname
23240 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
23241 @end defmethod
23242 @end table
23243
23244 @node Breakpoints In Python
23245 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
23246
23247 @cindex breakpoints in python
23248 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
23249
23250 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
23251 class.
23252
23253 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]} @r{[}internal@r{]}
23254 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
23255 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
23256 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
23257 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
23258 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
23259 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
23260 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
23261 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
23262 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
23263 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
23264 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
23265 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
23266 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
23267 @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
23268 assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
23269 @end defmethod
23270
23271 @defop Operation {gdb.Breakpoint} stop (self)
23272 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
23273 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
23274 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
23275 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
23276 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
23277 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
23278 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
23279
23280 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
23281 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
23282 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
23283 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
23284 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
23285 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
23286
23287 Example @code{stop} implementation:
23288
23289 @smallexample
23290 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
23291 def stop (self):
23292 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
23293 if inf_val == 3:
23294 return True
23295 return False
23296 @end smallexample
23297 @end defop
23298
23299 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
23300 @code{gdb} module:
23301
23302 @table @code
23303 @findex WP_READ
23304 @findex gdb.WP_READ
23305 @item WP_READ
23306 Read only watchpoint.
23307
23308 @findex WP_WRITE
23309 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
23310 @item WP_WRITE
23311 Write only watchpoint.
23312
23313 @findex WP_ACCESS
23314 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
23315 @item WP_ACCESS
23316 Read/Write watchpoint.
23317 @end table
23318
23319 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
23320 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
23321 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
23322 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
23323 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
23324 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
23325 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
23326 @end defmethod
23327
23328 @defmethod Breakpoint delete
23329 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
23330 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
23331 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
23332 @end defmethod
23333
23334 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
23335 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
23336 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
23337 @end defivar
23338
23339 @defivar Breakpoint silent
23340 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
23341 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
23342
23343 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
23344 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
23345 @code{silent} attribute.
23346 @end defivar
23347
23348 @defivar Breakpoint thread
23349 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
23350 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
23351 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
23352 @end defivar
23353
23354 @defivar Breakpoint task
23355 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
23356 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
23357 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
23358 is writable.
23359 @end defivar
23360
23361 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
23362 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
23363 This attribute is writable.
23364 @end defivar
23365
23366 @defivar Breakpoint number
23367 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
23368 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
23369 @end defivar
23370
23371 @defivar Breakpoint type
23372 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
23373 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
23374 writable.
23375 @end defivar
23376
23377 @defivar Breakpoint visible
23378 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
23379 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
23380 attribute is not writable.
23381 @end defivar
23382
23383 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23384 module:
23385
23386 @table @code
23387 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
23388 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
23389 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
23390 Normal code breakpoint.
23391
23392 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
23393 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
23394 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
23395 Watchpoint breakpoint.
23396
23397 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23398 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23399 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23400 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
23401
23402 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23403 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23404 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23405 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
23406
23407 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23408 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23409 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23410 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
23411 @end table
23412
23413 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
23414 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
23415 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
23416 @end defivar
23417
23418 @defivar Breakpoint location
23419 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
23420 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
23421 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
23422 attribute is not writable.
23423 @end defivar
23424
23425 @defivar Breakpoint expression
23426 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
23427 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
23428 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
23429 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23430 @end defivar
23431
23432 @defivar Breakpoint condition
23433 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
23434 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
23435 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
23436 @end defivar
23437
23438 @defivar Breakpoint commands
23439 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
23440 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
23441 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
23442 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23443 @end defivar
23444
23445 @node Lazy Strings In Python
23446 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
23447
23448 @cindex lazy strings in python
23449 @tindex gdb.LazyString
23450
23451 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
23452 encoded until it is needed.
23453
23454 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
23455 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
23456 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
23457 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
23458 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
23459 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
23460 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
23461 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
23462 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
23463
23464 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
23465
23466 @defmethod LazyString value
23467 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
23468 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
23469 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
23470 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
23471 @end defmethod
23472
23473 @defivar LazyString address
23474 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
23475 writable.
23476 @end defivar
23477
23478 @defivar LazyString length
23479 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
23480 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
23481 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
23482 @end defivar
23483
23484 @defivar LazyString encoding
23485 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
23486 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
23487 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
23488 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
23489 is not writable.
23490 @end defivar
23491
23492 @defivar LazyString type
23493 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
23494 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
23495 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
23496 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
23497 writable.
23498 @end defivar
23499
23500 @node Auto-loading
23501 @subsection Auto-loading
23502 @cindex auto-loading, Python
23503
23504 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23505 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
23506 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
23507 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
23508
23509 @menu
23510 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23511 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23512 * Which flavor to choose?::
23513 @end menu
23514
23515 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
23516 debugging commands and scripts.
23517
23518 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
23519
23520 @table @code
23521 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
23522 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
23523 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
23524
23525 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
23526 @item show auto-load-scripts
23527 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
23528 @end table
23529
23530 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
23531 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
23532 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
23533 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
23534
23535 @node objfile-gdb.py file
23536 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23537 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
23538
23539 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
23540 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
23541 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
23542 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
23543 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
23544 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
23545
23546 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
23547 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
23548 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
23549 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
23550
23551 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
23552 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
23553 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
23554 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
23555 is the object file's real name, as described above.
23556
23557 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
23558 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
23559 @var{objfile} is opened.
23560 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
23561 is evaluated more than once.
23562
23563 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
23564 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23565 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23566
23567 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
23568 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
23569 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
23570 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
23571
23572 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
23573 current directory and then along the source search path
23574 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
23575 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
23576 directory is not relevant to scripts.
23577
23578 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
23579 for example, this GCC macro:
23580
23581 @example
23582 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
23583 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
23584 asm("\
23585 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
23586 .byte 1\n\
23587 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
23588 .popsection \n\
23589 ");
23590 @end example
23591
23592 @noindent
23593 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
23594
23595 @example
23596 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
23597 @end example
23598
23599 The script name may include directories if desired.
23600
23601 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
23602 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
23603
23604 @node Which flavor to choose?
23605 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
23606
23607 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
23608 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
23609
23610 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
23611
23612 @itemize @bullet
23613 @item
23614 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
23615
23616 @item
23617 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
23618
23619 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
23620 in the source search path.
23621 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
23622 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
23623
23624 @item
23625 Doesn't require source code additions.
23626 @end itemize
23627
23628 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
23629
23630 @itemize @bullet
23631 @item
23632 Works with static linking.
23633
23634 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
23635 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
23636 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
23637 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
23638
23639 @item
23640 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
23641
23642 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
23643 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
23644
23645 @item
23646 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
23647
23648 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
23649 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
23650 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
23651 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
23652 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
23653 top of the source tree to the source search path.
23654 @end itemize
23655
23656 @node Python modules
23657 @subsection Python modules
23658 @cindex python modules
23659
23660 @value{GDBN} comes with a module to assist writing Python code.
23661
23662 @menu
23663 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
23664 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
23665 @end menu
23666
23667 @node gdb.printing
23668 @subsubsection gdb.printing
23669 @cindex gdb.printing
23670
23671 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23672 pretty-printers.
23673
23674 @table @code
23675 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
23676 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
23677 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
23678 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
23679
23680 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23681 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
23682 corresponding API for the subprinters.
23683
23684 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23685 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
23686 regular expressions.
23687 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
23688
23689 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer})
23690 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
23691 @end table
23692
23693 @node gdb.types
23694 @subsubsection gdb.types
23695 @cindex gdb.types
23696
23697 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23698 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
23699
23700 @table @code
23701 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
23702 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
23703 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
23704
23705 C@t{++} example:
23706
23707 @smallexample
23708 typedef const int const_int;
23709 const_int foo (3);
23710 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
23711 int main () @{ return 0; @}
23712 @end smallexample
23713
23714 Then in gdb:
23715
23716 @smallexample
23717 (gdb) start
23718 (gdb) python import gdb.types
23719 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
23720 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
23721 int
23722 @end smallexample
23723
23724 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
23725 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
23726 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
23727
23728 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
23729 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
23730 @end table
23731
23732 @node Interpreters
23733 @chapter Command Interpreters
23734 @cindex command interpreters
23735
23736 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
23737 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
23738 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
23739
23740 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
23741 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
23742 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
23743 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
23744
23745 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
23746 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
23747 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
23748 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
23749
23750 @table @code
23751 @item console
23752 @cindex console interpreter
23753 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
23754 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
23755 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
23756
23757 @item mi
23758 @cindex mi interpreter
23759 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
23760 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
23761 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
23762 Interface}.
23763
23764 @item mi2
23765 @cindex mi2 interpreter
23766 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
23767
23768 @item mi1
23769 @cindex mi1 interpreter
23770 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
23771
23772 @end table
23773
23774 @cindex invoke another interpreter
23775 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
23776 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
23777 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
23778 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
23779 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
23780 the IDE inoperable!
23781
23782 @kindex interpreter-exec
23783 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
23784 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
23785 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
23786 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
23787
23788 @smallexample
23789 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
23790 @end smallexample
23791
23792 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
23793 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
23794
23795 @node TUI
23796 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
23797 @cindex TUI
23798 @cindex Text User Interface
23799
23800 @menu
23801 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
23802 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
23803 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
23804 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
23805 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
23806 @end menu
23807
23808 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
23809 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
23810 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
23811 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
23812 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
23813 is available.
23814
23815 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
23816 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
23817 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
23818 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
23819 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
23820 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
23821
23822 @node TUI Overview
23823 @section TUI Overview
23824
23825 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
23826
23827 @table @emph
23828 @item command
23829 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
23830 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
23831 managed using readline.
23832
23833 @item source
23834 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
23835 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
23836
23837 @item assembly
23838 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
23839
23840 @item register
23841 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
23842 when their values change.
23843 @end table
23844
23845 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
23846 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
23847 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
23848 indicates the breakpoint type:
23849
23850 @table @code
23851 @item B
23852 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23853
23854 @item b
23855 Breakpoint which was never hit.
23856
23857 @item H
23858 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23859
23860 @item h
23861 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
23862 @end table
23863
23864 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
23865
23866 @table @code
23867 @item +
23868 Breakpoint is enabled.
23869
23870 @item -
23871 Breakpoint is disabled.
23872 @end table
23873
23874 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
23875 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
23876 changes.
23877
23878 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
23879 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
23880 layouts:
23881
23882 @itemize @bullet
23883 @item
23884 source only,
23885
23886 @item
23887 assembly only,
23888
23889 @item
23890 source and assembly,
23891
23892 @item
23893 source and registers, or
23894
23895 @item
23896 assembly and registers.
23897 @end itemize
23898
23899 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
23900
23901 @table @emph
23902 @item target
23903 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
23904 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
23905
23906 @item process
23907 Gives the current process or thread number.
23908 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
23909
23910 @item function
23911 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
23912 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
23913 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
23914 the string @code{??} is displayed.
23915
23916 @item line
23917 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
23918 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
23919
23920 @item pc
23921 Indicates the current program counter address.
23922 @end table
23923
23924 @node TUI Keys
23925 @section TUI Key Bindings
23926 @cindex TUI key bindings
23927
23928 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
23929 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23930 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
23931 @end ifset
23932 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23933 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
23934 @end ifclear
23935 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
23936 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
23937
23938 @table @kbd
23939 @kindex C-x C-a
23940 @item C-x C-a
23941 @kindex C-x a
23942 @itemx C-x a
23943 @kindex C-x A
23944 @itemx C-x A
23945 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
23946 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
23947 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
23948 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
23949 The screen is then refreshed.
23950
23951 @kindex C-x 1
23952 @item C-x 1
23953 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
23954 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
23955 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
23956
23957 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
23958
23959 @kindex C-x 2
23960 @item C-x 2
23961 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
23962 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
23963 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
23964 previous layout and the new one.
23965
23966 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
23967
23968 @kindex C-x o
23969 @item C-x o
23970 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
23971 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
23972 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
23973
23974 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
23975
23976 @kindex C-x s
23977 @item C-x s
23978 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
23979 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
23980 @end table
23981
23982 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
23983
23984 @table @asis
23985 @kindex PgUp
23986 @item @key{PgUp}
23987 Scroll the active window one page up.
23988
23989 @kindex PgDn
23990 @item @key{PgDn}
23991 Scroll the active window one page down.
23992
23993 @kindex Up
23994 @item @key{Up}
23995 Scroll the active window one line up.
23996
23997 @kindex Down
23998 @item @key{Down}
23999 Scroll the active window one line down.
24000
24001 @kindex Left
24002 @item @key{Left}
24003 Scroll the active window one column left.
24004
24005 @kindex Right
24006 @item @key{Right}
24007 Scroll the active window one column right.
24008
24009 @kindex C-L
24010 @item @kbd{C-L}
24011 Refresh the screen.
24012 @end table
24013
24014 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
24015 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
24016 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
24017 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
24018 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
24019
24020 @node TUI Single Key Mode
24021 @section TUI Single Key Mode
24022 @cindex TUI single key mode
24023
24024 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
24025 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
24026 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
24027
24028 @table @kbd
24029 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24030 @item c
24031 continue
24032
24033 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24034 @item d
24035 down
24036
24037 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24038 @item f
24039 finish
24040
24041 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24042 @item n
24043 next
24044
24045 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24046 @item q
24047 exit the SingleKey mode.
24048
24049 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24050 @item r
24051 run
24052
24053 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24054 @item s
24055 step
24056
24057 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24058 @item u
24059 up
24060
24061 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24062 @item v
24063 info locals
24064
24065 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24066 @item w
24067 where
24068 @end table
24069
24070 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24071 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
24072 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
24073 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
24074 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
24075 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
24076
24077
24078 @node TUI Commands
24079 @section TUI-specific Commands
24080 @cindex TUI commands
24081
24082 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
24083 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
24084 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
24085 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
24086
24087 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
24088 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
24089 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
24090 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
24091 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
24092
24093 @table @code
24094 @item info win
24095 @kindex info win
24096 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
24097
24098 @item layout next
24099 @kindex layout
24100 Display the next layout.
24101
24102 @item layout prev
24103 Display the previous layout.
24104
24105 @item layout src
24106 Display the source window only.
24107
24108 @item layout asm
24109 Display the assembly window only.
24110
24111 @item layout split
24112 Display the source and assembly window.
24113
24114 @item layout regs
24115 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
24116
24117 @item focus next
24118 @kindex focus
24119 Make the next window active for scrolling.
24120
24121 @item focus prev
24122 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
24123
24124 @item focus src
24125 Make the source window active for scrolling.
24126
24127 @item focus asm
24128 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
24129
24130 @item focus regs
24131 Make the register window active for scrolling.
24132
24133 @item focus cmd
24134 Make the command window active for scrolling.
24135
24136 @item refresh
24137 @kindex refresh
24138 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
24139
24140 @item tui reg float
24141 @kindex tui reg
24142 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
24143
24144 @item tui reg general
24145 Show the general registers in the register window.
24146
24147 @item tui reg next
24148 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
24149 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
24150 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
24151 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
24152
24153 @item tui reg system
24154 Show the system registers in the register window.
24155
24156 @item update
24157 @kindex update
24158 Update the source window and the current execution point.
24159
24160 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
24161 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
24162 @kindex winheight
24163 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
24164 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
24165 decrease it.
24166
24167 @item tabset @var{nchars}
24168 @kindex tabset
24169 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
24170 @end table
24171
24172 @node TUI Configuration
24173 @section TUI Configuration Variables
24174 @cindex TUI configuration variables
24175
24176 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
24177
24178 @table @code
24179 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
24180 @kindex set tui border-kind
24181 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
24182 The possible values are the following:
24183 @table @code
24184 @item space
24185 Use a space character to draw the border.
24186
24187 @item ascii
24188 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
24189
24190 @item acs
24191 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
24192 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
24193 @end table
24194
24195 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
24196 @kindex set tui border-mode
24197 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
24198 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
24199 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
24200 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
24201 @table @code
24202 @item normal
24203 Use normal attributes to display the border.
24204
24205 @item standout
24206 Use standout mode.
24207
24208 @item reverse
24209 Use reverse video mode.
24210
24211 @item half
24212 Use half bright mode.
24213
24214 @item half-standout
24215 Use half bright and standout mode.
24216
24217 @item bold
24218 Use extra bright or bold mode.
24219
24220 @item bold-standout
24221 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
24222 @end table
24223 @end table
24224
24225 @node Emacs
24226 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
24227
24228 @cindex Emacs
24229 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
24230 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
24231 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
24232 @value{GDBN}.
24233
24234 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
24235 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
24236 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
24237 created Emacs buffer.
24238 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
24239
24240 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
24241 things:
24242
24243 @itemize @bullet
24244 @item
24245 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
24246 the GUD buffer.
24247
24248 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
24249 and output done by the program you are debugging.
24250
24251 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
24252 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
24253 in this way.
24254
24255 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
24256 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
24257 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
24258 stop.
24259
24260 @item
24261 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
24262
24263 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
24264 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
24265 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
24266 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
24267 and the source.
24268
24269 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
24270 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
24271 @end itemize
24272
24273 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
24274 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
24275 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
24276 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
24277
24278 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
24279 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
24280 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
24281 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
24282 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
24283 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
24284 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
24285 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
24286 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
24287
24288 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
24289 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
24290 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
24291 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
24292
24293 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
24294 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
24295 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
24296 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
24297 one you want.
24298
24299 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
24300 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
24301
24302 @table @kbd
24303 @item C-h m
24304 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
24305
24306 @item C-c C-s
24307 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
24308 update the display window to show the current file and location.
24309
24310 @item C-c C-n
24311 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
24312 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
24313 to show the current file and location.
24314
24315 @item C-c C-i
24316 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
24317 display window accordingly.
24318
24319 @item C-c C-f
24320 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
24321 @code{finish} command.
24322
24323 @item C-c C-r
24324 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
24325 command.
24326
24327 @item C-c <
24328 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
24329 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
24330 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
24331
24332 @item C-c >
24333 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
24334 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
24335 @end table
24336
24337 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
24338 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
24339
24340 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
24341 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
24342 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
24343 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
24344 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
24345 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
24346 speedbar displays watch expressions.
24347
24348 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
24349 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
24350 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
24351 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
24352 frame.
24353
24354 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
24355 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
24356 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
24357 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
24358 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
24359 to correspond properly with the code.
24360
24361 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
24362 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
24363 Emacs Manual}).
24364
24365 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
24366 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
24367 @ignore
24368 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
24369 @kindex Epoch
24370 @kindex inspect
24371
24372 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
24373 called the @code{epoch}
24374 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
24375 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
24376 each value is printed in its own window.
24377 @end ignore
24378
24379
24380 @node GDB/MI
24381 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
24382
24383 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
24384
24385 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
24386 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
24387 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
24388 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
24389 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
24390 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
24391
24392 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
24393 in the form of a reference manual.
24394
24395 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
24396 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
24397 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
24398
24399 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
24400
24401 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
24402 This chapter uses the following notation:
24403
24404 @itemize @bullet
24405 @item
24406 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
24407
24408 @item
24409 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
24410 it may or may not be given.
24411
24412 @item
24413 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24414 may repeat zero or more times.
24415
24416 @item
24417 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24418 may repeat one or more times.
24419
24420 @item
24421 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
24422 @end itemize
24423
24424 @ignore
24425 @heading Dependencies
24426 @end ignore
24427
24428 @menu
24429 * GDB/MI General Design::
24430 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
24431 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
24432 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
24433 * GDB/MI Output Records::
24434 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
24435 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
24436 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
24437 * GDB/MI Program Context::
24438 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
24439 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
24440 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
24441 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
24442 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
24443 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
24444 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
24445 * GDB/MI File Commands::
24446 @ignore
24447 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
24448 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
24449 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
24450 @end ignore
24451 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
24452 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
24453 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
24454 @end menu
24455
24456 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24457 @node GDB/MI General Design
24458 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
24459 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
24460
24461 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
24462 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
24463 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
24464 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
24465 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
24466 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
24467 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
24468 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
24469 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
24470 a command and reported as part of that command response.
24471
24472 The important examples of notifications are:
24473 @itemize @bullet
24474
24475 @item
24476 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
24477 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
24478 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
24479 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
24480 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
24481 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
24482 command itself was successfully executed.
24483
24484 @item
24485 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
24486 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
24487 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
24488 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
24489 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
24490 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
24491
24492 @item
24493 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
24494 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
24495 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
24496 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
24497 orthogonal frontend design.
24498
24499 @end itemize
24500
24501 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
24502 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
24503 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
24504 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
24505 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
24506 the user interface.
24507
24508
24509 @menu
24510 * Context management::
24511 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
24512 * Thread groups::
24513 @end menu
24514
24515 @node Context management
24516 @subsection Context management
24517
24518 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
24519 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
24520 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
24521 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
24522 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
24523 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
24524 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
24525 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
24526 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
24527
24528 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
24529 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
24530 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
24531 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
24532 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
24533 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
24534 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
24535 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
24536 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
24537 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
24538 for thread and frame to operate on.
24539
24540 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
24541 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
24542 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
24543 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
24544 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
24545 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
24546 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
24547 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
24548 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
24549 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
24550
24551 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
24552 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
24553 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
24554 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
24555 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
24556 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
24557 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
24558 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
24559 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
24560 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
24561 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
24562 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
24563 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
24564 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
24565 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
24566 @samp{--frame} options.
24567
24568 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
24569 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
24570
24571 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
24572 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
24573 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
24574 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
24575 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
24576 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
24577 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
24578 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
24579 @code{-list-target-features} command.
24580
24581 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
24582 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
24583 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
24584 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
24585 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
24586 are running.
24587
24588 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
24589 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
24590 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
24591 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
24592 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
24593 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
24594 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
24595 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
24596 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
24597 @samp{--thread} option).
24598
24599 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
24600 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
24601 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
24602 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
24603
24604 @node Thread groups
24605 @subsection Thread groups
24606 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
24607 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
24608 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
24609 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
24610 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
24611
24612 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
24613 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
24614 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
24615 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
24616 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
24617 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
24618 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
24619 into processes.
24620
24621 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
24622 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
24623 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
24624 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
24625 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
24626 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
24627 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
24628 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
24629 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
24630 the members of specific thread group.
24631
24632 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
24633 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
24634 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
24635 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
24636 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
24637 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
24638 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
24639 after attaching to that thread group.
24640
24641 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
24642 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
24643 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
24644 such thread groups.
24645
24646 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24647 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
24648 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
24649
24650 @menu
24651 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
24652 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
24653 @end menu
24654
24655 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
24656 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
24657
24658 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
24659 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
24660 @table @code
24661 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
24662 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
24663
24664 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
24665 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
24666 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
24667
24668 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
24669 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
24670 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
24671
24672 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24673 "any sequence of digits"
24674
24675 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
24676 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
24677
24678 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
24679 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
24680
24681 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
24682 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
24683
24684 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
24685 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
24686 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
24687
24688 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
24689 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
24690
24691 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24692 @code{CR | CR-LF}
24693 @end table
24694
24695 @noindent
24696 Notes:
24697
24698 @itemize @bullet
24699 @item
24700 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
24701 output is described below.
24702
24703 @item
24704 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
24705 finishes.
24706
24707 @item
24708 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
24709 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
24710 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
24711 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
24712 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
24713 @end itemize
24714
24715 Pragmatics:
24716
24717 @itemize @bullet
24718 @item
24719 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
24720
24721 @item
24722 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
24723 @end itemize
24724
24725 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
24726 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
24727
24728 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
24729 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
24730 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
24731 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
24732 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
24733 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
24734
24735 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
24736 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
24737 @var{token}.
24738
24739 @table @code
24740 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
24741 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
24742
24743 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
24744 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24745
24746 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
24747 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
24748
24749 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
24750 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
24751
24752 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
24753 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
24754
24755 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
24756 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
24757
24758 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
24759 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
24760
24761 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
24762 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24763
24764 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
24765 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
24766
24767 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
24768 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
24769 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
24770
24771 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
24772 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
24773
24774 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
24775 @code{ @var{string} }
24776
24777 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
24778 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
24779
24780 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
24781 @code{@var{c-string}}
24782
24783 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
24784 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
24785
24786 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
24787 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
24788 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
24789
24790 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
24791 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
24792
24793 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
24794 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
24795
24796 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
24797 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
24798
24799 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
24800 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
24801
24802 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24803 @code{CR | CR-LF}
24804
24805 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24806 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
24807 @end table
24808
24809 @noindent
24810 Notes:
24811
24812 @itemize @bullet
24813 @item
24814 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
24815
24816 @item
24817 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
24818 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
24819 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
24820 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
24821 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
24822 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
24823 prior command.
24824
24825 @item
24826 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24827 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
24828 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
24829 prefixed by @samp{+}.
24830
24831 @item
24832 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24833 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
24834 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
24835 @samp{*}.
24836
24837 @item
24838 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24839 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
24840 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
24841 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
24842
24843 @item
24844 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24845 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
24846 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
24847 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
24848
24849 @item
24850 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24851 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
24852 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
24853
24854 @item
24855 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24856 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
24857 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
24858 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
24859
24860 @item
24861 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24862 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
24863 @var{values}.
24864
24865
24866 @end itemize
24867
24868 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
24869 details about the various output records.
24870
24871 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24872 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
24873 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
24874
24875 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
24876 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
24877
24878 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
24879 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
24880 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
24881 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
24882 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
24883 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
24884
24885 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
24886 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
24887 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
24888
24889 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24890 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
24891 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
24892 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
24893
24894 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
24895 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
24896
24897 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
24898 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
24899 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
24900 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
24901 might change.
24902
24903 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
24904 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
24905 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
24906 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
24907
24908 @itemize @bullet
24909 @item
24910 New MI commands may be added.
24911
24912 @item
24913 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
24914
24915 @item
24916 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
24917 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
24918
24919 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
24920 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
24921
24922 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
24923 @c resolve inconsistencies.
24924 @end itemize
24925
24926 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
24927 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
24928 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
24929 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
24930 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
24931
24932 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
24933 @c version?
24934
24935 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
24936 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
24937 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
24938 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
24939 @cindex mailing lists
24940
24941 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24942 @node GDB/MI Output Records
24943 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
24944
24945 @menu
24946 * GDB/MI Result Records::
24947 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
24948 * GDB/MI Async Records::
24949 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
24950 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
24951 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
24952 @end menu
24953
24954 @node GDB/MI Result Records
24955 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
24956
24957 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24958 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
24959 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
24960 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
24961
24962 @table @code
24963 @findex ^done
24964 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
24965 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
24966 values.
24967
24968 @item "^running"
24969 @findex ^running
24970 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
24971 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
24972 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
24973 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
24974 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
24975 which threads are resumed.
24976
24977 @item "^connected"
24978 @findex ^connected
24979 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
24980
24981 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
24982 @findex ^error
24983 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
24984 error message.
24985
24986 @item "^exit"
24987 @findex ^exit
24988 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
24989
24990 @end table
24991
24992 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
24993 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
24994
24995 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
24996 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24997 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
24998 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
24999 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
25000
25001 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
25002 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
25003 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
25004 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
25005 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
25006
25007 @table @code
25008 @item "~" @var{string-output}
25009 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
25010 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
25011
25012 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
25013 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
25014 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
25015 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
25016
25017 @item "&" @var{string-output}
25018 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
25019 internals.
25020 @end table
25021
25022 @node GDB/MI Async Records
25023 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
25024
25025 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
25026 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
25027 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
25028 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
25029 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
25030 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
25031
25032 The following is the list of possible async records:
25033
25034 @table @code
25035
25036 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
25037 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
25038 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
25039 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
25040 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
25041 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
25042 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
25043 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
25044 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
25045 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
25046
25047 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
25048 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
25049 following values:
25050
25051 @table @code
25052 @item breakpoint-hit
25053 A breakpoint was reached.
25054 @item watchpoint-trigger
25055 A watchpoint was triggered.
25056 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
25057 A read watchpoint was triggered.
25058 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
25059 An access watchpoint was triggered.
25060 @item function-finished
25061 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
25062 @item location-reached
25063 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
25064 @item watchpoint-scope
25065 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
25066 @item end-stepping-range
25067 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
25068 similar CLI command was accomplished.
25069 @item exited-signalled
25070 The inferior exited because of a signal.
25071 @item exited
25072 The inferior exited.
25073 @item exited-normally
25074 The inferior exited normally.
25075 @item signal-received
25076 A signal was received by the inferior.
25077 @end table
25078
25079 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
25080 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
25081 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
25082 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
25083 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
25084 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
25085 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
25086 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
25087 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
25088 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
25089 if such information is not available.
25090
25091 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
25092 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
25093 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
25094 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
25095 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
25096 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
25097 cannot be used in any way.
25098
25099 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
25100 A thread group became associated with a running program,
25101 either because the program was just started or the thread group
25102 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
25103 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
25104 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
25105
25106 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
25107 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
25108 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
25109 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
25110 thread group.
25111
25112 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
25113 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
25114 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
25115 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
25116 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
25117
25118 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
25119 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
25120 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
25121 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
25122 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
25123 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
25124 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
25125
25126 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
25127 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
25128 that thread.
25129
25130 @item =library-loaded,...
25131 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
25132 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
25133 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
25134 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
25135 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
25136 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
25137 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
25138 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
25139 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
25140 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
25141 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
25142 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
25143 thread groups.
25144
25145 @item =library-unloaded,...
25146 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
25147 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
25148 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
25149 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
25150 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
25151 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
25152 thread groups.
25153
25154 @end table
25155
25156 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
25157 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
25158
25159 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
25160 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
25161 fields:
25162
25163 @table @code
25164 @item level
25165 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
25166 zero. This field is always present.
25167
25168 @item func
25169 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
25170 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
25171
25172 @item addr
25173 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
25174
25175 @item file
25176 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
25177 address. This field may be absent.
25178
25179 @item line
25180 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
25181 may be absent.
25182
25183 @item from
25184 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
25185 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
25186
25187 @end table
25188
25189 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
25190 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
25191
25192 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
25193 uses a tuple with the following fields:
25194
25195 @table @code
25196 @item id
25197 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
25198 always present.
25199
25200 @item target-id
25201 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
25202
25203 @item details
25204 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
25205 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
25206 frontend. This field is optional.
25207
25208 @item state
25209 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
25210 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
25211
25212 @item core
25213 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
25214 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
25215 @end table
25216
25217 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
25218 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
25219
25220 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
25221 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
25222 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
25223 the @code{exception-name} field.
25224
25225 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25226 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
25227 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
25228 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
25229
25230 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
25231 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
25232 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
25233 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
25234
25235 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
25236 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
25237
25238 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
25239
25240 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
25241 information of the breakpoint.
25242
25243 @smallexample
25244 -> -break-insert main
25245 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25246 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
25247 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
25248 <- (gdb)
25249 @end smallexample
25250
25251 @subheading Program Execution
25252
25253 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
25254 reason that execution stopped.
25255
25256 @smallexample
25257 -> -exec-run
25258 <- ^running
25259 <- (gdb)
25260 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
25261 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
25262 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
25263 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
25264 <- (gdb)
25265 -> -exec-continue
25266 <- ^running
25267 <- (gdb)
25268 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
25269 <- (gdb)
25270 @end smallexample
25271
25272 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
25273
25274 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
25275
25276 @smallexample
25277 -> (gdb)
25278 <- -gdb-exit
25279 <- ^exit
25280 @end smallexample
25281
25282 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
25283 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
25284 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
25285 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
25286 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
25287 fails to exit in reasonable time.
25288
25289 @subheading A Bad Command
25290
25291 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
25292
25293 @smallexample
25294 -> -rubbish
25295 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
25296 <- (gdb)
25297 @end smallexample
25298
25299
25300 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25301 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
25302 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
25303
25304 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
25305 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
25306
25307 @subheading Motivation
25308
25309 The motivation for this collection of commands.
25310
25311 @subheading Introduction
25312
25313 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
25314
25315 @subheading Commands
25316
25317 For each command in the block, the following is described:
25318
25319 @subsubheading Synopsis
25320
25321 @smallexample
25322 -command @var{args}@dots{}
25323 @end smallexample
25324
25325 @subsubheading Result
25326
25327 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25328
25329 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
25330
25331 @subsubheading Example
25332
25333 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
25334 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
25335
25336
25337 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25338 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
25339 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
25340
25341 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
25342 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
25343 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
25344 breakpoints.
25345
25346 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
25347 @findex -break-after
25348
25349 @subsubheading Synopsis
25350
25351 @smallexample
25352 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
25353 @end smallexample
25354
25355 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
25356 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
25357 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
25358 @samp{-break-list} command below.
25359
25360 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25361
25362 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
25363
25364 @subsubheading Example
25365
25366 @smallexample
25367 (gdb)
25368 -break-insert main
25369 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25370 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
25371 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
25372 (gdb)
25373 -break-after 1 3
25374 ~
25375 ^done
25376 (gdb)
25377 -break-list
25378 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25379 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25380 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25381 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25382 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25383 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25384 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25385 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25386 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25387 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
25388 (gdb)
25389 @end smallexample
25390
25391 @ignore
25392 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
25393 @findex -break-catch
25394 @end ignore
25395
25396 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
25397 @findex -break-commands
25398
25399 @subsubheading Synopsis
25400
25401 @smallexample
25402 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
25403 @end smallexample
25404
25405 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
25406 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
25407 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
25408 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
25409 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
25410 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
25411
25412 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25413
25414 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
25415
25416 @subsubheading Example
25417
25418 @smallexample
25419 (gdb)
25420 -break-insert main
25421 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25422 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
25423 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
25424 (gdb)
25425 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
25426 ^done
25427 (gdb)
25428 @end smallexample
25429
25430 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
25431 @findex -break-condition
25432
25433 @subsubheading Synopsis
25434
25435 @smallexample
25436 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
25437 @end smallexample
25438
25439 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
25440 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
25441 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
25442 command below).
25443
25444 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25445
25446 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
25447
25448 @subsubheading Example
25449
25450 @smallexample
25451 (gdb)
25452 -break-condition 1 1
25453 ^done
25454 (gdb)
25455 -break-list
25456 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25457 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25458 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25459 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25460 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25461 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25462 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25463 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25464 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25465 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
25466 (gdb)
25467 @end smallexample
25468
25469 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
25470 @findex -break-delete
25471
25472 @subsubheading Synopsis
25473
25474 @smallexample
25475 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25476 @end smallexample
25477
25478 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
25479 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
25480
25481 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25482
25483 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
25484
25485 @subsubheading Example
25486
25487 @smallexample
25488 (gdb)
25489 -break-delete 1
25490 ^done
25491 (gdb)
25492 -break-list
25493 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25494 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25495 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25496 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25497 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25498 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25499 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25500 body=[]@}
25501 (gdb)
25502 @end smallexample
25503
25504 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
25505 @findex -break-disable
25506
25507 @subsubheading Synopsis
25508
25509 @smallexample
25510 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25511 @end smallexample
25512
25513 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
25514 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
25515
25516 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25517
25518 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
25519
25520 @subsubheading Example
25521
25522 @smallexample
25523 (gdb)
25524 -break-disable 2
25525 ^done
25526 (gdb)
25527 -break-list
25528 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25529 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25530 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25531 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25532 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25533 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25534 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25535 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
25536 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25537 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25538 (gdb)
25539 @end smallexample
25540
25541 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
25542 @findex -break-enable
25543
25544 @subsubheading Synopsis
25545
25546 @smallexample
25547 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25548 @end smallexample
25549
25550 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
25551
25552 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25553
25554 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
25555
25556 @subsubheading Example
25557
25558 @smallexample
25559 (gdb)
25560 -break-enable 2
25561 ^done
25562 (gdb)
25563 -break-list
25564 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25565 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25566 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25567 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25568 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25569 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25570 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25571 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25572 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25573 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25574 (gdb)
25575 @end smallexample
25576
25577 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
25578 @findex -break-info
25579
25580 @subsubheading Synopsis
25581
25582 @smallexample
25583 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
25584 @end smallexample
25585
25586 @c REDUNDANT???
25587 Get information about a single breakpoint.
25588
25589 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25590
25591 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
25592
25593 @subsubheading Example
25594 N.A.
25595
25596 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
25597 @findex -break-insert
25598
25599 @subsubheading Synopsis
25600
25601 @smallexample
25602 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
25603 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
25604 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
25605 @end smallexample
25606
25607 @noindent
25608 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
25609
25610 @itemize @bullet
25611 @item function
25612 @c @item +offset
25613 @c @item -offset
25614 @c @item linenum
25615 @item filename:linenum
25616 @item filename:function
25617 @item *address
25618 @end itemize
25619
25620 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
25621
25622 @table @samp
25623 @item -t
25624 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
25625 @item -h
25626 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
25627 @item -c @var{condition}
25628 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
25629 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
25630 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
25631 @item -f
25632 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
25633 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
25634 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
25635 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
25636 cannot be parsed.
25637 @item -d
25638 Create a disabled breakpoint.
25639 @item -a
25640 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
25641 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
25642 @end table
25643
25644 @subsubheading Result
25645
25646 The result is in the form:
25647
25648 @smallexample
25649 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
25650 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
25651 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
25652 times="@var{times}"@}
25653 @end smallexample
25654
25655 @noindent
25656 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
25657 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
25658 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
25659 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
25660 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
25661 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
25662 which use the same output).
25663
25664 Note: this format is open to change.
25665 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
25666
25667 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25668
25669 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
25670 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
25671
25672 @subsubheading Example
25673
25674 @smallexample
25675 (gdb)
25676 -break-insert main
25677 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
25678 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
25679 (gdb)
25680 -break-insert -t foo
25681 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
25682 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
25683 (gdb)
25684 -break-list
25685 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25686 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25687 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25688 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25689 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25690 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25691 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25692 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25693 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
25694 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
25695 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
25696 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
25697 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
25698 (gdb)
25699 -break-insert -r foo.*
25700 ~int foo(int, int);
25701 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
25702 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
25703 (gdb)
25704 @end smallexample
25705
25706 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
25707 @findex -break-list
25708
25709 @subsubheading Synopsis
25710
25711 @smallexample
25712 -break-list
25713 @end smallexample
25714
25715 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
25716
25717 @table @samp
25718 @item Number
25719 number of the breakpoint
25720 @item Type
25721 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
25722 @item Disposition
25723 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
25724 or @samp{nokeep}
25725 @item Enabled
25726 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
25727 @item Address
25728 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
25729 @item What
25730 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
25731 name, line number
25732 @item Times
25733 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
25734 @end table
25735
25736 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
25737 @code{body} field is an empty list.
25738
25739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25740
25741 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
25742
25743 @subsubheading Example
25744
25745 @smallexample
25746 (gdb)
25747 -break-list
25748 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25749 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25750 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25751 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25752 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25753 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25754 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25755 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25756 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
25757 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25758 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25759 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
25760 (gdb)
25761 @end smallexample
25762
25763 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
25764
25765 @smallexample
25766 (gdb)
25767 -break-list
25768 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25769 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25770 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25771 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25772 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25773 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25774 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25775 body=[]@}
25776 (gdb)
25777 @end smallexample
25778
25779 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
25780 @findex -break-passcount
25781
25782 @subsubheading Synopsis
25783
25784 @smallexample
25785 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
25786 @end smallexample
25787
25788 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
25789 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
25790 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
25791 command @samp{passcount}.
25792
25793 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
25794 @findex -break-watch
25795
25796 @subsubheading Synopsis
25797
25798 @smallexample
25799 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
25800 @end smallexample
25801
25802 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
25803 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
25804 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
25805 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
25806 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
25807 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
25808 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
25809 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
25810
25811 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
25812 breakpoints inserted.
25813
25814 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25815
25816 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
25817 @samp{rwatch}.
25818
25819 @subsubheading Example
25820
25821 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
25822
25823 @smallexample
25824 (gdb)
25825 -break-watch x
25826 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
25827 (gdb)
25828 -exec-continue
25829 ^running
25830 (gdb)
25831 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
25832 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
25833 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25834 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
25835 (gdb)
25836 @end smallexample
25837
25838 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
25839 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
25840 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
25841
25842 @smallexample
25843 (gdb)
25844 -break-watch C
25845 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
25846 (gdb)
25847 -exec-continue
25848 ^running
25849 (gdb)
25850 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
25851 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25852 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25853 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25854 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25855 (gdb)
25856 -exec-continue
25857 ^running
25858 (gdb)
25859 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
25860 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25861 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25862 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25863 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25864 (gdb)
25865 @end smallexample
25866
25867 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
25868 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
25869 deleted.
25870
25871 @smallexample
25872 (gdb)
25873 -break-watch C
25874 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
25875 (gdb)
25876 -break-list
25877 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25878 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25879 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25880 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25881 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25882 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25883 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25884 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25885 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25886 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25887 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
25888 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25889 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
25890 (gdb)
25891 -exec-continue
25892 ^running
25893 (gdb)
25894 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
25895 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25896 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25897 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25898 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25899 (gdb)
25900 -break-list
25901 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25902 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25903 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25904 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25905 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25906 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25907 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25908 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25909 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25910 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25911 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
25912 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25913 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
25914 (gdb)
25915 -exec-continue
25916 ^running
25917 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
25918 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25919 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25920 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25921 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25922 (gdb)
25923 -break-list
25924 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25925 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25926 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25927 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25928 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25929 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25930 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25931 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25932 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25933 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25934 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
25935 times="1"@}]@}
25936 (gdb)
25937 @end smallexample
25938
25939 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25940 @node GDB/MI Program Context
25941 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
25942
25943 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
25944 @findex -exec-arguments
25945
25946
25947 @subsubheading Synopsis
25948
25949 @smallexample
25950 -exec-arguments @var{args}
25951 @end smallexample
25952
25953 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
25954 @samp{-exec-run}.
25955
25956 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25957
25958 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
25959
25960 @subsubheading Example
25961
25962 @smallexample
25963 (gdb)
25964 -exec-arguments -v word
25965 ^done
25966 (gdb)
25967 @end smallexample
25968
25969
25970 @ignore
25971 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
25972 @findex -exec-show-arguments
25973
25974 @subsubheading Synopsis
25975
25976 @smallexample
25977 -exec-show-arguments
25978 @end smallexample
25979
25980 Print the arguments of the program.
25981
25982 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25983
25984 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
25985
25986 @subsubheading Example
25987 N.A.
25988 @end ignore
25989
25990
25991 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
25992 @findex -environment-cd
25993
25994 @subsubheading Synopsis
25995
25996 @smallexample
25997 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
25998 @end smallexample
25999
26000 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
26001
26002 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26003
26004 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
26005
26006 @subsubheading Example
26007
26008 @smallexample
26009 (gdb)
26010 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
26011 ^done
26012 (gdb)
26013 @end smallexample
26014
26015
26016 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
26017 @findex -environment-directory
26018
26019 @subsubheading Synopsis
26020
26021 @smallexample
26022 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
26023 @end smallexample
26024
26025 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
26026 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
26027 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
26028 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
26029 occurs as normal.
26030 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
26031 multiple directories in a single command
26032 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
26033 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
26034 If blanks are needed as
26035 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
26036 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
26037 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
26038 character must not be used
26039 in any directory name.
26040 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
26041
26042 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26043
26044 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
26045
26046 @subsubheading Example
26047
26048 @smallexample
26049 (gdb)
26050 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
26051 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
26052 (gdb)
26053 -environment-directory ""
26054 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
26055 (gdb)
26056 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
26057 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
26058 (gdb)
26059 -environment-directory -r
26060 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
26061 (gdb)
26062 @end smallexample
26063
26064
26065 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
26066 @findex -environment-path
26067
26068 @subsubheading Synopsis
26069
26070 @smallexample
26071 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
26072 @end smallexample
26073
26074 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
26075 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
26076 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
26077 supplied in addition to the
26078 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
26079 occurs as normal.
26080 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
26081 multiple directories in a single command
26082 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
26083 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
26084 If blanks are needed as
26085 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
26086 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
26087 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
26088 character must not be used
26089 in any directory name.
26090 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
26091
26092
26093 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26094
26095 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
26096
26097 @subsubheading Example
26098
26099 @smallexample
26100 (gdb)
26101 -environment-path
26102 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
26103 (gdb)
26104 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
26105 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
26106 (gdb)
26107 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
26108 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
26109 (gdb)
26110 @end smallexample
26111
26112
26113 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
26114 @findex -environment-pwd
26115
26116 @subsubheading Synopsis
26117
26118 @smallexample
26119 -environment-pwd
26120 @end smallexample
26121
26122 Show the current working directory.
26123
26124 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26125
26126 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
26127
26128 @subsubheading Example
26129
26130 @smallexample
26131 (gdb)
26132 -environment-pwd
26133 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
26134 (gdb)
26135 @end smallexample
26136
26137 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26138 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
26139 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
26140
26141
26142 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
26143 @findex -thread-info
26144
26145 @subsubheading Synopsis
26146
26147 @smallexample
26148 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
26149 @end smallexample
26150
26151 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
26152 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
26153 threads. When printing information about all threads,
26154 also reports the current thread.
26155
26156 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26157
26158 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
26159 about all threads.
26160
26161 @subsubheading Result
26162
26163 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
26164 defined for a given thread:
26165
26166 @table @samp
26167 @item current
26168 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
26169
26170 @item id
26171 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
26172
26173 @item target-id
26174 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
26175
26176 @item details
26177 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
26178 field is optional.
26179
26180 @item name
26181 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
26182 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
26183 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
26184 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
26185 field is omitted.
26186
26187 @item frame
26188 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
26189
26190 @item state
26191 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
26192 values:
26193
26194 @table @code
26195 @item stopped
26196 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
26197 threads.
26198
26199 @item running
26200 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
26201 threads.
26202
26203 @end table
26204
26205 @item core
26206 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
26207 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
26208
26209 @end table
26210
26211 @subsubheading Example
26212
26213 @smallexample
26214 -thread-info
26215 ^done,threads=[
26216 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
26217 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
26218 args=[]@},state="running"@},
26219 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
26220 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
26221 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
26222 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
26223 state="running"@}],
26224 current-thread-id="1"
26225 (gdb)
26226 @end smallexample
26227
26228 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
26229 @findex -thread-list-ids
26230
26231 @subsubheading Synopsis
26232
26233 @smallexample
26234 -thread-list-ids
26235 @end smallexample
26236
26237 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
26238 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
26239
26240 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
26241 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
26242
26243 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26244
26245 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
26246
26247 @subsubheading Example
26248
26249 @smallexample
26250 (gdb)
26251 -thread-list-ids
26252 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
26253 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
26254 (gdb)
26255 @end smallexample
26256
26257
26258 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
26259 @findex -thread-select
26260
26261 @subsubheading Synopsis
26262
26263 @smallexample
26264 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
26265 @end smallexample
26266
26267 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
26268 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
26269
26270 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
26271 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
26272
26273 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26274
26275 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
26276
26277 @subsubheading Example
26278
26279 @smallexample
26280 (gdb)
26281 -exec-next
26282 ^running
26283 (gdb)
26284 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
26285 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
26286 (gdb)
26287 -thread-list-ids
26288 ^done,
26289 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
26290 number-of-threads="3"
26291 (gdb)
26292 -thread-select 3
26293 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
26294 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
26295 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
26296 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
26297 (gdb)
26298 @end smallexample
26299
26300 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26301 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
26302 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
26303
26304 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
26305 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
26306 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
26307 other cases.
26308
26309 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
26310 @findex -exec-continue
26311
26312 @subsubheading Synopsis
26313
26314 @smallexample
26315 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
26316 @end smallexample
26317
26318 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
26319 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
26320 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
26321 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
26322 @itemize @bullet
26323 @item
26324 breakpoints or watchpoints
26325 @item
26326 signals or exceptions
26327 @item
26328 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
26329 @item
26330 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
26331 @end itemize
26332 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
26333 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
26334 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
26335 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
26336 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
26337 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
26338
26339 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26340
26341 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
26342
26343 @subsubheading Example
26344
26345 @smallexample
26346 -exec-continue
26347 ^running
26348 (gdb)
26349 @@Hello world
26350 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
26351 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
26352 line="13"@}
26353 (gdb)
26354 @end smallexample
26355
26356
26357 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
26358 @findex -exec-finish
26359
26360 @subsubheading Synopsis
26361
26362 @smallexample
26363 -exec-finish [--reverse]
26364 @end smallexample
26365
26366 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
26367 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
26368 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
26369 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
26370 function was called.
26371
26372 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26373
26374 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
26375
26376 @subsubheading Example
26377
26378 Function returning @code{void}.
26379
26380 @smallexample
26381 -exec-finish
26382 ^running
26383 (gdb)
26384 @@hello from foo
26385 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
26386 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
26387 (gdb)
26388 @end smallexample
26389
26390 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
26391 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
26392 value itself.
26393
26394 @smallexample
26395 -exec-finish
26396 ^running
26397 (gdb)
26398 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
26399 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
26400 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26401 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
26402 (gdb)
26403 @end smallexample
26404
26405
26406 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
26407 @findex -exec-interrupt
26408
26409 @subsubheading Synopsis
26410
26411 @smallexample
26412 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
26413 @end smallexample
26414
26415 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
26416 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
26417 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
26418 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
26419 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
26420
26421 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
26422 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
26423 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
26424 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
26425
26426 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
26427 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
26428 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
26429 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
26430
26431 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26432
26433 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
26434
26435 @subsubheading Example
26436
26437 @smallexample
26438 (gdb)
26439 111-exec-continue
26440 111^running
26441
26442 (gdb)
26443 222-exec-interrupt
26444 222^done
26445 (gdb)
26446 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
26447 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26448 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
26449 (gdb)
26450
26451 (gdb)
26452 -exec-interrupt
26453 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
26454 (gdb)
26455 @end smallexample
26456
26457 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
26458 @findex -exec-jump
26459
26460 @subsubheading Synopsis
26461
26462 @smallexample
26463 -exec-jump @var{location}
26464 @end smallexample
26465
26466 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
26467 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
26468 different forms of @var{location}.
26469
26470 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26471
26472 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
26473
26474 @subsubheading Example
26475
26476 @smallexample
26477 -exec-jump foo.c:10
26478 *running,thread-id="all"
26479 ^running
26480 @end smallexample
26481
26482
26483 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
26484 @findex -exec-next
26485
26486 @subsubheading Synopsis
26487
26488 @smallexample
26489 -exec-next [--reverse]
26490 @end smallexample
26491
26492 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26493 of the next source line is reached.
26494
26495 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26496 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
26497 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
26498 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
26499 source line where the function was called.
26500
26501
26502 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26503
26504 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
26505
26506 @subsubheading Example
26507
26508 @smallexample
26509 -exec-next
26510 ^running
26511 (gdb)
26512 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
26513 (gdb)
26514 @end smallexample
26515
26516
26517 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
26518 @findex -exec-next-instruction
26519
26520 @subsubheading Synopsis
26521
26522 @smallexample
26523 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
26524 @end smallexample
26525
26526 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
26527 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
26528 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
26529 printed as well.
26530
26531 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26532 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
26533 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
26534 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
26535 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
26536
26537 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26538
26539 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
26540
26541 @subsubheading Example
26542
26543 @smallexample
26544 (gdb)
26545 -exec-next-instruction
26546 ^running
26547
26548 (gdb)
26549 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26550 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
26551 (gdb)
26552 @end smallexample
26553
26554
26555 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
26556 @findex -exec-return
26557
26558 @subsubheading Synopsis
26559
26560 @smallexample
26561 -exec-return
26562 @end smallexample
26563
26564 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
26565 Displays the new current frame.
26566
26567 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26568
26569 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
26570
26571 @subsubheading Example
26572
26573 @smallexample
26574 (gdb)
26575 200-break-insert callee4
26576 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
26577 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26578 (gdb)
26579 000-exec-run
26580 000^running
26581 (gdb)
26582 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26583 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26584 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26585 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26586 (gdb)
26587 205-break-delete
26588 205^done
26589 (gdb)
26590 111-exec-return
26591 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
26592 args=[@{name="strarg",
26593 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26594 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26595 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26596 (gdb)
26597 @end smallexample
26598
26599
26600 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
26601 @findex -exec-run
26602
26603 @subsubheading Synopsis
26604
26605 @smallexample
26606 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
26607 @end smallexample
26608
26609 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
26610 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
26611 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
26612 the program has exited exceptionally.
26613
26614 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
26615 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
26616 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
26617 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
26618
26619 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26620
26621 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
26622
26623 @subsubheading Examples
26624
26625 @smallexample
26626 (gdb)
26627 -break-insert main
26628 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26629 (gdb)
26630 -exec-run
26631 ^running
26632 (gdb)
26633 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26634 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
26635 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26636 (gdb)
26637 @end smallexample
26638
26639 @noindent
26640 Program exited normally:
26641
26642 @smallexample
26643 (gdb)
26644 -exec-run
26645 ^running
26646 (gdb)
26647 x = 55
26648 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26649 (gdb)
26650 @end smallexample
26651
26652 @noindent
26653 Program exited exceptionally:
26654
26655 @smallexample
26656 (gdb)
26657 -exec-run
26658 ^running
26659 (gdb)
26660 x = 55
26661 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
26662 (gdb)
26663 @end smallexample
26664
26665 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
26666 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
26667
26668 @smallexample
26669 (gdb)
26670 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
26671 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
26672 @end smallexample
26673
26674
26675 @c @subheading -exec-signal
26676
26677
26678 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
26679 @findex -exec-step
26680
26681 @subsubheading Synopsis
26682
26683 @smallexample
26684 -exec-step [--reverse]
26685 @end smallexample
26686
26687 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26688 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
26689 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
26690 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
26691 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
26692 previously executed source line.
26693
26694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26695
26696 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
26697
26698 @subsubheading Example
26699
26700 Stepping into a function:
26701
26702 @smallexample
26703 -exec-step
26704 ^running
26705 (gdb)
26706 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26707 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
26708 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
26709 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
26710 (gdb)
26711 @end smallexample
26712
26713 Regular stepping:
26714
26715 @smallexample
26716 -exec-step
26717 ^running
26718 (gdb)
26719 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
26720 (gdb)
26721 @end smallexample
26722
26723
26724 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
26725 @findex -exec-step-instruction
26726
26727 @subsubheading Synopsis
26728
26729 @smallexample
26730 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
26731 @end smallexample
26732
26733 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
26734 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
26735 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
26736 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
26737 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
26738 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
26739 as well.
26740
26741 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26742
26743 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
26744
26745 @subsubheading Example
26746
26747 @smallexample
26748 (gdb)
26749 -exec-step-instruction
26750 ^running
26751
26752 (gdb)
26753 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26754 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26755 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26756 (gdb)
26757 -exec-step-instruction
26758 ^running
26759
26760 (gdb)
26761 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26762 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26763 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26764 (gdb)
26765 @end smallexample
26766
26767
26768 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
26769 @findex -exec-until
26770
26771 @subsubheading Synopsis
26772
26773 @smallexample
26774 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
26775 @end smallexample
26776
26777 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
26778 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
26779 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
26780 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
26781
26782 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26783
26784 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
26785
26786 @subsubheading Example
26787
26788 @smallexample
26789 (gdb)
26790 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
26791 ^running
26792 (gdb)
26793 x = 55
26794 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
26795 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
26796 (gdb)
26797 @end smallexample
26798
26799 @ignore
26800 @subheading -file-clear
26801 Is this going away????
26802 @end ignore
26803
26804 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26805 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
26806 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
26807
26808
26809 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
26810 @findex -stack-info-frame
26811
26812 @subsubheading Synopsis
26813
26814 @smallexample
26815 -stack-info-frame
26816 @end smallexample
26817
26818 Get info on the selected frame.
26819
26820 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26821
26822 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
26823 (without arguments).
26824
26825 @subsubheading Example
26826
26827 @smallexample
26828 (gdb)
26829 -stack-info-frame
26830 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26831 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26832 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
26833 (gdb)
26834 @end smallexample
26835
26836 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
26837 @findex -stack-info-depth
26838
26839 @subsubheading Synopsis
26840
26841 @smallexample
26842 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
26843 @end smallexample
26844
26845 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
26846 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
26847
26848 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26849
26850 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
26851
26852 @subsubheading Example
26853
26854 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
26855
26856 @smallexample
26857 (gdb)
26858 -stack-info-depth
26859 ^done,depth="12"
26860 (gdb)
26861 -stack-info-depth 4
26862 ^done,depth="4"
26863 (gdb)
26864 -stack-info-depth 12
26865 ^done,depth="12"
26866 (gdb)
26867 -stack-info-depth 11
26868 ^done,depth="11"
26869 (gdb)
26870 -stack-info-depth 13
26871 ^done,depth="12"
26872 (gdb)
26873 @end smallexample
26874
26875 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
26876 @findex -stack-list-arguments
26877
26878 @subsubheading Synopsis
26879
26880 @smallexample
26881 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
26882 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26883 @end smallexample
26884
26885 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
26886 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
26887 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
26888 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
26889 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
26890 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
26891 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
26892 which case only existing frames will be returned.
26893
26894 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26895 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26896 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26897 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26898 structures and unions.
26899
26900 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
26901 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26902
26903 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26904
26905 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
26906 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
26907 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
26908
26909 @subsubheading Example
26910
26911 @smallexample
26912 (gdb)
26913 -stack-list-frames
26914 ^done,
26915 stack=[
26916 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26917 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26918 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
26919 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26920 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26921 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
26922 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
26923 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26924 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
26925 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
26926 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26927 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
26928 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
26929 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26930 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
26931 (gdb)
26932 -stack-list-arguments 0
26933 ^done,
26934 stack-args=[
26935 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26936 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
26937 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
26938 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
26939 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26940 (gdb)
26941 -stack-list-arguments 1
26942 ^done,
26943 stack-args=[
26944 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26945 frame=@{level="1",
26946 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26947 frame=@{level="2",args=[
26948 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26949 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26950 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
26951 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26952 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
26953 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
26954 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26955 (gdb)
26956 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
26957 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
26958 (gdb)
26959 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
26960 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
26961 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26962 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
26963 (gdb)
26964 @end smallexample
26965
26966 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
26967
26968
26969 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
26970 @findex -stack-list-frames
26971
26972 @subsubheading Synopsis
26973
26974 @smallexample
26975 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26976 @end smallexample
26977
26978 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
26979 following info:
26980
26981 @table @samp
26982 @item @var{level}
26983 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
26984 @item @var{addr}
26985 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
26986 @item @var{func}
26987 Function name.
26988 @item @var{file}
26989 File name of the source file where the function lives.
26990 @item @var{fullname}
26991 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
26992 @item @var{line}
26993 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
26994 @item @var{from}
26995 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
26996 if the frame's function is not known.
26997 @end table
26998
26999 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
27000 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
27001 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
27002 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
27003 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
27004 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
27005 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
27006
27007 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27008
27009 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
27010
27011 @subsubheading Example
27012
27013 Full stack backtrace:
27014
27015 @smallexample
27016 (gdb)
27017 -stack-list-frames
27018 ^done,stack=
27019 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
27020 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
27021 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27022 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27023 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27024 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27025 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27026 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27027 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27028 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27029 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27030 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27031 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27032 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27033 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27034 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27035 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27036 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27037 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27038 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27039 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27040 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27041 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
27042 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
27043 (gdb)
27044 @end smallexample
27045
27046 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
27047
27048 @smallexample
27049 (gdb)
27050 -stack-list-frames 3 5
27051 ^done,stack=
27052 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27053 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27054 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27055 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27056 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27057 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
27058 (gdb)
27059 @end smallexample
27060
27061 Show a single frame:
27062
27063 @smallexample
27064 (gdb)
27065 -stack-list-frames 3 3
27066 ^done,stack=
27067 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
27068 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
27069 (gdb)
27070 @end smallexample
27071
27072
27073 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
27074 @findex -stack-list-locals
27075
27076 @subsubheading Synopsis
27077
27078 @smallexample
27079 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
27080 @end smallexample
27081
27082 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
27083 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
27084 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
27085 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
27086 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
27087 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
27088 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
27089 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
27090 more detail.
27091
27092 This command is deprecated in favor of the
27093 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
27094
27095 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27096
27097 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
27098
27099 @subsubheading Example
27100
27101 @smallexample
27102 (gdb)
27103 -stack-list-locals 0
27104 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
27105 (gdb)
27106 -stack-list-locals --all-values
27107 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
27108 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
27109 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
27110 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
27111 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
27112 (gdb)
27113 @end smallexample
27114
27115 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
27116 @findex -stack-list-variables
27117
27118 @subsubheading Synopsis
27119
27120 @smallexample
27121 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
27122 @end smallexample
27123
27124 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
27125 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
27126 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
27127 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
27128 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
27129 structures and unions.
27130
27131 @subsubheading Example
27132
27133 @smallexample
27134 (gdb)
27135 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
27136 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
27137 (gdb)
27138 @end smallexample
27139
27140
27141 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
27142 @findex -stack-select-frame
27143
27144 @subsubheading Synopsis
27145
27146 @smallexample
27147 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
27148 @end smallexample
27149
27150 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
27151 the stack.
27152
27153 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
27154 option to every command.
27155
27156 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27157
27158 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
27159 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
27160
27161 @subsubheading Example
27162
27163 @smallexample
27164 (gdb)
27165 -stack-select-frame 2
27166 ^done
27167 (gdb)
27168 @end smallexample
27169
27170 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27171 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
27172 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
27173
27174 @ignore
27175
27176 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
27177
27178 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
27179 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
27180 used by @code{Insight}.
27181
27182 The two main reasons for that are:
27183
27184 @enumerate 1
27185 @item
27186 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
27187
27188 @item
27189 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
27190 now).
27191 @end enumerate
27192
27193 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
27194 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
27195 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
27196 hints about their use.
27197
27198 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
27199 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
27200 least, the following operations:
27201
27202 @itemize @bullet
27203 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
27204 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
27205 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
27206 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
27207 @end itemize
27208
27209 @end ignore
27210
27211 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
27212
27213 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
27214
27215 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
27216 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
27217 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
27218 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
27219 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
27220 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
27221 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
27222 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
27223 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
27224 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
27225 object, or to change display format.
27226
27227 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
27228 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
27229 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
27230 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
27231 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
27232 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
27233 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
27234 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
27235 child will be created.
27236
27237 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
27238 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
27239 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
27240 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
27241 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
27242
27243 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
27244 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
27245 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
27246 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
27247 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
27248 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
27249 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
27250 variables that frontend has created.
27251
27252 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
27253 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
27254 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
27255 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
27256 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
27257 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
27258 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
27259 implicitly updated.
27260
27261 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
27262 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
27263 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
27264 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
27265 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
27266 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
27267 frame. Consider this example:
27268
27269 @smallexample
27270 void do_work(...)
27271 @{
27272 struct work_state state;
27273
27274 if (...)
27275 do_work(...);
27276 @}
27277 @end smallexample
27278
27279 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
27280 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
27281 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
27282 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
27283 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
27284
27285 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
27286 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
27287 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
27288 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
27289 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
27290 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
27291
27292 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
27293 access this functionality:
27294
27295 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
27296 @item @strong{Operation}
27297 @tab @strong{Description}
27298
27299 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
27300 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
27301 @item @code{-var-create}
27302 @tab create a variable object
27303 @item @code{-var-delete}
27304 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
27305 @item @code{-var-set-format}
27306 @tab set the display format of this variable
27307 @item @code{-var-show-format}
27308 @tab show the display format of this variable
27309 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
27310 @tab tells how many children this object has
27311 @item @code{-var-list-children}
27312 @tab return a list of the object's children
27313 @item @code{-var-info-type}
27314 @tab show the type of this variable object
27315 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
27316 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
27317 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
27318 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
27319 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
27320 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
27321 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
27322 @tab get the value of this variable
27323 @item @code{-var-assign}
27324 @tab set the value of this variable
27325 @item @code{-var-update}
27326 @tab update the variable and its children
27327 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
27328 @tab set frozeness attribute
27329 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
27330 @tab set range of children to display on update
27331 @end multitable
27332
27333 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
27334 how it can be used.
27335
27336 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
27337
27338 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
27339 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
27340
27341 @smallexample
27342 -enable-pretty-printing
27343 @end smallexample
27344
27345 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
27346 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
27347 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
27348 request that this functionality be enabled.
27349
27350 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
27351
27352 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
27353 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
27354
27355 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
27356 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
27357
27358 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
27359 @findex -var-create
27360
27361 @subsubheading Synopsis
27362
27363 @smallexample
27364 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
27365 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
27366 @end smallexample
27367
27368 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
27369 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
27370 register.
27371
27372 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
27373 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
27374 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
27375 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
27376 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
27377
27378 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
27379 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
27380 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
27381 object must be created.
27382
27383 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
27384 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
27385
27386 @itemize @bullet
27387 @item
27388 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
27389
27390 @item
27391 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
27392
27393 @item
27394 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
27395 @end itemize
27396
27397 @cindex dynamic varobj
27398 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
27399 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
27400 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
27401 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
27402 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
27403 compatibility for existing clients.
27404
27405 @subsubheading Result
27406
27407 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
27408 are:
27409
27410 @table @samp
27411 @item name
27412 The name of the varobj.
27413
27414 @item numchild
27415 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
27416 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
27417 @samp{has_more} attribute.
27418
27419 @item value
27420 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
27421 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
27422 will not be interesting.
27423
27424 @item type
27425 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
27426 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
27427
27428 @item thread-id
27429 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
27430 thread's identifier.
27431
27432 @item has_more
27433 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
27434 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
27435
27436 @item dynamic
27437 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
27438 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
27439 then this attribute will not be present.
27440
27441 @item displayhint
27442 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
27443 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
27444 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27445 @end table
27446
27447 Typical output will look like this:
27448
27449 @smallexample
27450 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
27451 has_more="@var{has_more}"
27452 @end smallexample
27453
27454
27455 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
27456 @findex -var-delete
27457
27458 @subsubheading Synopsis
27459
27460 @smallexample
27461 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
27462 @end smallexample
27463
27464 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
27465 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
27466
27467 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
27468
27469
27470 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
27471 @findex -var-set-format
27472
27473 @subsubheading Synopsis
27474
27475 @smallexample
27476 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
27477 @end smallexample
27478
27479 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
27480 @var{format-spec}.
27481
27482 @anchor{-var-set-format}
27483 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
27484
27485 @smallexample
27486 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
27487 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
27488 @end smallexample
27489
27490 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
27491 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
27492 for pointers, etc.).
27493
27494 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
27495 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
27496
27497 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
27498 @findex -var-show-format
27499
27500 @subsubheading Synopsis
27501
27502 @smallexample
27503 -var-show-format @var{name}
27504 @end smallexample
27505
27506 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
27507
27508 @smallexample
27509 @var{format} @expansion{}
27510 @var{format-spec}
27511 @end smallexample
27512
27513
27514 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
27515 @findex -var-info-num-children
27516
27517 @subsubheading Synopsis
27518
27519 @smallexample
27520 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
27521 @end smallexample
27522
27523 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
27524
27525 @smallexample
27526 numchild=@var{n}
27527 @end smallexample
27528
27529 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
27530 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
27531 be available.
27532
27533
27534 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
27535 @findex -var-list-children
27536
27537 @subsubheading Synopsis
27538
27539 @smallexample
27540 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
27541 @end smallexample
27542 @anchor{-var-list-children}
27543
27544 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
27545 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
27546 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
27547 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
27548 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
27549 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
27550 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
27551 and unions.
27552
27553 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
27554 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
27555 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
27556 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
27557 reported.
27558
27559 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
27560 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
27561 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
27562 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
27563 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
27564 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
27565 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
27566 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
27567 the visible items.
27568
27569 For each child the following results are returned:
27570
27571 @table @var
27572
27573 @item name
27574 Name of the variable object created for this child.
27575
27576 @item exp
27577 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
27578 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
27579
27580 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
27581 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
27582
27583 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
27584 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
27585 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
27586 type and value are not present.
27587
27588 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
27589 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
27590 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
27591
27592 @item numchild
27593 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
27594 0.
27595
27596 @item type
27597 The type of the child.
27598
27599 @item value
27600 If values were requested, this is the value.
27601
27602 @item thread-id
27603 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
27604 Otherwise this result is not present.
27605
27606 @item frozen
27607 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
27608 @end table
27609
27610 The result may have its own attributes:
27611
27612 @table @samp
27613 @item displayhint
27614 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
27615 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
27616 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27617
27618 @item has_more
27619 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
27620 remaining after the end of the selected range.
27621 @end table
27622
27623 @subsubheading Example
27624
27625 @smallexample
27626 (gdb)
27627 -var-list-children n
27628 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27629 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27630 (gdb)
27631 -var-list-children --all-values n
27632 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27633 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27634 @end smallexample
27635
27636
27637 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
27638 @findex -var-info-type
27639
27640 @subsubheading Synopsis
27641
27642 @smallexample
27643 -var-info-type @var{name}
27644 @end smallexample
27645
27646 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
27647 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
27648 @value{GDBN} CLI:
27649
27650 @smallexample
27651 type=@var{typename}
27652 @end smallexample
27653
27654
27655 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
27656 @findex -var-info-expression
27657
27658 @subsubheading Synopsis
27659
27660 @smallexample
27661 -var-info-expression @var{name}
27662 @end smallexample
27663
27664 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
27665 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
27666 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
27667
27668 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
27669 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
27670
27671 @smallexample
27672 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
27673 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
27674 @end smallexample
27675
27676 @noindent
27677 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
27678
27679 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
27680 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
27681 is of limited use.
27682
27683 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
27684 @findex -var-info-path-expression
27685
27686 @subsubheading Synopsis
27687
27688 @smallexample
27689 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
27690 @end smallexample
27691
27692 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
27693 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
27694 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
27695 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
27696 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
27697 watchpoint from a variable object.
27698
27699 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
27700 and will give an error when invoked on one.
27701
27702 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
27703 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
27704 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
27705 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
27706 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
27707 @smallexample
27708 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
27709 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
27710 @end smallexample
27711
27712 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
27713 @findex -var-show-attributes
27714
27715 @subsubheading Synopsis
27716
27717 @smallexample
27718 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
27719 @end smallexample
27720
27721 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
27722
27723 @smallexample
27724 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
27725 @end smallexample
27726
27727 @noindent
27728 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
27729
27730 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
27731 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
27732
27733 @subsubheading Synopsis
27734
27735 @smallexample
27736 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
27737 @end smallexample
27738
27739 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
27740 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
27741 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
27742 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
27743 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
27744 the current display format will be used. The current display format
27745 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
27746
27747 @smallexample
27748 value=@var{value}
27749 @end smallexample
27750
27751 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
27752 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
27753
27754 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
27755 @findex -var-assign
27756
27757 @subsubheading Synopsis
27758
27759 @smallexample
27760 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
27761 @end smallexample
27762
27763 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
27764 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
27765 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
27766 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
27767
27768 @subsubheading Example
27769
27770 @smallexample
27771 (gdb)
27772 -var-assign var1 3
27773 ^done,value="3"
27774 (gdb)
27775 -var-update *
27776 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
27777 (gdb)
27778 @end smallexample
27779
27780 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
27781 @findex -var-update
27782
27783 @subsubheading Synopsis
27784
27785 @smallexample
27786 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
27787 @end smallexample
27788
27789 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
27790 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
27791 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
27792 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
27793 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
27794 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
27795 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
27796 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
27797 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
27798 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
27799 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
27800 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
27801 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
27802
27803 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
27804 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
27805 diagnostic.
27806
27807 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
27808 only the selected range of children will be reported.
27809
27810 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
27811 @samp{changelist}.
27812
27813 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
27814
27815 @table @samp
27816 @item name
27817 The name of the varobj.
27818
27819 @item value
27820 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
27821 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
27822
27823 @item in_scope
27824 @anchor{-var-update}
27825 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
27826
27827 @table @code
27828 @item "true"
27829 The variable object's current value is valid.
27830
27831 @item "false"
27832 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
27833 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
27834 scope.
27835
27836 @item "invalid"
27837 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
27838 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
27839 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
27840 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
27841 objects.
27842 @end table
27843
27844 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
27845 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
27846
27847 @item type_changed
27848 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
27849 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
27850 be @samp{false}.
27851
27852 @item new_type
27853 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
27854 hold the new type.
27855
27856 @item new_num_children
27857 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
27858 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
27859
27860 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
27861 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
27862 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
27863 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
27864 children which may be available.
27865
27866 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
27867 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
27868 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
27869 only happen at the end of the update range).
27870
27871 @item displayhint
27872 The display hint, if any.
27873
27874 @item has_more
27875 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
27876 available outside the varobj's update range.
27877
27878 @item dynamic
27879 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
27880 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
27881 then this attribute will not be present.
27882
27883 @item new_children
27884 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
27885 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
27886 be listed in this attribute.
27887 @end table
27888
27889 @subsubheading Example
27890
27891 @smallexample
27892 (gdb)
27893 -var-assign var1 3
27894 ^done,value="3"
27895 (gdb)
27896 -var-update --all-values var1
27897 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
27898 type_changed="false"@}]
27899 (gdb)
27900 @end smallexample
27901
27902 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
27903 @findex -var-set-frozen
27904 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
27905
27906 @subsubheading Synopsis
27907
27908 @smallexample
27909 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
27910 @end smallexample
27911
27912 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
27913 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
27914 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
27915 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
27916 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
27917 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
27918 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
27919 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
27920 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
27921 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
27922 @code{-var-update} does.
27923
27924 @subsubheading Example
27925
27926 @smallexample
27927 (gdb)
27928 -var-set-frozen V 1
27929 ^done
27930 (gdb)
27931 @end smallexample
27932
27933 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
27934 @findex -var-set-update-range
27935 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
27936
27937 @subsubheading Synopsis
27938
27939 @smallexample
27940 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
27941 @end smallexample
27942
27943 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
27944 @code{-var-update}.
27945
27946 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
27947 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
27948 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
27949 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
27950
27951 @subsubheading Example
27952
27953 @smallexample
27954 (gdb)
27955 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
27956 ^done
27957 @end smallexample
27958
27959 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
27960 @findex -var-set-visualizer
27961 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
27962
27963 @subsubheading Synopsis
27964
27965 @smallexample
27966 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
27967 @end smallexample
27968
27969 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
27970
27971 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
27972 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
27973
27974 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
27975 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
27976 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
27977 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
27978 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
27979 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
27980 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
27981
27982 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
27983 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
27984 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
27985 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
27986
27987 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
27988 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
27989 can be used to check this.
27990
27991 @subsubheading Example
27992
27993 Resetting the visualizer:
27994
27995 @smallexample
27996 (gdb)
27997 -var-set-visualizer V None
27998 ^done
27999 @end smallexample
28000
28001 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
28002
28003 @smallexample
28004 (gdb)
28005 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
28006 ^done
28007 @end smallexample
28008
28009 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
28010 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
28011
28012 @smallexample
28013 (gdb)
28014 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
28015 ^done
28016 @end smallexample
28017
28018 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28019 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
28020 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
28021
28022 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
28023 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
28024 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
28025 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
28026
28027 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
28028 @c @subheading -data-assign
28029 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
28030 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
28031 @c set variable
28032 @c @subsubheading Example
28033 @c N.A.
28034
28035 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
28036 @findex -data-disassemble
28037
28038 @subsubheading Synopsis
28039
28040 @smallexample
28041 -data-disassemble
28042 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
28043 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
28044 -- @var{mode}
28045 @end smallexample
28046
28047 @noindent
28048 Where:
28049
28050 @table @samp
28051 @item @var{start-addr}
28052 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
28053 @item @var{end-addr}
28054 is the end address
28055 @item @var{filename}
28056 is the name of the file to disassemble
28057 @item @var{linenum}
28058 is the line number to disassemble around
28059 @item @var{lines}
28060 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
28061 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
28062 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
28063 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
28064 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
28065 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
28066 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
28067 are displayed.
28068 @item @var{mode}
28069 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
28070 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
28071 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
28072 @end table
28073
28074 @subsubheading Result
28075
28076 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
28077
28078 @itemize @bullet
28079 @item Address
28080 @item Func-name
28081 @item Offset
28082 @item Instruction
28083 @end itemize
28084
28085 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
28086 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
28087
28088 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28089
28090 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
28091
28092 @subsubheading Example
28093
28094 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
28095
28096 @smallexample
28097 (gdb)
28098 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
28099 ^done,
28100 asm_insns=[
28101 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
28102 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
28103 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
28104 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
28105 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
28106 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
28107 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
28108 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
28109 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
28110 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
28111 (gdb)
28112 @end smallexample
28113
28114 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
28115 @code{main}.
28116
28117 @smallexample
28118 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
28119 ^done,asm_insns=[
28120 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
28121 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
28122 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
28123 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
28124 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
28125 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
28126 [@dots{}]
28127 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
28128 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
28129 (gdb)
28130 @end smallexample
28131
28132 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
28133
28134 @smallexample
28135 (gdb)
28136 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
28137 ^done,asm_insns=[
28138 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
28139 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
28140 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
28141 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
28142 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
28143 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
28144 (gdb)
28145 @end smallexample
28146
28147 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
28148
28149 @smallexample
28150 (gdb)
28151 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
28152 ^done,asm_insns=[
28153 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
28154 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
28155 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
28156 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
28157 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
28158 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
28159 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
28160 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
28161 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
28162 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
28163 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
28164 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
28165 (gdb)
28166 @end smallexample
28167
28168
28169 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
28170 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
28171
28172 @subsubheading Synopsis
28173
28174 @smallexample
28175 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
28176 @end smallexample
28177
28178 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
28179 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
28180 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
28181
28182 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28183
28184 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
28185 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
28186 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
28187
28188 @subsubheading Example
28189
28190 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
28191 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
28192 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
28193 output.
28194
28195 @smallexample
28196 211-data-evaluate-expression A
28197 211^done,value="1"
28198 (gdb)
28199 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
28200 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
28201 (gdb)
28202 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
28203 411^done,value="4"
28204 (gdb)
28205 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
28206 511^done,value="4"
28207 (gdb)
28208 @end smallexample
28209
28210
28211 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
28212 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
28213
28214 @subsubheading Synopsis
28215
28216 @smallexample
28217 -data-list-changed-registers
28218 @end smallexample
28219
28220 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
28221
28222 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28223
28224 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
28225 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
28226
28227 @subsubheading Example
28228
28229 On a PPC MBX board:
28230
28231 @smallexample
28232 (gdb)
28233 -exec-continue
28234 ^running
28235
28236 (gdb)
28237 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
28238 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
28239 line="5"@}
28240 (gdb)
28241 -data-list-changed-registers
28242 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
28243 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
28244 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
28245 (gdb)
28246 @end smallexample
28247
28248
28249 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
28250 @findex -data-list-register-names
28251
28252 @subsubheading Synopsis
28253
28254 @smallexample
28255 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
28256 @end smallexample
28257
28258 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
28259 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
28260 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
28261 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
28262 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
28263 include empty register names.
28264
28265 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28266
28267 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
28268 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
28269 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
28270
28271 @subsubheading Example
28272
28273 For the PPC MBX board:
28274 @smallexample
28275 (gdb)
28276 -data-list-register-names
28277 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
28278 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
28279 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
28280 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
28281 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
28282 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
28283 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
28284 (gdb)
28285 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
28286 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
28287 (gdb)
28288 @end smallexample
28289
28290 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
28291 @findex -data-list-register-values
28292
28293 @subsubheading Synopsis
28294
28295 @smallexample
28296 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
28297 @end smallexample
28298
28299 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
28300 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
28301 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
28302 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
28303
28304 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
28305
28306 @table @code
28307 @item x
28308 Hexadecimal
28309 @item o
28310 Octal
28311 @item t
28312 Binary
28313 @item d
28314 Decimal
28315 @item r
28316 Raw
28317 @item N
28318 Natural
28319 @end table
28320
28321 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28322
28323 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
28324 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
28325
28326 @subsubheading Example
28327
28328 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
28329 don't appear in the actual output):
28330
28331 @smallexample
28332 (gdb)
28333 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
28334 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
28335 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
28336 (gdb)
28337 -data-list-register-values x
28338 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
28339 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
28340 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
28341 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
28342 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
28343 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
28344 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
28345 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
28346 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
28347 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
28348 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
28349 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
28350 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
28351 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
28352 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
28353 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
28354 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
28355 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
28356 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
28357 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
28358 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
28359 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
28360 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
28361 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
28362 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
28363 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
28364 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
28365 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
28366 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
28367 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
28368 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
28369 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
28370 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
28371 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
28372 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
28373 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
28374 (gdb)
28375 @end smallexample
28376
28377
28378 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
28379 @findex -data-read-memory
28380
28381 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
28382
28383 @subsubheading Synopsis
28384
28385 @smallexample
28386 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
28387 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
28388 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
28389 @end smallexample
28390
28391 @noindent
28392 where:
28393
28394 @table @samp
28395 @item @var{address}
28396 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28397 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28398 quoted using the C convention.
28399
28400 @item @var{word-format}
28401 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
28402 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
28403 ,Output Formats}).
28404
28405 @item @var{word-size}
28406 The size of each memory word in bytes.
28407
28408 @item @var{nr-rows}
28409 The number of rows in the output table.
28410
28411 @item @var{nr-cols}
28412 The number of columns in the output table.
28413
28414 @item @var{aschar}
28415 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
28416 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
28417 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
28418 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
28419
28420 @item @var{byte-offset}
28421 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
28422 @end table
28423
28424 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
28425 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
28426 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
28427 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
28428 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
28429 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
28430 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
28431 @samp{addr}.
28432
28433 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
28434 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
28435 @samp{prev-page}.
28436
28437 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28438
28439 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
28440 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
28441
28442 @subsubheading Example
28443
28444 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
28445 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
28446 word. Display each word in hex.
28447
28448 @smallexample
28449 (gdb)
28450 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
28451 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
28452 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
28453 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
28454 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
28455 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
28456 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
28457 (gdb)
28458 @end smallexample
28459
28460 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
28461 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
28462
28463 @smallexample
28464 (gdb)
28465 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
28466 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
28467 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
28468 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
28469 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
28470 (gdb)
28471 @end smallexample
28472
28473 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
28474 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
28475 used as the non-printable character.
28476
28477 @smallexample
28478 (gdb)
28479 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
28480 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
28481 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
28482 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
28483 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28484 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28485 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28486 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28487 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
28488 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
28489 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
28490 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
28491 (gdb)
28492 @end smallexample
28493
28494 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
28495 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
28496
28497 @subsubheading Synopsis
28498
28499 @smallexample
28500 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
28501 @var{address} @var{count}
28502 @end smallexample
28503
28504 @noindent
28505 where:
28506
28507 @table @samp
28508 @item @var{address}
28509 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28510 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28511 quoted using the C convention.
28512
28513 @item @var{count}
28514 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
28515
28516 @item @var{byte-offset}
28517 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
28518 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
28519 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
28520 perform address arithmetics itself.
28521
28522 @end table
28523
28524 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
28525 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
28526 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
28527 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
28528 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
28529 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
28530
28531 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
28532 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
28533 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
28534 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
28535 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
28536 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
28537 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
28538 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
28539
28540 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
28541 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
28542 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
28543 and has the following fields:
28544
28545 @table @code
28546 @item begin
28547 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28548
28549 @item end
28550 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28551
28552 @item offset
28553 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
28554 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
28555
28556 @item contents
28557 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
28558
28559 @end table
28560
28561
28562
28563 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28564
28565 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
28566
28567 @subsubheading Example
28568
28569 @smallexample
28570 (gdb)
28571 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
28572 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
28573 end="0xbffff15e",
28574 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
28575 (gdb)
28576 @end smallexample
28577
28578
28579 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
28580 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
28581
28582 @subsubheading Synopsis
28583
28584 @smallexample
28585 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
28586 @end smallexample
28587
28588 @noindent
28589 where:
28590
28591 @table @samp
28592 @item @var{address}
28593 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28594 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28595 quoted using the C convention.
28596
28597 @item @var{contents}
28598 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
28599
28600 @end table
28601
28602 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28603
28604 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
28605
28606 @subsubheading Example
28607
28608 @smallexample
28609 (gdb)
28610 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
28611 ^done
28612 (gdb)
28613 @end smallexample
28614
28615
28616 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28617 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
28618 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
28619
28620 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
28621 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
28622
28623 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
28624 @findex -trace-find
28625
28626 @subsubheading Synopsis
28627
28628 @smallexample
28629 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
28630 @end smallexample
28631
28632 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
28633 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
28634 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
28635
28636 @table @samp
28637
28638 @item none
28639 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
28640
28641 @item frame-number
28642 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
28643 that index.
28644
28645 @item tracepoint-number
28646 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
28647 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
28648
28649 @item pc
28650 An address is required as parameter. Finds
28651 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
28652 address.
28653
28654 @item pc-inside-range
28655 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
28656 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
28657 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28658
28659 @item pc-outside-range
28660 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
28661 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
28662 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28663
28664 @item line
28665 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
28666 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
28667 the specified location.
28668
28669 @end table
28670
28671 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
28672 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
28673
28674 @table @samp
28675 @item found
28676 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
28677 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
28678
28679 @item traceframe
28680 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
28681 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28682
28683 @item tracepoint
28684 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
28685 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28686
28687 @item frame
28688 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
28689 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
28690 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
28691
28692 @end table
28693
28694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28695
28696 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
28697
28698 @subheading -trace-define-variable
28699 @findex -trace-define-variable
28700
28701 @subsubheading Synopsis
28702
28703 @smallexample
28704 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
28705 @end smallexample
28706
28707 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
28708 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
28709 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
28710 with the @samp{$} character.
28711
28712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28713
28714 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
28715
28716 @subheading -trace-list-variables
28717 @findex -trace-list-variables
28718
28719 @subsubheading Synopsis
28720
28721 @smallexample
28722 -trace-list-variables
28723 @end smallexample
28724
28725 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
28726 table has the following fields:
28727
28728 @table @samp
28729 @item name
28730 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
28731
28732 @item initial
28733 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
28734 field is always present.
28735
28736 @item current
28737 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
28738 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
28739 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
28740 presently running.
28741
28742 @end table
28743
28744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28745
28746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
28747
28748 @subsubheading Example
28749
28750 @smallexample
28751 (gdb)
28752 -trace-list-variables
28753 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
28754 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
28755 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
28756 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
28757 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
28758 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
28759 (gdb)
28760 @end smallexample
28761
28762 @subheading -trace-save
28763 @findex -trace-save
28764
28765 @subsubheading Synopsis
28766
28767 @smallexample
28768 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
28769 @end smallexample
28770
28771 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
28772 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
28773 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
28774 to perform the save.
28775
28776 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28777
28778 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
28779
28780
28781 @subheading -trace-start
28782 @findex -trace-start
28783
28784 @subsubheading Synopsis
28785
28786 @smallexample
28787 -trace-start
28788 @end smallexample
28789
28790 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
28791 have any fields.
28792
28793 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28794
28795 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
28796
28797 @subheading -trace-status
28798 @findex -trace-status
28799
28800 @subsubheading Synopsis
28801
28802 @smallexample
28803 -trace-status
28804 @end smallexample
28805
28806 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
28807 the following fields:
28808
28809 @table @samp
28810
28811 @item supported
28812 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
28813 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
28814 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
28815 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
28816 started. This field is always present.
28817
28818 @item running
28819 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
28820 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
28821 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28822
28823 @item stop-reason
28824 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
28825 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
28826 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
28827 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
28828 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
28829 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
28830 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
28831 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
28832 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28833
28834 @item stopping-tracepoint
28835 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
28836 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
28837 @samp{passcount}.
28838
28839 @item frames
28840 @itemx frames-created
28841 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
28842 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
28843 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
28844 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
28845
28846 @item buffer-size
28847 @itemx buffer-free
28848 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
28849 remaining space. These fields are optional.
28850
28851 @item circular
28852 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
28853 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
28854 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
28855 and may fill up.
28856
28857 @item disconnected
28858 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
28859 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
28860 that the trace run will stop.
28861
28862 @end table
28863
28864 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28865
28866 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
28867
28868 @subheading -trace-stop
28869 @findex -trace-stop
28870
28871 @subsubheading Synopsis
28872
28873 @smallexample
28874 -trace-stop
28875 @end smallexample
28876
28877 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
28878 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
28879 @samp{running} fields are not output.
28880
28881 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28882
28883 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
28884
28885
28886 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28887 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
28888 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
28889
28890
28891 @ignore
28892 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
28893 @findex -symbol-info-address
28894
28895 @subsubheading Synopsis
28896
28897 @smallexample
28898 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
28899 @end smallexample
28900
28901 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
28902
28903 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28904
28905 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
28906
28907 @subsubheading Example
28908 N.A.
28909
28910
28911 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
28912 @findex -symbol-info-file
28913
28914 @subsubheading Synopsis
28915
28916 @smallexample
28917 -symbol-info-file
28918 @end smallexample
28919
28920 Show the file for the symbol.
28921
28922 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28923
28924 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
28925 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
28926
28927 @subsubheading Example
28928 N.A.
28929
28930
28931 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
28932 @findex -symbol-info-function
28933
28934 @subsubheading Synopsis
28935
28936 @smallexample
28937 -symbol-info-function
28938 @end smallexample
28939
28940 Show which function the symbol lives in.
28941
28942 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28943
28944 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
28945
28946 @subsubheading Example
28947 N.A.
28948
28949
28950 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
28951 @findex -symbol-info-line
28952
28953 @subsubheading Synopsis
28954
28955 @smallexample
28956 -symbol-info-line
28957 @end smallexample
28958
28959 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
28960
28961 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28962
28963 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
28964 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
28965
28966 @subsubheading Example
28967 N.A.
28968
28969
28970 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
28971 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
28972
28973 @subsubheading Synopsis
28974
28975 @smallexample
28976 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
28977 @end smallexample
28978
28979 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
28980
28981 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28982
28983 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
28984
28985 @subsubheading Example
28986 N.A.
28987
28988
28989 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
28990 @findex -symbol-list-functions
28991
28992 @subsubheading Synopsis
28993
28994 @smallexample
28995 -symbol-list-functions
28996 @end smallexample
28997
28998 List the functions in the executable.
28999
29000 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29001
29002 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
29003 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
29004
29005 @subsubheading Example
29006 N.A.
29007 @end ignore
29008
29009
29010 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
29011 @findex -symbol-list-lines
29012
29013 @subsubheading Synopsis
29014
29015 @smallexample
29016 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
29017 @end smallexample
29018
29019 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
29020 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
29021 ascending PC order.
29022
29023 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29024
29025 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
29026
29027 @subsubheading Example
29028 @smallexample
29029 (gdb)
29030 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
29031 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
29032 (gdb)
29033 @end smallexample
29034
29035
29036 @ignore
29037 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
29038 @findex -symbol-list-types
29039
29040 @subsubheading Synopsis
29041
29042 @smallexample
29043 -symbol-list-types
29044 @end smallexample
29045
29046 List all the type names.
29047
29048 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29049
29050 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
29051 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
29052
29053 @subsubheading Example
29054 N.A.
29055
29056
29057 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
29058 @findex -symbol-list-variables
29059
29060 @subsubheading Synopsis
29061
29062 @smallexample
29063 -symbol-list-variables
29064 @end smallexample
29065
29066 List all the global and static variable names.
29067
29068 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29069
29070 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
29071
29072 @subsubheading Example
29073 N.A.
29074
29075
29076 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
29077 @findex -symbol-locate
29078
29079 @subsubheading Synopsis
29080
29081 @smallexample
29082 -symbol-locate
29083 @end smallexample
29084
29085 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29086
29087 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
29088
29089 @subsubheading Example
29090 N.A.
29091
29092
29093 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
29094 @findex -symbol-type
29095
29096 @subsubheading Synopsis
29097
29098 @smallexample
29099 -symbol-type @var{variable}
29100 @end smallexample
29101
29102 Show type of @var{variable}.
29103
29104 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29105
29106 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
29107 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
29108
29109 @subsubheading Example
29110 N.A.
29111 @end ignore
29112
29113
29114 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29115 @node GDB/MI File Commands
29116 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
29117
29118 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
29119 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
29120
29121 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
29122 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
29123
29124 @subsubheading Synopsis
29125
29126 @smallexample
29127 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
29128 @end smallexample
29129
29130 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
29131 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
29132 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
29133 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
29134 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
29135 notification.
29136
29137 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29138
29139 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
29140
29141 @subsubheading Example
29142
29143 @smallexample
29144 (gdb)
29145 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
29146 ^done
29147 (gdb)
29148 @end smallexample
29149
29150
29151 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
29152 @findex -file-exec-file
29153
29154 @subsubheading Synopsis
29155
29156 @smallexample
29157 -file-exec-file @var{file}
29158 @end smallexample
29159
29160 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
29161 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
29162 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
29163 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
29164 notification.
29165
29166 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29167
29168 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
29169
29170 @subsubheading Example
29171
29172 @smallexample
29173 (gdb)
29174 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
29175 ^done
29176 (gdb)
29177 @end smallexample
29178
29179
29180 @ignore
29181 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
29182 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
29183
29184 @subsubheading Synopsis
29185
29186 @smallexample
29187 -file-list-exec-sections
29188 @end smallexample
29189
29190 List the sections of the current executable file.
29191
29192 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29193
29194 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
29195 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
29196 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
29197
29198 @subsubheading Example
29199 N.A.
29200 @end ignore
29201
29202
29203 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
29204 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
29205
29206 @subsubheading Synopsis
29207
29208 @smallexample
29209 -file-list-exec-source-file
29210 @end smallexample
29211
29212 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
29213 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
29214 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
29215 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
29216
29217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29218
29219 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
29220
29221 @subsubheading Example
29222
29223 @smallexample
29224 (gdb)
29225 123-file-list-exec-source-file
29226 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
29227 (gdb)
29228 @end smallexample
29229
29230
29231 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
29232 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
29233
29234 @subsubheading Synopsis
29235
29236 @smallexample
29237 -file-list-exec-source-files
29238 @end smallexample
29239
29240 List the source files for the current executable.
29241
29242 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
29243 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
29244
29245 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29246
29247 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
29248 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
29249
29250 @subsubheading Example
29251 @smallexample
29252 (gdb)
29253 -file-list-exec-source-files
29254 ^done,files=[
29255 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
29256 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
29257 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
29258 (gdb)
29259 @end smallexample
29260
29261 @ignore
29262 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
29263 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
29264
29265 @subsubheading Synopsis
29266
29267 @smallexample
29268 -file-list-shared-libraries
29269 @end smallexample
29270
29271 List the shared libraries in the program.
29272
29273 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29274
29275 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
29276
29277 @subsubheading Example
29278 N.A.
29279
29280
29281 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
29282 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
29283
29284 @subsubheading Synopsis
29285
29286 @smallexample
29287 -file-list-symbol-files
29288 @end smallexample
29289
29290 List symbol files.
29291
29292 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29293
29294 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
29295
29296 @subsubheading Example
29297 N.A.
29298 @end ignore
29299
29300
29301 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
29302 @findex -file-symbol-file
29303
29304 @subsubheading Synopsis
29305
29306 @smallexample
29307 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
29308 @end smallexample
29309
29310 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
29311 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
29312 produced, except for a completion notification.
29313
29314 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29315
29316 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
29317
29318 @subsubheading Example
29319
29320 @smallexample
29321 (gdb)
29322 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
29323 ^done
29324 (gdb)
29325 @end smallexample
29326
29327 @ignore
29328 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29329 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
29330 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
29331
29332 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
29333
29334 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
29335
29336 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
29337
29338 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
29339
29340 @c @subheading -overlay-map
29341
29342 @c @subheading -overlay-off
29343
29344 @c @subheading -overlay-on
29345
29346 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
29347
29348 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29349 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
29350 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
29351
29352 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
29353
29354 @c @subheading -signal-handle
29355
29356 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
29357
29358 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
29359 @end ignore
29360
29361
29362 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29363 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
29364 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
29365
29366
29367 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
29368 @findex -target-attach
29369
29370 @subsubheading Synopsis
29371
29372 @smallexample
29373 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
29374 @end smallexample
29375
29376 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
29377 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
29378 group, the id previously returned by
29379 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
29380
29381 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29382
29383 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
29384
29385 @subsubheading Example
29386 @smallexample
29387 (gdb)
29388 -target-attach 34
29389 =thread-created,id="1"
29390 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
29391 ^done
29392 (gdb)
29393 @end smallexample
29394
29395 @ignore
29396 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
29397 @findex -target-compare-sections
29398
29399 @subsubheading Synopsis
29400
29401 @smallexample
29402 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
29403 @end smallexample
29404
29405 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
29406 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
29407
29408 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29409
29410 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
29411
29412 @subsubheading Example
29413 N.A.
29414 @end ignore
29415
29416
29417 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
29418 @findex -target-detach
29419
29420 @subsubheading Synopsis
29421
29422 @smallexample
29423 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
29424 @end smallexample
29425
29426 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
29427 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
29428 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
29429
29430 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29431
29432 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
29433
29434 @subsubheading Example
29435
29436 @smallexample
29437 (gdb)
29438 -target-detach
29439 ^done
29440 (gdb)
29441 @end smallexample
29442
29443
29444 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
29445 @findex -target-disconnect
29446
29447 @subsubheading Synopsis
29448
29449 @smallexample
29450 -target-disconnect
29451 @end smallexample
29452
29453 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
29454 generally not resumed.
29455
29456 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29457
29458 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
29459
29460 @subsubheading Example
29461
29462 @smallexample
29463 (gdb)
29464 -target-disconnect
29465 ^done
29466 (gdb)
29467 @end smallexample
29468
29469
29470 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
29471 @findex -target-download
29472
29473 @subsubheading Synopsis
29474
29475 @smallexample
29476 -target-download
29477 @end smallexample
29478
29479 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
29480 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
29481
29482 @table @samp
29483 @item section
29484 The name of the section.
29485 @item section-sent
29486 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
29487 @item section-size
29488 The size of the section.
29489 @item total-sent
29490 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
29491 @item total-size
29492 The size of the overall executable to download.
29493 @end table
29494
29495 @noindent
29496 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
29497 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
29498
29499 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
29500 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
29501
29502 @table @samp
29503 @item section
29504 The name of the section.
29505 @item section-size
29506 The size of the section.
29507 @item total-size
29508 The size of the overall executable to download.
29509 @end table
29510
29511 @noindent
29512 At the end, a summary is printed.
29513
29514 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29515
29516 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
29517
29518 @subsubheading Example
29519
29520 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
29521 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
29522
29523 @smallexample
29524 (gdb)
29525 -target-download
29526 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
29527 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
29528 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
29529 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
29530 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
29531 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
29532 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
29533 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
29534 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
29535 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
29536 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
29537 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
29538 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
29539 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
29540 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
29541 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
29542 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
29543 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
29544 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
29545 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
29546 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
29547 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
29548 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
29549 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
29550 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
29551 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
29552 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
29553 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29554 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29555 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
29556 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
29557 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
29558 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
29559 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
29560 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
29561 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
29562 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
29563 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
29564 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
29565 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
29566 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
29567 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
29568 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
29569 write-rate="429"
29570 (gdb)
29571 @end smallexample
29572
29573
29574 @ignore
29575 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
29576 @findex -target-exec-status
29577
29578 @subsubheading Synopsis
29579
29580 @smallexample
29581 -target-exec-status
29582 @end smallexample
29583
29584 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
29585 not, for instance).
29586
29587 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29588
29589 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29590
29591 @subsubheading Example
29592 N.A.
29593
29594
29595 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
29596 @findex -target-list-available-targets
29597
29598 @subsubheading Synopsis
29599
29600 @smallexample
29601 -target-list-available-targets
29602 @end smallexample
29603
29604 List the possible targets to connect to.
29605
29606 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29607
29608 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
29609
29610 @subsubheading Example
29611 N.A.
29612
29613
29614 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
29615 @findex -target-list-current-targets
29616
29617 @subsubheading Synopsis
29618
29619 @smallexample
29620 -target-list-current-targets
29621 @end smallexample
29622
29623 Describe the current target.
29624
29625 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29626
29627 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
29628 other things).
29629
29630 @subsubheading Example
29631 N.A.
29632
29633
29634 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
29635 @findex -target-list-parameters
29636
29637 @subsubheading Synopsis
29638
29639 @smallexample
29640 -target-list-parameters
29641 @end smallexample
29642
29643 @c ????
29644 @end ignore
29645
29646 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29647
29648 No equivalent.
29649
29650 @subsubheading Example
29651 N.A.
29652
29653
29654 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
29655 @findex -target-select
29656
29657 @subsubheading Synopsis
29658
29659 @smallexample
29660 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
29661 @end smallexample
29662
29663 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
29664
29665 @table @samp
29666 @item @var{type}
29667 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
29668 @item @var{parameters}
29669 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
29670 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
29671 @end table
29672
29673 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
29674 which the target program is, in the following form:
29675
29676 @smallexample
29677 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
29678 args=[@var{arg list}]
29679 @end smallexample
29680
29681 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29682
29683 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
29684
29685 @subsubheading Example
29686
29687 @smallexample
29688 (gdb)
29689 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
29690 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
29691 (gdb)
29692 @end smallexample
29693
29694 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29695 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
29696 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
29697
29698
29699 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
29700 @findex -target-file-put
29701
29702 @subsubheading Synopsis
29703
29704 @smallexample
29705 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
29706 @end smallexample
29707
29708 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
29709 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
29710
29711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29712
29713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
29714
29715 @subsubheading Example
29716
29717 @smallexample
29718 (gdb)
29719 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
29720 ^done
29721 (gdb)
29722 @end smallexample
29723
29724
29725 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
29726 @findex -target-file-get
29727
29728 @subsubheading Synopsis
29729
29730 @smallexample
29731 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
29732 @end smallexample
29733
29734 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
29735 on the host system.
29736
29737 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29738
29739 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
29740
29741 @subsubheading Example
29742
29743 @smallexample
29744 (gdb)
29745 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
29746 ^done
29747 (gdb)
29748 @end smallexample
29749
29750
29751 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
29752 @findex -target-file-delete
29753
29754 @subsubheading Synopsis
29755
29756 @smallexample
29757 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
29758 @end smallexample
29759
29760 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
29761
29762 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29763
29764 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
29765
29766 @subsubheading Example
29767
29768 @smallexample
29769 (gdb)
29770 -target-file-delete remotefile
29771 ^done
29772 (gdb)
29773 @end smallexample
29774
29775
29776 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29777 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
29778 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
29779
29780 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
29781
29782 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
29783 @findex -gdb-exit
29784
29785 @subsubheading Synopsis
29786
29787 @smallexample
29788 -gdb-exit
29789 @end smallexample
29790
29791 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
29792
29793 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29794
29795 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
29796
29797 @subsubheading Example
29798
29799 @smallexample
29800 (gdb)
29801 -gdb-exit
29802 ^exit
29803 @end smallexample
29804
29805
29806 @ignore
29807 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
29808 @findex -exec-abort
29809
29810 @subsubheading Synopsis
29811
29812 @smallexample
29813 -exec-abort
29814 @end smallexample
29815
29816 Kill the inferior running program.
29817
29818 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29819
29820 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
29821
29822 @subsubheading Example
29823 N.A.
29824 @end ignore
29825
29826
29827 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
29828 @findex -gdb-set
29829
29830 @subsubheading Synopsis
29831
29832 @smallexample
29833 -gdb-set
29834 @end smallexample
29835
29836 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
29837 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
29838
29839 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29840
29841 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
29842
29843 @subsubheading Example
29844
29845 @smallexample
29846 (gdb)
29847 -gdb-set $foo=3
29848 ^done
29849 (gdb)
29850 @end smallexample
29851
29852
29853 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
29854 @findex -gdb-show
29855
29856 @subsubheading Synopsis
29857
29858 @smallexample
29859 -gdb-show
29860 @end smallexample
29861
29862 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
29863
29864 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29865
29866 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
29867
29868 @subsubheading Example
29869
29870 @smallexample
29871 (gdb)
29872 -gdb-show annotate
29873 ^done,value="0"
29874 (gdb)
29875 @end smallexample
29876
29877 @c @subheading -gdb-source
29878
29879
29880 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
29881 @findex -gdb-version
29882
29883 @subsubheading Synopsis
29884
29885 @smallexample
29886 -gdb-version
29887 @end smallexample
29888
29889 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
29890
29891 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29892
29893 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
29894 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
29895
29896 @subsubheading Example
29897
29898 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
29899 @c box in TeX.
29900 @smallexample
29901 (gdb)
29902 -gdb-version
29903 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
29904 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29905 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
29906 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
29907 ~ certain conditions.
29908 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29909 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
29910 ~ details.
29911 ~This GDB was configured as
29912 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
29913 ^done
29914 (gdb)
29915 @end smallexample
29916
29917 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
29918 @findex -list-features
29919
29920 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
29921 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
29922 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
29923 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
29924 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
29925 startup.
29926
29927 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
29928 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
29929 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
29930 is given below.
29931
29932 Example output:
29933
29934 @smallexample
29935 (gdb) -list-features
29936 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
29937 @end smallexample
29938
29939 The current list of features is:
29940
29941 @table @samp
29942 @item frozen-varobjs
29943 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
29944 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
29945 of @code{-varobj-create}.
29946 @item pending-breakpoints
29947 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
29948 @item python
29949 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
29950 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
29951 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
29952 @item thread-info
29953 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
29954 @item data-read-memory-bytes
29955 Indicates presense of the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
29956 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
29957
29958 @end table
29959
29960 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
29961 @findex -list-target-features
29962
29963 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
29964 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
29965 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
29966 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
29967 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
29968 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
29969 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
29970 Example output:
29971
29972 @smallexample
29973 (gdb) -list-features
29974 ^done,result=["async"]
29975 @end smallexample
29976
29977 The current list of features is:
29978
29979 @table @samp
29980 @item async
29981 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
29982 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
29983 while the target is running.
29984
29985 @item reverse
29986 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
29987 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
29988
29989 @end table
29990
29991 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
29992 @findex -list-thread-groups
29993
29994 @subheading Synopsis
29995
29996 @smallexample
29997 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
29998 @end smallexample
29999
30000 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
30001 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
30002 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
30003 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
30004 top-level thread groups.
30005
30006 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
30007 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
30008 available on the target.
30009
30010 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
30011 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
30012 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
30013 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
30014 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
30015 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
30016 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
30017 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
30018
30019 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
30020 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
30021 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
30022 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
30023 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
30024 @samp{threads} field.
30025
30026 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
30027 the following caveats:
30028
30029 @itemize @bullet
30030 @item
30031 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
30032 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
30033 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
30034
30035 @item
30036 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
30037 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
30038 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
30039 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
30040 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
30041 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
30042
30043 @end itemize
30044
30045 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
30046 have the following fields:
30047
30048 @table @code
30049 @item id
30050 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
30051 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
30052 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
30053
30054 @item type
30055 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
30056 valid type.
30057
30058 @item pid
30059 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
30060 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
30061
30062 @item num_children
30063 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
30064 absent for an available thread group.
30065
30066 @item threads
30067 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
30068 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
30069 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
30070
30071 @item cores
30072 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
30073 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
30074 such information is not available.
30075
30076 @item executable
30077 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
30078 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
30079 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
30080
30081 @end table
30082
30083 @subheading Example
30084
30085 @smallexample
30086 @value{GDBP}
30087 -list-thread-groups
30088 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
30089 -list-thread-groups 17
30090 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
30091 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
30092 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
30093 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
30094 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
30095 -list-thread-groups --available
30096 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
30097 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
30098 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
30099 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
30100 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
30101 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
30102 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
30103 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
30104 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
30105 @end smallexample
30106
30107
30108 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
30109 @findex -add-inferior
30110
30111 @subheading Synopsis
30112
30113 @smallexample
30114 -add-inferior
30115 @end smallexample
30116
30117 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
30118 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
30119 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
30120 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
30121 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
30122 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
30123
30124 @subheading Example
30125
30126 @smallexample
30127 @value{GDBP}
30128 -add-inferior
30129 ^done,thread-group="i3"
30130 @end smallexample
30131
30132 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
30133 @findex -interpreter-exec
30134
30135 @subheading Synopsis
30136
30137 @smallexample
30138 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
30139 @end smallexample
30140 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
30141
30142 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
30143
30144 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
30145
30146 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
30147
30148 @subheading Example
30149
30150 @smallexample
30151 (gdb)
30152 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
30153 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
30154 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
30155 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
30156 ^done
30157 (gdb)
30158 @end smallexample
30159
30160 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
30161 @findex -inferior-tty-set
30162
30163 @subheading Synopsis
30164
30165 @smallexample
30166 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
30167 @end smallexample
30168
30169 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
30170
30171 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
30172
30173 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
30174
30175 @subheading Example
30176
30177 @smallexample
30178 (gdb)
30179 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
30180 ^done
30181 (gdb)
30182 @end smallexample
30183
30184 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
30185 @findex -inferior-tty-show
30186
30187 @subheading Synopsis
30188
30189 @smallexample
30190 -inferior-tty-show
30191 @end smallexample
30192
30193 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
30194
30195 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
30196
30197 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
30198
30199 @subheading Example
30200
30201 @smallexample
30202 (gdb)
30203 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
30204 ^done
30205 (gdb)
30206 -inferior-tty-show
30207 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
30208 (gdb)
30209 @end smallexample
30210
30211 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
30212 @findex -enable-timings
30213
30214 @subheading Synopsis
30215
30216 @smallexample
30217 -enable-timings [yes | no]
30218 @end smallexample
30219
30220 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
30221 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
30222 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
30223 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
30224
30225 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
30226
30227 No equivalent.
30228
30229 @subheading Example
30230
30231 @smallexample
30232 (gdb)
30233 -enable-timings
30234 ^done
30235 (gdb)
30236 -break-insert main
30237 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30238 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
30239 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
30240 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
30241 (gdb)
30242 -enable-timings no
30243 ^done
30244 (gdb)
30245 -exec-run
30246 ^running
30247 (gdb)
30248 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
30249 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
30250 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
30251 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
30252 (gdb)
30253 @end smallexample
30254
30255 @node Annotations
30256 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
30257
30258 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
30259 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
30260 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
30261 relatively high level.
30262
30263 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
30264 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
30265
30266 @ignore
30267 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
30268 @end ignore
30269
30270 @menu
30271 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
30272 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
30273 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
30274 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
30275 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
30276 * Annotations for Running::
30277 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
30278 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
30279 @end menu
30280
30281 @node Annotations Overview
30282 @section What is an Annotation?
30283 @cindex annotations
30284
30285 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
30286 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
30287 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
30288 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
30289 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
30290 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
30291 cannot contain newline characters.
30292
30293 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
30294 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
30295 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
30296 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
30297 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
30298 means those three characters as output.
30299
30300 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
30301 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
30302 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
30303 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
30304 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
30305 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
30306 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
30307 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
30308 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
30309
30310 @table @code
30311 @kindex set annotate
30312 @item set annotate @var{level}
30313 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
30314 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
30315
30316 @item show annotate
30317 @kindex show annotate
30318 Show the current annotation level.
30319 @end table
30320
30321 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
30322
30323 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
30324
30325 @smallexample
30326 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
30327 GNU gdb 6.0
30328 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
30329 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
30330 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
30331 under certain conditions.
30332 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
30333 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
30334 for details.
30335 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
30336
30337 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
30338 (@value{GDBP})
30339 ^Z^Zprompt
30340 @kbd{quit}
30341
30342 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
30343 $
30344 @end smallexample
30345
30346 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
30347 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
30348 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
30349 output from @value{GDBN}.
30350
30351 @node Server Prefix
30352 @section The Server Prefix
30353 @cindex server prefix
30354
30355 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
30356 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
30357 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
30358 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
30359 a transparent manner.
30360
30361 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
30362 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
30363 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
30364 @code{print} command.
30365
30366 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
30367 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
30368
30369 @node Prompting
30370 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
30371
30372 @cindex annotations for prompts
30373 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
30374 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
30375 over, etc.
30376
30377 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
30378 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
30379 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
30380 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
30381 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
30382 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
30383 features the following annotations:
30384
30385 @smallexample
30386 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
30387 ^Z^Zprompt
30388 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
30389 @end smallexample
30390
30391 The input types are
30392
30393 @table @code
30394 @findex pre-prompt annotation
30395 @findex prompt annotation
30396 @findex post-prompt annotation
30397 @item prompt
30398 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
30399
30400 @findex pre-commands annotation
30401 @findex commands annotation
30402 @findex post-commands annotation
30403 @item commands
30404 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
30405 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
30406
30407 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
30408 @findex overload-choice annotation
30409 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
30410 @item overload-choice
30411 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
30412
30413 @findex pre-query annotation
30414 @findex query annotation
30415 @findex post-query annotation
30416 @item query
30417 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
30418
30419 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
30420 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
30421 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
30422 @item prompt-for-continue
30423 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
30424 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
30425 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
30426 presence of annotations.
30427 @end table
30428
30429 @node Errors
30430 @section Errors
30431 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
30432
30433 @findex quit annotation
30434 @smallexample
30435 ^Z^Zquit
30436 @end smallexample
30437
30438 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
30439
30440 @findex error annotation
30441 @smallexample
30442 ^Z^Zerror
30443 @end smallexample
30444
30445 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
30446
30447 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
30448 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
30449 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
30450 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
30451 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
30452 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
30453 to the top level.
30454
30455 @findex error-begin annotation
30456 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
30457
30458 @smallexample
30459 ^Z^Zerror-begin
30460 @end smallexample
30461
30462 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
30463 message.
30464
30465 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
30466 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
30467 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
30468
30469 @node Invalidation
30470 @section Invalidation Notices
30471
30472 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
30473 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
30474 changed.
30475
30476 @table @code
30477 @findex frames-invalid annotation
30478 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
30479
30480 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
30481 have changed.
30482
30483 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
30484 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
30485
30486 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
30487 deleted a breakpoint.
30488 @end table
30489
30490 @node Annotations for Running
30491 @section Running the Program
30492 @cindex annotations for running programs
30493
30494 @findex starting annotation
30495 @findex stopping annotation
30496 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
30497 @code{step} or @code{continue},
30498
30499 @smallexample
30500 ^Z^Zstarting
30501 @end smallexample
30502
30503 is output. When the program stops,
30504
30505 @smallexample
30506 ^Z^Zstopped
30507 @end smallexample
30508
30509 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
30510 annotations describe how the program stopped.
30511
30512 @table @code
30513 @findex exited annotation
30514 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
30515 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
30516 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
30517
30518 @findex signalled annotation
30519 @findex signal-name annotation
30520 @findex signal-name-end annotation
30521 @findex signal-string annotation
30522 @findex signal-string-end annotation
30523 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
30524 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
30525 annotation continues:
30526
30527 @smallexample
30528 @var{intro-text}
30529 ^Z^Zsignal-name
30530 @var{name}
30531 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
30532 @var{middle-text}
30533 ^Z^Zsignal-string
30534 @var{string}
30535 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
30536 @var{end-text}
30537 @end smallexample
30538
30539 @noindent
30540 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
30541 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
30542 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
30543 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
30544 user's benefit and have no particular format.
30545
30546 @findex signal annotation
30547 @item ^Z^Zsignal
30548 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
30549 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
30550 terminated with it.
30551
30552 @findex breakpoint annotation
30553 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
30554 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
30555
30556 @findex watchpoint annotation
30557 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
30558 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
30559 @end table
30560
30561 @node Source Annotations
30562 @section Displaying Source
30563 @cindex annotations for source display
30564
30565 @findex source annotation
30566 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
30567
30568 @smallexample
30569 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
30570 @end smallexample
30571
30572 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
30573 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
30574 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
30575 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
30576 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
30577 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
30578 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
30579 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
30580 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
30581 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
30582 depend on the language).
30583
30584 @node JIT Interface
30585 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
30586 @cindex just-in-time compilation
30587 @cindex JIT compilation interface
30588
30589 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
30590 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
30591 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
30592 performance while maintaining platform independence.
30593
30594 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
30595 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
30596 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
30597 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
30598 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
30599 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
30600
30601 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
30602 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
30603 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
30604 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
30605 LLVM JIT.
30606
30607 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
30608 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
30609 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
30610 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
30611 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
30612 out about additional code.
30613
30614 @menu
30615 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
30616 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
30617 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
30618 @end menu
30619
30620 @node Declarations
30621 @section JIT Declarations
30622
30623 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
30624 implement the interface:
30625
30626 @smallexample
30627 typedef enum
30628 @{
30629 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
30630 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
30631 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
30632 @} jit_actions_t;
30633
30634 struct jit_code_entry
30635 @{
30636 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
30637 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
30638 const char *symfile_addr;
30639 uint64_t symfile_size;
30640 @};
30641
30642 struct jit_descriptor
30643 @{
30644 uint32_t version;
30645 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
30646 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
30647 uint32_t action_flag;
30648 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
30649 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
30650 @};
30651
30652 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
30653 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
30654
30655 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
30656 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
30657 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
30658 @end smallexample
30659
30660 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
30661 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
30662 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
30663
30664 @node Registering Code
30665 @section Registering Code
30666
30667 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
30668
30669 @itemize @bullet
30670 @item
30671 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
30672 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
30673
30674 @item
30675 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
30676 file.
30677
30678 @item
30679 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
30680
30681 @item
30682 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
30683
30684 @item
30685 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
30686 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30687 @end itemize
30688
30689 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
30690 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
30691 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
30692 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
30693
30694 @node Unregistering Code
30695 @section Unregistering Code
30696
30697 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
30698
30699 @itemize @bullet
30700 @item
30701 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
30702
30703 @item
30704 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
30705
30706 @item
30707 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
30708 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30709 @end itemize
30710
30711 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
30712 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
30713
30714 @node GDB Bugs
30715 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
30716 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
30717 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
30718
30719 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
30720
30721 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
30722 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
30723 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
30724 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
30725
30726 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
30727 information that enables us to fix the bug.
30728
30729 @menu
30730 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
30731 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
30732 @end menu
30733
30734 @node Bug Criteria
30735 @section Have You Found a Bug?
30736 @cindex bug criteria
30737
30738 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
30739
30740 @itemize @bullet
30741 @cindex fatal signal
30742 @cindex debugger crash
30743 @cindex crash of debugger
30744 @item
30745 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
30746 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
30747
30748 @cindex error on valid input
30749 @item
30750 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
30751 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
30752 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
30753
30754 @cindex invalid input
30755 @item
30756 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
30757 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
30758 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
30759 for traditional practice''.
30760
30761 @item
30762 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
30763 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
30764 @end itemize
30765
30766 @node Bug Reporting
30767 @section How to Report Bugs
30768 @cindex bug reports
30769 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
30770
30771 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
30772 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
30773 contact that organization first.
30774
30775 You can find contact information for many support companies and
30776 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
30777 distribution.
30778 @c should add a web page ref...
30779
30780 @ifset BUGURL
30781 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
30782 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30783 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
30784 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
30785 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
30786 be used.
30787
30788 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
30789 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
30790 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
30791 @samp{bug-gdb}.
30792
30793 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
30794 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
30795 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
30796 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
30797 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
30798 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
30799 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
30800 bug reports to the mailing list.
30801 @end ifset
30802 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
30803 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30804 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
30805 @end ifclear
30806 @end ifset
30807
30808 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
30809 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
30810 fact or leave it out, state it!
30811
30812 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
30813 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
30814 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
30815 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
30816 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
30817 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
30818 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
30819 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
30820 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
30821
30822 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
30823 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
30824 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
30825 self-contained.
30826
30827 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
30828 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
30829 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
30830 bugs properly.
30831
30832 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
30833
30834 @itemize @bullet
30835 @item
30836 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
30837 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
30838 version}.
30839
30840 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
30841 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
30842
30843 @item
30844 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
30845 version number.
30846
30847 @item
30848 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
30849 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
30850
30851 @item
30852 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
30853 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
30854 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
30855 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
30856 those compilers.
30857
30858 @item
30859 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
30860 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
30861 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
30862 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
30863
30864 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
30865 and then we might not encounter the bug.
30866
30867 @item
30868 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
30869 reproduce the bug.
30870
30871 @item
30872 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
30873 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
30874
30875 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
30876 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
30877 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
30878 a chance to make a mistake.
30879
30880 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
30881 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
30882 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
30883 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
30884 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
30885 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
30886 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
30887 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
30888
30889 @pindex script
30890 @cindex recording a session script
30891 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
30892 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
30893 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
30894 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
30895
30896 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
30897 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
30898
30899 @item
30900 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
30901 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
30902 it by context, not by line number.
30903
30904 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
30905 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
30906
30907 @end itemize
30908
30909 Here are some things that are not necessary:
30910
30911 @itemize @bullet
30912 @item
30913 A description of the envelope of the bug.
30914
30915 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
30916 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
30917 changes will not affect it.
30918
30919 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
30920 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
30921 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
30922 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
30923
30924 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
30925 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
30926 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
30927 less time, and so on.
30928
30929 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
30930 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
30931
30932 @item
30933 A patch for the bug.
30934
30935 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
30936 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
30937 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
30938 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
30939
30940 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
30941 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
30942 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
30943 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
30944
30945 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
30946 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
30947 help us to understand.
30948
30949 @item
30950 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
30951
30952 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
30953 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
30954 @end itemize
30955
30956 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
30957 @c and consists of the two following files:
30958 @c rluser.texinfo
30959 @c inc-hist.texinfo
30960 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
30961 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
30962 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
30963 @include rluser.texi
30964 @include inc-hist.texinfo
30965 @end ifclear
30966
30967
30968 @node Formatting Documentation
30969 @appendix Formatting Documentation
30970
30971 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
30972 @cindex reference card
30973 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
30974 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
30975 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
30976 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
30977 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
30978 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
30979
30980 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
30981 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
30982
30983 @smallexample
30984 make refcard.dvi
30985 @end smallexample
30986
30987 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
30988 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
30989 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
30990 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
30991 your @sc{dvi} output program.
30992
30993 @cindex documentation
30994
30995 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
30996 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
30997 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
30998 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
30999 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
31000 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
31001
31002 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
31003 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
31004 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
31005 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
31006 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
31007 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
31008 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
31009 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
31010
31011 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
31012 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
31013 @code{makeinfo}.
31014
31015 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
31016 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
31017 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
31018
31019 @smallexample
31020 cd gdb
31021 make gdb.info
31022 @end smallexample
31023
31024 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
31025 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
31026 Texinfo definitions file.
31027
31028 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
31029 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
31030 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
31031 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
31032 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
31033 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
31034 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
31035
31036 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
31037 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
31038 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
31039 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
31040 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
31041 directory.
31042
31043 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
31044 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
31045 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
31046 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
31047
31048 @smallexample
31049 make gdb.dvi
31050 @end smallexample
31051
31052 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
31053
31054 @node Installing GDB
31055 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
31056 @cindex installation
31057
31058 @menu
31059 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
31060 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
31061 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
31062 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
31063 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
31064 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
31065 @end menu
31066
31067 @node Requirements
31068 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
31069 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
31070
31071 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
31072 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
31073
31074 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
31075 @table @asis
31076 @item ISO C90 compiler
31077 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
31078 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
31079
31080 @end table
31081
31082 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
31083 @table @asis
31084 @item Expat
31085 @anchor{Expat}
31086 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
31087 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
31088 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
31089 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
31090 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
31091 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
31092
31093 Expat is used for:
31094
31095 @itemize @bullet
31096 @item
31097 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
31098 @item
31099 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
31100 @item
31101 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
31102 @item
31103 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
31104 @item
31105 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
31106 @end itemize
31107
31108 @item zlib
31109 @cindex compressed debug sections
31110 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
31111 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
31112 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
31113 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
31114 information in such binaries.
31115
31116 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
31117 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
31118 @url{http://zlib.net}.
31119
31120 @item iconv
31121 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
31122 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
31123 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
31124 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
31125
31126 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
31127 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
31128 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
31129
31130 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
31131 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
31132 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
31133 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
31134 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
31135 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
31136 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
31137 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
31138 @end table
31139
31140 @node Running Configure
31141 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
31142 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
31143 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
31144 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
31145 build the @code{gdb} program.
31146 @iftex
31147 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
31148 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
31149 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
31150 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
31151 @end iftex
31152
31153 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
31154 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
31155 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
31156
31157 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
31158 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
31159
31160 @table @code
31161 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
31162 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
31163
31164 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
31165 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
31166
31167 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
31168 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
31169
31170 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
31171 @sc{gnu} include files
31172
31173 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
31174 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
31175
31176 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
31177 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
31178
31179 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
31180 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
31181
31182 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
31183 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
31184
31185 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
31186 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
31187 @end table
31188
31189 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
31190 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
31191 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
31192
31193 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
31194 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
31195 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
31196 argument.
31197
31198 For example:
31199
31200 @smallexample
31201 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
31202 ./configure @var{host}
31203 make
31204 @end smallexample
31205
31206 @noindent
31207 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
31208 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
31209 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
31210 correct value by examining your system.)
31211
31212 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
31213 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
31214 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
31215 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
31216
31217 @need 750
31218 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
31219 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
31220 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
31221
31222 @smallexample
31223 sh configure @var{host}
31224 @end smallexample
31225
31226 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
31227 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
31228 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
31229 @file{configure}
31230 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
31231 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
31232
31233 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
31234 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
31235 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
31236 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
31237 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
31238 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
31239 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
31240 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
31241 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
31242
31243 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
31244 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
31245 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
31246 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
31247 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
31248
31249 @node Separate Objdir
31250 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
31251
31252 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
31253 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
31254 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
31255 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
31256 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
31257 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
31258 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
31259 program specified there.
31260
31261 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
31262 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
31263 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
31264 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
31265 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
31266 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
31267
31268 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
31269 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
31270
31271 @smallexample
31272 @group
31273 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
31274 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
31275 cd ../gdb-sun4
31276 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
31277 make
31278 @end group
31279 @end smallexample
31280
31281 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
31282 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
31283 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
31284 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
31285 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
31286 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
31287
31288 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
31289 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
31290 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
31291 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
31292 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
31293
31294 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
31295 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
31296 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
31297 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
31298 You specify a cross-debugging target by
31299 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
31300
31301 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
31302 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
31303 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
31304
31305 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
31306 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
31307 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
31308 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
31309 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
31310
31311 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
31312 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
31313 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
31314 with each other.
31315
31316 @node Config Names
31317 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
31318
31319 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
31320 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
31321 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
31322 of information in the following pattern:
31323
31324 @smallexample
31325 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
31326 @end smallexample
31327
31328 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
31329 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
31330 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
31331
31332 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
31333 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
31334 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
31335 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
31336 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
31337 abbreviations---for example:
31338
31339 @smallexample
31340 % sh config.sub i386-linux
31341 i386-pc-linux-gnu
31342 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
31343 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
31344 % sh config.sub hp9k700
31345 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
31346 % sh config.sub sun4
31347 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
31348 % sh config.sub sun3
31349 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
31350 % sh config.sub i986v
31351 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
31352 @end smallexample
31353
31354 @noindent
31355 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
31356 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
31357
31358 @node Configure Options
31359 @section @file{configure} Options
31360
31361 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
31362 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
31363 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
31364 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
31365
31366 @smallexample
31367 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
31368 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
31369 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
31370 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
31371 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
31372 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
31373 @var{host}
31374 @end smallexample
31375
31376 @noindent
31377 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
31378 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
31379 @samp{--}.
31380
31381 @table @code
31382 @item --help
31383 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
31384
31385 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
31386 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
31387 @file{@var{dir}}.
31388
31389 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
31390 Configure the source to install programs under directory
31391 @file{@var{dir}}.
31392
31393 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
31394 @need 2000
31395 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
31396 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
31397 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
31398 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
31399 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
31400 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
31401 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
31402 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
31403 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
31404 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
31405 @var{dirname}.
31406
31407 @item --norecursion
31408 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
31409 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
31410
31411 @item --target=@var{target}
31412 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
31413 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
31414 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
31415
31416 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
31417
31418 @item @var{host} @dots{}
31419 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
31420
31421 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
31422 @end table
31423
31424 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
31425 needed for special purposes only.
31426
31427 @node System-wide configuration
31428 @section System-wide configuration and settings
31429 @cindex system-wide init file
31430
31431 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
31432 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
31433 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
31434
31435 Here is the corresponding configure option:
31436
31437 @table @code
31438 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
31439 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
31440 @var{file}.
31441 @end table
31442
31443 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
31444 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
31445
31446 @itemize @bullet
31447 @item
31448 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
31449 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
31450 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
31451 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
31452 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
31453 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
31454
31455 @item
31456 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
31457 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
31458 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31459 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31460 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
31461 @end itemize
31462
31463 @node Maintenance Commands
31464 @appendix Maintenance Commands
31465 @cindex maintenance commands
31466 @cindex internal commands
31467
31468 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
31469 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
31470 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
31471 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
31472 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
31473
31474 @table @code
31475 @kindex maint agent
31476 @kindex maint agent-eval
31477 @item maint agent @var{expression}
31478 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
31479 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
31480 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
31481 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
31482 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
31483 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
31484 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
31485 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
31486 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
31487 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
31488 addition and return the sum.
31489
31490 @kindex maint info breakpoints
31491 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
31492 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
31493 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
31494 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
31495 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
31496 is shown:
31497
31498 @table @code
31499 @item breakpoint
31500 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
31501
31502 @item watchpoint
31503 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
31504
31505 @item longjmp
31506 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
31507 @code{longjmp} calls.
31508
31509 @item longjmp resume
31510 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
31511
31512 @item until
31513 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
31514
31515 @item finish
31516 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
31517
31518 @item shlib events
31519 Shared library events.
31520
31521 @end table
31522
31523 @kindex set displaced-stepping
31524 @kindex show displaced-stepping
31525 @cindex displaced stepping support
31526 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
31527 @item set displaced-stepping
31528 @itemx show displaced-stepping
31529 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
31530 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
31531 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
31532 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
31533 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
31534
31535 @table @code
31536 @item set displaced-stepping on
31537 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
31538 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
31539
31540 @item set displaced-stepping off
31541 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
31542 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
31543
31544 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
31545 @item set displaced-stepping auto
31546 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
31547 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
31548 architecture supports displaced stepping.
31549 @end table
31550
31551 @kindex maint check-symtabs
31552 @item maint check-symtabs
31553 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
31554
31555 @kindex maint cplus first_component
31556 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
31557 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
31558
31559 @kindex maint cplus namespace
31560 @item maint cplus namespace
31561 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
31562
31563 @kindex maint demangle
31564 @item maint demangle @var{name}
31565 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
31566
31567 @kindex maint deprecate
31568 @kindex maint undeprecate
31569 @cindex deprecated commands
31570 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
31571 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
31572 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
31573 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
31574 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
31575 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
31576 the replacement as part of the warning.
31577
31578 @kindex maint dump-me
31579 @item maint dump-me
31580 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
31581 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
31582 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
31583 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
31584
31585 @kindex maint internal-error
31586 @kindex maint internal-warning
31587 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31588 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31589 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
31590 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
31591 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
31592 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
31593 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
31594 @value{GDBN} session.
31595
31596 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
31597 used as the text of the error or warning message.
31598
31599 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
31600
31601 @smallexample
31602 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
31603 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
31604 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
31605 debugging may prove unreliable.
31606 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31607 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31608 (@value{GDBP})
31609 @end smallexample
31610
31611 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
31612 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
31613
31614 @kindex maint set internal-error
31615 @kindex maint show internal-error
31616 @kindex maint set internal-warning
31617 @kindex maint show internal-warning
31618 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31619 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
31620 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31621 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
31622 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
31623 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
31624 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
31625 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
31626 described in the table below.
31627
31628 @table @samp
31629 @item quit
31630 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31631 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31632
31633 @item corefile
31634 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31635 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31636 @end table
31637
31638 @kindex maint packet
31639 @item maint packet @var{text}
31640 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
31641 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
31642 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
31643 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
31644 checksum.
31645
31646 @kindex maint print architecture
31647 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31648 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
31649 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
31650
31651 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
31652 @item maint print c-tdesc
31653 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
31654 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
31655 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
31656
31657 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
31658 @item maint print dummy-frames
31659 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
31660
31661 @smallexample
31662 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
31663 @dots{}
31664 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
31665 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
31666 58 return (a + b);
31667 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
31668 @dots{}
31669 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
31670 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
31671 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
31672 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
31673 (@value{GDBP})
31674 @end smallexample
31675
31676 Takes an optional file parameter.
31677
31678 @kindex maint print registers
31679 @kindex maint print raw-registers
31680 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
31681 @kindex maint print register-groups
31682 @kindex maint print remote-registers
31683 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31684 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31685 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31686 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31687 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31688 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
31689
31690 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
31691 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
31692 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
31693 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
31694 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
31695 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
31696 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
31697 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
31698 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
31699
31700 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
31701 write the information.
31702
31703 @kindex maint print reggroups
31704 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31705 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
31706 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
31707 information.
31708
31709 The register groups info looks like this:
31710
31711 @smallexample
31712 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
31713 Group Type
31714 general user
31715 float user
31716 all user
31717 vector user
31718 system user
31719 save internal
31720 restore internal
31721 @end smallexample
31722
31723 @kindex flushregs
31724 @item flushregs
31725 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
31726
31727 @kindex maint print objfiles
31728 @cindex info for known object files
31729 @item maint print objfiles
31730 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
31731 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
31732 and symtabs.
31733
31734 @kindex maint print section-scripts
31735 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
31736 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
31737 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
31738 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
31739 matching @var{regexp}.
31740 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
31741 and the full path if known.
31742 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
31743
31744 @kindex maint print statistics
31745 @cindex bcache statistics
31746 @item maint print statistics
31747 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
31748 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
31749 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
31750 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
31751 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
31752 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
31753 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
31754 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
31755 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
31756 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
31757 lengths.
31758
31759 @kindex maint print target-stack
31760 @cindex target stack description
31761 @item maint print target-stack
31762 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
31763 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
31764 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
31765 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
31766 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
31767 address.
31768
31769 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
31770 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
31771
31772 @kindex maint print type
31773 @cindex type chain of a data type
31774 @item maint print type @var{expr}
31775 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
31776 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
31777 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
31778 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
31779 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
31780
31781 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31782 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31783 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31784 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31785 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
31786 information.
31787
31788 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
31789 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
31790 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
31791 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
31792 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
31793 always see the disassembly form.
31794
31795 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
31796
31797 @smallexample
31798 (gdb) info addr argc
31799 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
31800 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
31801 @end smallexample
31802
31803 For more information on these expressions, see
31804 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
31805
31806 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31807 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31808 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31809 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31810 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
31811
31812 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
31813 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
31814 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
31815 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
31816 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
31817 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
31818 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
31819 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
31820 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
31821
31822 @kindex maint set profile
31823 @kindex maint show profile
31824 @cindex profiling GDB
31825 @item maint set profile
31826 @itemx maint show profile
31827 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
31828
31829 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
31830 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
31831 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
31832 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
31833 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
31834 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
31835 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
31836
31837 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
31838 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
31839
31840 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
31841 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
31842 @cindex hardware debug registers
31843 @item maint set show-debug-regs
31844 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
31845 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
31846 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
31847 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
31848 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
31849 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
31850
31851 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
31852 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
31853 @item maint set show-all-tib
31854 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
31855 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
31856 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
31857 command.
31858
31859 @kindex maint space
31860 @cindex memory used by commands
31861 @item maint space
31862 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
31863 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
31864 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
31865 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
31866 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31867
31868 @kindex maint time
31869 @cindex time of command execution
31870 @item maint time
31871 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
31872 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
31873 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
31874 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
31875 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
31876 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
31877 it's not possibly currently
31878 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
31879 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31880
31881 @kindex maint translate-address
31882 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
31883 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
31884 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
31885 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
31886 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
31887 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
31888 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
31889
31890 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
31891 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
31892 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
31893
31894 @end table
31895
31896 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
31897 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
31898
31899 @table @code
31900 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
31901 @kindex set watchdog
31902 @cindex watchdog timer
31903 @cindex timeout for commands
31904 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
31905 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
31906 reports and error and the command is aborted.
31907
31908 @item show watchdog
31909 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
31910 @end table
31911
31912 @node Remote Protocol
31913 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
31914
31915 @menu
31916 * Overview::
31917 * Packets::
31918 * Stop Reply Packets::
31919 * General Query Packets::
31920 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
31921 * Tracepoint Packets::
31922 * Host I/O Packets::
31923 * Interrupts::
31924 * Notification Packets::
31925 * Remote Non-Stop::
31926 * Packet Acknowledgment::
31927 * Examples::
31928 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
31929 * Library List Format::
31930 * Memory Map Format::
31931 * Thread List Format::
31932 * Traceframe Info Format::
31933 @end menu
31934
31935 @node Overview
31936 @section Overview
31937
31938 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
31939 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
31940 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
31941 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
31942
31943 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
31944 transmitted and received data, respectively.
31945
31946 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
31947 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
31948 @cindex remote serial protocol
31949 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
31950 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
31951 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
31952 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
31953 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
31954
31955 @smallexample
31956 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31957 @end smallexample
31958 @noindent
31959
31960 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
31961 @noindent
31962 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
31963 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
31964 eight bit unsigned checksum).
31965
31966 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
31967 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
31968
31969 @smallexample
31970 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31971 @end smallexample
31972
31973 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
31974 @noindent
31975 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
31976 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
31977 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
31978
31979 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
31980 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
31981 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
31982 retransmission):
31983
31984 @smallexample
31985 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31986 <- @code{+}
31987 @end smallexample
31988 @noindent
31989
31990 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
31991 once a connection is established.
31992 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
31993
31994 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
31995 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
31996 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
31997 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
31998 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
31999 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
32000 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
32001
32002 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
32003 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
32004 exceptions).
32005
32006 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
32007 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
32008 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
32009 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
32010
32011 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
32012 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
32013 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
32014
32015 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
32016 @anchor{Binary Data}
32017 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
32018 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
32019 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
32020 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
32021 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
32022 binary data.
32023
32024 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
32025 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
32026 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
32027 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
32028 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
32029 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
32030 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
32031 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
32032 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
32033 (described next).
32034
32035 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
32036 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
32037 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
32038 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
32039 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
32040 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
32041 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
32042 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
32043 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
32044 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
32045 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
32046 3}} more times.
32047
32048 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
32049 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
32050 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
32051 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
32052 @samp{0*"00}.
32053
32054 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
32055 error number. That number is not well defined.
32056
32057 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
32058 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
32059 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
32060 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
32061 on that response.
32062
32063 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
32064 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
32065 optional.
32066
32067 @node Packets
32068 @section Packets
32069
32070 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
32071 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
32072 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
32073 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
32074
32075 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
32076 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
32077 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
32078 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
32079 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
32080 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
32081 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
32082 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
32083 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
32084 @var{baz}.
32085
32086 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
32087 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
32088 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
32089 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
32090 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
32091 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
32092 pick any thread.
32093
32094 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
32095 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
32096 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
32097 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
32098 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
32099 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
32100 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
32101 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
32102 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
32103 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
32104 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
32105 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
32106 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
32107
32108 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
32109 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
32110 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
32111 more information.
32112
32113 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
32114 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
32115
32116 Here are the packet descriptions.
32117
32118 @table @samp
32119
32120 @item !
32121 @cindex @samp{!} packet
32122 @anchor{extended mode}
32123 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
32124 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
32125 debugged.
32126
32127 Reply:
32128 @table @samp
32129 @item OK
32130 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
32131 @end table
32132
32133 @item ?
32134 @cindex @samp{?} packet
32135 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
32136 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
32137 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
32138
32139 Reply:
32140 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32141
32142 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
32143 @cindex @samp{A} packet
32144 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
32145 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
32146 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
32147
32148 Reply:
32149 @table @samp
32150 @item OK
32151 The arguments were set.
32152 @item E @var{NN}
32153 An error occurred.
32154 @end table
32155
32156 @item b @var{baud}
32157 @cindex @samp{b} packet
32158 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
32159 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
32160
32161 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
32162 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
32163 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
32164
32165 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
32166 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
32167 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
32168 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
32169 of view, nothing actually happened.}
32170
32171 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
32172 @cindex @samp{B} packet
32173 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
32174 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
32175
32176 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
32177 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
32178
32179 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
32180 @anchor{bc}
32181 @item bc
32182 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
32183 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32184
32185 Reply:
32186 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32187
32188 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
32189 @anchor{bs}
32190 @item bs
32191 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
32192 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32193
32194 Reply:
32195 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32196
32197 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
32198 @cindex @samp{c} packet
32199 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
32200 resume at current address.
32201
32202 Reply:
32203 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32204
32205 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
32206 @cindex @samp{C} packet
32207 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
32208 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
32209
32210 Reply:
32211 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32212
32213 @item d
32214 @cindex @samp{d} packet
32215 Toggle debug flag.
32216
32217 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
32218 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
32219
32220 @item D
32221 @itemx D;@var{pid}
32222 @cindex @samp{D} packet
32223 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
32224 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
32225 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
32226
32227 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
32228 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
32229 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
32230 big-endian hex string.
32231
32232 Reply:
32233 @table @samp
32234 @item OK
32235 for success
32236 @item E @var{NN}
32237 for an error
32238 @end table
32239
32240 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
32241 @cindex @samp{F} packet
32242 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
32243 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
32244 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
32245
32246 @item g
32247 @anchor{read registers packet}
32248 @cindex @samp{g} packet
32249 Read general registers.
32250
32251 Reply:
32252 @table @samp
32253 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
32254 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
32255 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
32256 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
32257 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
32258 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
32259 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
32260
32261 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
32262 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
32263 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
32264 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
32265 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
32266 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
32267 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
32268 have been collected, and both have zero value:
32269
32270 @smallexample
32271 -> @code{g}
32272 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
32273 @end smallexample
32274
32275 @item E @var{NN}
32276 for an error.
32277 @end table
32278
32279 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
32280 @cindex @samp{G} packet
32281 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
32282 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
32283
32284 Reply:
32285 @table @samp
32286 @item OK
32287 for success
32288 @item E @var{NN}
32289 for an error
32290 @end table
32291
32292 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
32293 @cindex @samp{H} packet
32294 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
32295 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
32296 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
32297 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
32298 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32299
32300 Reply:
32301 @table @samp
32302 @item OK
32303 for success
32304 @item E @var{NN}
32305 for an error
32306 @end table
32307
32308 @c FIXME: JTC:
32309 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
32310 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
32311 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
32312 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
32313 @c described. For example:
32314 @c
32315 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
32316 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
32317 @c otherwise returns current registers.
32318 @c
32319 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
32320 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
32321 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
32322
32323 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
32324 @anchor{cycle step packet}
32325 @cindex @samp{i} packet
32326 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
32327 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
32328 step starting at that address.
32329
32330 @item I
32331 @cindex @samp{I} packet
32332 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
32333 step packet}.
32334
32335 @item k
32336 @cindex @samp{k} packet
32337 Kill request.
32338
32339 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
32340 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
32341 thread?)}.
32342
32343 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
32344 @cindex @samp{m} packet
32345 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
32346 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
32347
32348 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
32349 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
32350 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
32351 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
32352 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
32353 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
32354 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
32355 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
32356
32357 Reply:
32358 @table @samp
32359 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
32360 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
32361 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
32362 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
32363 @item E @var{NN}
32364 @var{NN} is errno
32365 @end table
32366
32367 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32368 @cindex @samp{M} packet
32369 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
32370 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
32371 hexadecimal number.
32372
32373 Reply:
32374 @table @samp
32375 @item OK
32376 for success
32377 @item E @var{NN}
32378 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
32379 written).
32380 @end table
32381
32382 @item p @var{n}
32383 @cindex @samp{p} packet
32384 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
32385 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
32386 register value is encoded.
32387
32388 Reply:
32389 @table @samp
32390 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
32391 the register's value
32392 @item E @var{NN}
32393 for an error
32394 @item
32395 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
32396 @end table
32397
32398 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
32399 @anchor{write register packet}
32400 @cindex @samp{P} packet
32401 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
32402 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
32403 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
32404
32405 Reply:
32406 @table @samp
32407 @item OK
32408 for success
32409 @item E @var{NN}
32410 for an error
32411 @end table
32412
32413 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
32414 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
32415 @cindex @samp{q} packet
32416 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
32417 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
32418 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
32419
32420 @item r
32421 @cindex @samp{r} packet
32422 Reset the entire system.
32423
32424 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
32425
32426 @item R @var{XX}
32427 @cindex @samp{R} packet
32428 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
32429 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32430
32431 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
32432
32433 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
32434 @cindex @samp{s} packet
32435 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
32436 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
32437
32438 Reply:
32439 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32440
32441 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
32442 @anchor{step with signal packet}
32443 @cindex @samp{S} packet
32444 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
32445 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
32446
32447 Reply:
32448 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32449
32450 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
32451 @cindex @samp{t} packet
32452 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
32453 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
32454 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
32455
32456 @item T @var{thread-id}
32457 @cindex @samp{T} packet
32458 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
32459
32460 Reply:
32461 @table @samp
32462 @item OK
32463 thread is still alive
32464 @item E @var{NN}
32465 thread is dead
32466 @end table
32467
32468 @item v
32469 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
32470 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
32471
32472 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
32473 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
32474 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
32475 The process ID is a
32476 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
32477 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
32478 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
32479
32480 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
32481 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
32482 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
32483 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
32484 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
32485 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
32486 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
32487 @c stopping or restarting threads.
32488
32489 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32490
32491 Reply:
32492 @table @samp
32493 @item E @var{nn}
32494 for an error
32495 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32496 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32497 @item OK
32498 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
32499 @end table
32500
32501 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
32502 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
32503 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
32504 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
32505 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
32506 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
32507 in their current state in non-stop mode.
32508 Specifying multiple
32509 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
32510 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32511
32512 Currently supported actions are:
32513
32514 @table @samp
32515 @item c
32516 Continue.
32517 @item C @var{sig}
32518 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32519 @item s
32520 Step.
32521 @item S @var{sig}
32522 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32523 @item t
32524 Stop.
32525 @end table
32526
32527 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
32528 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
32529 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
32530
32531 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
32532 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
32533 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
32534 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
32535 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
32536 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
32537 as an implementation detail.
32538
32539 Reply:
32540 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32541
32542 @item vCont?
32543 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
32544 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
32545
32546 Reply:
32547 @table @samp
32548 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
32549 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
32550 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
32551 @item
32552 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
32553 @end table
32554
32555 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
32556 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
32557 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
32558 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
32559
32560 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
32561 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
32562 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
32563 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
32564 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
32565 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
32566 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
32567 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
32568 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32569 packet is received.
32570
32571 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
32572 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
32573 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
32574 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
32575 @var{thread-id}.
32576
32577 Reply:
32578 @table @samp
32579 @item OK
32580 for success
32581 @item E @var{NN}
32582 for an error
32583 @end table
32584
32585 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32586 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
32587 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
32588 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
32589 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
32590 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
32591 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
32592 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
32593 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
32594 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
32595 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
32596 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
32597
32598
32599 Reply:
32600 @table @samp
32601 @item OK
32602 for success
32603 @item E.memtype
32604 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
32605 @item E @var{NN}
32606 for an error
32607 @end table
32608
32609 @item vFlashDone
32610 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
32611 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
32612 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
32613 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
32614 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
32615 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32616 request is completed.
32617
32618 @item vKill;@var{pid}
32619 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
32620 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
32621 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
32622 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
32623 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32624
32625 Reply:
32626 @table @samp
32627 @item E @var{nn}
32628 for an error
32629 @item OK
32630 for success
32631 @end table
32632
32633 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
32634 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
32635 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
32636 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
32637 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
32638 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
32639 state.
32640
32641 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
32642
32643 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32644
32645 Reply:
32646 @table @samp
32647 @item E @var{nn}
32648 for an error
32649 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32650 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32651 @end table
32652
32653 @item vStopped
32654 @anchor{vStopped packet}
32655 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
32656
32657 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
32658 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
32659
32660 Reply:
32661 @table @samp
32662 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32663 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32664 @item OK
32665 if there are no unreported stop events
32666 @end table
32667
32668 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32669 @anchor{X packet}
32670 @cindex @samp{X} packet
32671 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
32672 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
32673 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32674
32675 Reply:
32676 @table @samp
32677 @item OK
32678 for success
32679 @item E @var{NN}
32680 for an error
32681 @end table
32682
32683 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32684 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32685 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
32686 @cindex @samp{z} packet
32687 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
32688 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
32689 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
32690
32691 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
32692 separately.
32693
32694 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
32695 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
32696 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
32697 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
32698 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
32699 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
32700
32701 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32702 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32703 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
32704 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
32705 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
32706 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
32707
32708 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
32709 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
32710 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
32711 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
32712 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
32713 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
32714 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
32715
32716 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
32717 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
32718 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
32719 target, is not defined.}
32720
32721 Reply:
32722 @table @samp
32723 @item OK
32724 success
32725 @item
32726 not supported
32727 @item E @var{NN}
32728 for an error
32729 @end table
32730
32731 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32732 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32733 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
32734 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
32735 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
32736 address @var{addr}.
32737
32738 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
32739 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
32740 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
32741
32742 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
32743 movement.}
32744
32745 Reply:
32746 @table @samp
32747 @item OK
32748 success
32749 @item
32750 not supported
32751 @item E @var{NN}
32752 for an error
32753 @end table
32754
32755 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32756 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32757 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
32758 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
32759 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32760 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32761
32762 Reply:
32763 @table @samp
32764 @item OK
32765 success
32766 @item
32767 not supported
32768 @item E @var{NN}
32769 for an error
32770 @end table
32771
32772 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32773 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32774 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
32775 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
32776 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32777 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32778
32779 Reply:
32780 @table @samp
32781 @item OK
32782 success
32783 @item
32784 not supported
32785 @item E @var{NN}
32786 for an error
32787 @end table
32788
32789 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32790 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32791 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
32792 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
32793 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32794 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32795
32796 Reply:
32797 @table @samp
32798 @item OK
32799 success
32800 @item
32801 not supported
32802 @item E @var{NN}
32803 for an error
32804 @end table
32805
32806 @end table
32807
32808 @node Stop Reply Packets
32809 @section Stop Reply Packets
32810 @cindex stop reply packets
32811
32812 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
32813 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
32814 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
32815 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
32816 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
32817 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
32818 @value{GDBN} source code.
32819
32820 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
32821 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
32822 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
32823 components.
32824
32825 @table @samp
32826
32827 @item S @var{AA}
32828 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32829 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
32830 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
32831
32832 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
32833 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
32834 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32835 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
32836 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
32837 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
32838 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
32839 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
32840
32841 @itemize @bullet
32842 @item
32843 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
32844 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
32845 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
32846 two-digit hex number.
32847
32848 @item
32849 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
32850 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32851
32852 @item
32853 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
32854 the core on which the stop event was detected.
32855
32856 @item
32857 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
32858 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
32859 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
32860 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
32861
32862 @item
32863 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
32864 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
32865 future.
32866 @end itemize
32867
32868 The currently defined stop reasons are:
32869
32870 @table @samp
32871 @item watch
32872 @itemx rwatch
32873 @itemx awatch
32874 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
32875 hex.
32876
32877 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
32878 @item library
32879 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
32880 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
32881 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
32882
32883 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
32884 @item replaylog
32885 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
32886 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
32887 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
32888 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
32889 for more information.
32890 @end table
32891
32892 @item W @var{AA}
32893 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32894 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
32895 applicable to certain targets.
32896
32897 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
32898 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
32899 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32900 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32901
32902 @item X @var{AA}
32903 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32904 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
32905
32906 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
32907 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
32908 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
32909 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32910
32911 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
32912 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
32913 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
32914 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
32915 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
32916
32917 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
32918 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
32919 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
32920 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
32921 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
32922 system calls.
32923
32924 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
32925 this very system call.
32926
32927 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
32928 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
32929 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
32930 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
32931 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
32932 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
32933
32934 @end table
32935
32936 @node General Query Packets
32937 @section General Query Packets
32938 @cindex remote query requests
32939
32940 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
32941 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
32942 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
32943 sending information to and from the stub.
32944
32945 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
32946 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
32947 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
32948 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
32949 conventions:
32950
32951 @itemize @bullet
32952 @item
32953 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
32954 @item
32955 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
32956 letter.
32957 @item
32958 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
32959 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
32960 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
32961 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
32962 @end itemize
32963
32964 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
32965 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
32966 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
32967 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
32968 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
32969 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
32970 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
32971 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
32972 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
32973 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
32974 packet.}.
32975
32976 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
32977 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
32978 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
32979 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
32980 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
32981
32982 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
32983
32984 @table @samp
32985
32986 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
32987 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
32988 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
32989 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
32990 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
32991 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
32992 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
32993 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
32994 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
32995 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
32996 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
32997
32998 @item qC
32999 @cindex current thread, remote request
33000 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
33001 Return the current thread ID.
33002
33003 Reply:
33004 @table @samp
33005 @item QC @var{thread-id}
33006 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
33007 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33008 @item @r{(anything else)}
33009 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
33010 @end table
33011
33012 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
33013 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
33014 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
33015 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
33016 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
33017 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
33018 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
33019
33020 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
33021 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
33022 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
33023 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
33024 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
33025 detect trailing zeros.
33026
33027 Reply:
33028 @table @samp
33029 @item E @var{NN}
33030 An error (such as memory fault)
33031 @item C @var{crc32}
33032 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
33033 @end table
33034
33035 @item qfThreadInfo
33036 @itemx qsThreadInfo
33037 @cindex list active threads, remote request
33038 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
33039 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
33040 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
33041 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
33042 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
33043 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
33044 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
33045 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
33046
33047 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
33048
33049 Reply:
33050 @table @samp
33051 @item m @var{thread-id}
33052 A single thread ID
33053 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
33054 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
33055 @item l
33056 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
33057 @end table
33058
33059 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
33060 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
33061 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
33062 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
33063 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
33064 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
33065 fields.
33066
33067 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
33068 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
33069 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
33070 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
33071 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
33072
33073 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
33074 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
33075
33076 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
33077 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
33078 information associated with the variable.)
33079
33080 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
33081 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
33082 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
33083 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
33084 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
33085 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
33086
33087 Reply:
33088 @table @samp
33089 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
33090 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
33091 local storage requested.
33092
33093 @item E @var{nn}
33094 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33095
33096 @item
33097 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
33098 @end table
33099
33100 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
33101 @cindex get thread information block address
33102 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
33103 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
33104
33105 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
33106
33107 Reply:
33108 @table @samp
33109 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
33110 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
33111 thread information block.
33112
33113 @item E @var{nn}
33114 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
33115 address could not be retrieved.
33116
33117 @item
33118 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
33119 @end table
33120
33121 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
33122 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
33123 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
33124 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
33125 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
33126 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
33127 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
33128
33129 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
33130
33131 Reply:
33132 @table @samp
33133 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
33134 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
33135 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
33136 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
33137 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
33138 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
33139 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
33140 @end table
33141
33142 @item qOffsets
33143 @cindex section offsets, remote request
33144 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
33145 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
33146 image.
33147
33148 Reply:
33149 @table @samp
33150 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
33151 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
33152 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
33153 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
33154 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
33155 segments by the supplied offsets.
33156
33157 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
33158 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
33159 to the @code{Bss} section.}
33160
33161 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
33162 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
33163 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
33164 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
33165 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
33166 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
33167 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
33168 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
33169 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
33170 @end table
33171
33172 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
33173 @cindex thread information, remote request
33174 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
33175 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
33176 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
33177 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
33178
33179 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
33180 (see below).
33181
33182 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
33183
33184 @item QNonStop:1
33185 @item QNonStop:0
33186 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
33187 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
33188 @anchor{QNonStop}
33189 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
33190 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
33191
33192 Reply:
33193 @table @samp
33194 @item OK
33195 The request succeeded.
33196
33197 @item E @var{nn}
33198 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33199
33200 @item
33201 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
33202 the stub.
33203 @end table
33204
33205 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33206 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33207 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
33208 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
33209
33210 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
33211 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
33212 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
33213 @anchor{QPassSignals}
33214 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
33215 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
33216 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
33217 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
33218 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
33219 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
33220 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
33221 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
33222 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
33223
33224 Reply:
33225 @table @samp
33226 @item OK
33227 The request succeeded.
33228
33229 @item E @var{nn}
33230 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33231
33232 @item
33233 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
33234 the stub.
33235 @end table
33236
33237 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
33238 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
33239 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33240 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33241
33242 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
33243 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
33244 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
33245 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
33246 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
33247 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
33248 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
33249 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
33250 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
33251
33252 Reply:
33253 @table @samp
33254 @item OK
33255 A command response with no output.
33256 @item @var{OUTPUT}
33257 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
33258 @item E @var{NN}
33259 Indicate a badly formed request.
33260 @item
33261 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
33262 @end table
33263
33264 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
33265 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
33266 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
33267 packets.)
33268
33269 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
33270 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
33271 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
33272 @anchor{qSearch memory}
33273 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
33274 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
33275 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
33276
33277 Reply:
33278 @table @samp
33279 @item 0
33280 The pattern was not found.
33281 @item 1,address
33282 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
33283 @item E @var{NN}
33284 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
33285 @item
33286 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
33287 @end table
33288
33289 @item QStartNoAckMode
33290 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
33291 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
33292 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
33293 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
33294
33295 Reply:
33296 @table @samp
33297 @item OK
33298 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
33299 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
33300 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
33301 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
33302 @item
33303 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
33304 @end table
33305
33306 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
33307 @cindex supported packets, remote query
33308 @cindex features of the remote protocol
33309 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
33310 @anchor{qSupported}
33311 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
33312 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
33313 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
33314 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
33315 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
33316 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
33317 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
33318 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
33319 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
33320 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
33321 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
33322 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
33323 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
33324 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
33325
33326 Reply:
33327 @table @samp
33328 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
33329 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
33330 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
33331 possible forms).
33332 @item
33333 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
33334 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
33335 @end table
33336
33337 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
33338 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
33339 are:
33340
33341 @table @samp
33342 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
33343 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
33344 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
33345 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
33346 @item @var{name}+
33347 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
33348 need an associated value.
33349 @item @var{name}-
33350 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
33351 @item @var{name}?
33352 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
33353 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
33354 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
33355 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
33356 @end table
33357
33358 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
33359 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
33360 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
33361 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
33362 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
33363
33364 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
33365 are defined:
33366
33367 @table @samp
33368 @item multiprocess
33369 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
33370 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
33371 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
33372 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
33373 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
33374
33375 @item xmlRegisters
33376 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
33377 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
33378 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
33379 description.
33380
33381 @item qRelocInsn
33382 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
33383 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
33384 instruction reply packet}).
33385 @end table
33386
33387 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
33388 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
33389 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
33390 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
33391 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
33392 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
33393 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
33394 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
33395 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
33396 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
33397 all the features it supports.
33398
33399 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
33400 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
33401
33402 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
33403 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
33404 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
33405 form response.
33406
33407 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
33408 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
33409 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
33410 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
33411
33412 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
33413 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
33414 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
33415 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
33416 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
33417
33418 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
33419
33420 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
33421 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
33422 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
33423 @item Feature Name
33424 @tab Value Required
33425 @tab Default
33426 @tab Probe Allowed
33427
33428 @item @samp{PacketSize}
33429 @tab Yes
33430 @tab @samp{-}
33431 @tab No
33432
33433 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
33434 @tab No
33435 @tab @samp{-}
33436 @tab Yes
33437
33438 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
33439 @tab No
33440 @tab @samp{-}
33441 @tab Yes
33442
33443 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
33444 @tab No
33445 @tab @samp{-}
33446 @tab Yes
33447
33448 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
33449 @tab No
33450 @tab @samp{-}
33451 @tab Yes
33452
33453 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
33454 @tab No
33455 @tab @samp{-}
33456 @tab Yes
33457
33458 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
33459 @tab No
33460 @tab @samp{-}
33461 @tab Yes
33462
33463 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
33464 @tab No
33465 @tab @samp{-}
33466 @tab Yes
33467
33468 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
33469 @tab No
33470 @tab @samp{-}
33471 @tab Yes
33472
33473 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
33474 @tab No
33475 @tab @samp{-}
33476 @tab Yes
33477
33478 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
33479 @tab No
33480 @tab @samp{-}
33481 @tab Yes
33482
33483 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
33484 @tab No
33485 @tab @samp{-}
33486 @tab Yes
33487
33488
33489 @item @samp{QNonStop}
33490 @tab No
33491 @tab @samp{-}
33492 @tab Yes
33493
33494 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
33495 @tab No
33496 @tab @samp{-}
33497 @tab Yes
33498
33499 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
33500 @tab No
33501 @tab @samp{-}
33502 @tab Yes
33503
33504 @item @samp{multiprocess}
33505 @tab No
33506 @tab @samp{-}
33507 @tab No
33508
33509 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
33510 @tab No
33511 @tab @samp{-}
33512 @tab No
33513
33514 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
33515 @tab No
33516 @tab @samp{-}
33517 @tab No
33518
33519 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
33520 @tab No
33521 @tab @samp{-}
33522 @tab No
33523
33524 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
33525 @tab No
33526 @tab @samp{-}
33527 @tab No
33528
33529 @item @samp{QAllow}
33530 @tab No
33531 @tab @samp{-}
33532 @tab No
33533
33534 @end multitable
33535
33536 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
33537
33538 @table @samp
33539 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
33540 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
33541 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
33542 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
33543 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
33544 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
33545 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
33546 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
33547 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
33548 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
33549
33550 @item qXfer:auxv:read
33551 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
33552 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
33553
33554 @item qXfer:features:read
33555 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
33556 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
33557
33558 @item qXfer:libraries:read
33559 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
33560 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
33561
33562 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
33563 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
33564 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
33565
33566 @item qXfer:sdata:read
33567 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
33568 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
33569
33570 @item qXfer:spu:read
33571 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
33572 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
33573
33574 @item qXfer:spu:write
33575 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
33576 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
33577
33578 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
33579 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
33580 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
33581
33582 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
33583 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
33584 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
33585
33586 @item qXfer:threads:read
33587 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
33588 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
33589
33590 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
33591 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
33592 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
33593
33594 @item QNonStop
33595 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
33596 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
33597
33598 @item QPassSignals
33599 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
33600 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
33601
33602 @item QStartNoAckMode
33603 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
33604 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
33605
33606 @item multiprocess
33607 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
33608 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
33609 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
33610 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
33611 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
33612 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
33613 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
33614 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
33615 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
33616 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
33617 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
33618
33619 @item qXfer:osdata:read
33620 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
33621 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
33622
33623 @item ConditionalTracepoints
33624 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
33625 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
33626
33627 @item ReverseContinue
33628 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
33629 (@pxref{bc}).
33630
33631 @item ReverseStep
33632 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
33633 (@pxref{bs}).
33634
33635 @item TracepointSource
33636 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
33637 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
33638
33639 @item QAllow
33640 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
33641
33642 @item StaticTracepoint
33643 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
33644 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
33645
33646 @end table
33647
33648 @item qSymbol::
33649 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
33650 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
33651 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
33652 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
33653
33654 Reply:
33655 @table @samp
33656 @item OK
33657 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33658 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33659 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
33660 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
33661 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
33662 below.
33663 @end table
33664
33665 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
33666 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
33667
33668 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
33669 target has previously requested.
33670
33671 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
33672 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
33673 will be empty.
33674
33675 Reply:
33676 @table @samp
33677 @item OK
33678 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33679 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33680 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
33681 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
33682 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
33683 @end table
33684
33685 @item qTBuffer
33686 @item QTBuffer
33687 @item QTDisconnected
33688 @itemx QTDP
33689 @itemx QTDPsrc
33690 @itemx QTDV
33691 @itemx qTfP
33692 @itemx qTfV
33693 @itemx QTFrame
33694 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33695
33696 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
33697 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
33698 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
33699 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
33700 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
33701 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
33702 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
33703 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
33704 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
33705 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
33706 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
33707
33708 Reply:
33709 @table @samp
33710 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
33711 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
33712 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
33713 the thread's attributes.
33714 @end table
33715
33716 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
33717 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
33718 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
33719 packets.)
33720
33721 @item QTSave
33722 @item qTsP
33723 @item qTsV
33724 @itemx QTStart
33725 @itemx QTStop
33726 @itemx QTinit
33727 @itemx QTro
33728 @itemx qTStatus
33729 @itemx qTV
33730 @itemx qTfSTM
33731 @itemx qTsSTM
33732 @itemx qTSTMat
33733 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33734
33735 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33736 @cindex read special object, remote request
33737 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
33738 @anchor{qXfer read}
33739 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
33740 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
33741 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
33742 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
33743 additional details about what data to access.
33744
33745 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33746 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33747 formats, listed below.
33748
33749 @table @samp
33750 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33751 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
33752 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
33753 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
33754
33755 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33756 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33757
33758 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33759 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
33760 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
33761 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
33762 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
33763
33764 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33765 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33766
33767 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33768 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
33769 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
33770 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33771 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33772
33773 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
33774 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
33775 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
33776
33777 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33778 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33779
33780 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33781 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
33782 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
33783 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33784 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33785
33786 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33787 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33788
33789 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33790 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
33791
33792 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
33793 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
33794 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
33795 Action Lists}.
33796
33797 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33798 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33799 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33800
33801 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33802 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
33803 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
33804 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33805 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33806
33807 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33808 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33809 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33810
33811 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33812 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
33813 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33814 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
33815 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33816 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33817 in that context to be accessed.
33818
33819 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33820 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33821 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33822
33823 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33824 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
33825 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
33826 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33827 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33828
33829 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33830 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33831
33832 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33833 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
33834
33835 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
33836 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
33837 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33838
33839 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33840 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33841
33842 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33843 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
33844 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
33845 @xref{Operating System Information}.
33846
33847 @end table
33848
33849 Reply:
33850 @table @samp
33851 @item m @var{data}
33852 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
33853 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
33854 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
33855 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
33856 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
33857 request.
33858
33859 @item l @var{data}
33860 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
33861 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
33862 than the @var{length} in the request.
33863
33864 @item l
33865 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
33866 There is no more data to be read.
33867
33868 @item E00
33869 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33870
33871 @item E @var{nn}
33872 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
33873 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33874
33875 @item
33876 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
33877 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
33878 @end table
33879
33880 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33881 @cindex write data into object, remote request
33882 @anchor{qXfer write}
33883 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
33884 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
33885 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
33886 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
33887 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
33888 to access.
33889
33890 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33891 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33892 formats, listed below.
33893
33894 @table @samp
33895 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33896 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
33897 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
33898 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33899 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
33900
33901 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33902 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33903 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33904
33905 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33906 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
33907 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33908 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
33909 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33910 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33911 in that context to be accessed.
33912
33913 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33914 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33915 @end table
33916
33917 Reply:
33918 @table @samp
33919 @item @var{nn}
33920 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
33921 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
33922
33923 @item E00
33924 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33925
33926 @item E @var{nn}
33927 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
33928 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33929
33930 @item
33931 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
33932 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
33933 @end table
33934
33935 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
33936 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
33937 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
33938 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
33939 must respond with an empty packet.
33940
33941 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
33942 @cindex query attached, remote request
33943 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
33944 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
33945 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
33946 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
33947 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
33948 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
33949 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
33950
33951 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
33952 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
33953 the @code{quit} command.
33954
33955 Reply:
33956 @table @samp
33957 @item 1
33958 The remote server attached to an existing process.
33959 @item 0
33960 The remote server created a new process.
33961 @item E @var{NN}
33962 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
33963 @end table
33964
33965 @end table
33966
33967 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33968 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33969
33970 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
33971 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
33972 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
33973
33974 @subsection ARM
33975
33976 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
33977
33978 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
33979
33980 @table @r
33981
33982 @item 2
33983 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
33984
33985 @item 3
33986 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
33987
33988 @item 4
33989 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
33990
33991 @end table
33992
33993 @subsection MIPS
33994
33995 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
33996
33997 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
33998 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
33999 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
34000 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
34001 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
34002 most-significant - least-significant.
34003
34004 @table @r
34005
34006 @item MIPS32
34007
34008 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
34009 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
34010 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
34011
34012 @item MIPS64
34013
34014 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
34015 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
34016 as @code{MIPS32}.
34017
34018 @end table
34019
34020 @node Tracepoint Packets
34021 @section Tracepoint Packets
34022 @cindex tracepoint packets
34023 @cindex packets, tracepoint
34024
34025 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
34026 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
34027
34028 @table @samp
34029
34030 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
34031 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
34032 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
34033 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
34034 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
34035 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
34036 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
34037 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
34038 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
34039 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
34040 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
34041 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
34042 actions.
34043
34044 Replies:
34045 @table @samp
34046 @item OK
34047 The packet was understood and carried out.
34048 @item qRelocInsn
34049 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
34050 @item
34051 The packet was not recognized.
34052 @end table
34053
34054 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
34055 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
34056 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
34057 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
34058 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
34059 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
34060 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
34061
34062 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
34063 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
34064 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
34065 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
34066 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
34067 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
34068 tracepoint actions.
34069
34070 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
34071 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
34072 following forms:
34073
34074 @table @samp
34075
34076 @item R @var{mask}
34077 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
34078 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
34079 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
34080 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
34081 not fit in a 32-bit word.
34082
34083 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
34084 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
34085 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
34086 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
34087 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
34088 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
34089 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
34090
34091 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
34092 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
34093 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
34094 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
34095 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
34096 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
34097 packet).
34098
34099 @end table
34100
34101 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
34102 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
34103 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
34104 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
34105 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
34106 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
34107 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
34108 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
34109
34110 Replies:
34111 @table @samp
34112 @item OK
34113 The packet was understood and carried out.
34114 @item qRelocInsn
34115 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
34116 @item
34117 The packet was not recognized.
34118 @end table
34119
34120 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
34121 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
34122 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
34123 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
34124 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
34125 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
34126 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
34127 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
34128
34129 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
34130 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
34131 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
34132 fit in a single packet.
34133 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
34134 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
34135
34136 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
34137 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
34138 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
34139 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
34140
34141 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
34142 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
34143 query packets.
34144
34145 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
34146 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
34147 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
34148 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
34149 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
34150 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
34151 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
34152 be found.
34153
34154 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
34155 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
34156 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
34157 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
34158 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
34159 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
34160 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
34161 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
34162 mentioned in expressions.
34163
34164 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
34165 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
34166 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
34167 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
34168
34169 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
34170 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
34171 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
34172 one of the following forms:
34173
34174 @table @samp
34175 @item F @var{f}
34176 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
34177 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
34178 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
34179
34180 @item T @var{t}
34181 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
34182 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
34183
34184 @end table
34185
34186 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
34187 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
34188 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
34189 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
34190
34191 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
34192 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
34193 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
34194 is a hexadecimal number.
34195
34196 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
34197 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
34198 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
34199 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
34200 numbers.
34201
34202 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
34203 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
34204 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
34205
34206 @item QTStart
34207 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
34208 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
34209 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
34210 instruction reply packet}).
34211
34212 @item QTStop
34213 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
34214
34215 @item QTinit
34216 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
34217
34218 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
34219 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
34220 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
34221 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
34222
34223 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
34224 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
34225 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
34226 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
34227
34228 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
34229 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
34230 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
34231 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
34232 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
34233
34234 @item qTStatus
34235 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
34236
34237 The reply has the form:
34238
34239 @table @samp
34240
34241 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
34242 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
34243 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
34244 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
34245
34246 @end table
34247
34248 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
34249 explanations as one of the optional fields:
34250
34251 @table @samp
34252
34253 @item tnotrun:0
34254 No trace has been run yet.
34255
34256 @item tstop:0
34257 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
34258
34259 @item tfull:0
34260 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
34261
34262 @item tdisconnected:0
34263 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
34264
34265 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
34266 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
34267
34268 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
34269 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
34270 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
34271 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
34272 @var{text} is hex encoded.
34273
34274 @item tunknown:0
34275 The trace stopped for some other reason.
34276
34277 @end table
34278
34279 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
34280 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
34281 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
34282 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
34283 trace.
34284
34285 @table @samp
34286
34287 @item tframes:@var{n}
34288 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
34289
34290 @item tcreated:@var{n}
34291 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
34292 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
34293
34294 @item tsize:@var{n}
34295 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
34296
34297 @item tfree:@var{n}
34298 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
34299
34300 @item circular:@var{n}
34301 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
34302 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
34303 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
34304 and may fill up.
34305
34306 @item disconn:@var{n}
34307 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
34308 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
34309 that the trace run will stop.
34310
34311 @end table
34312
34313 @item qTV:@var{var}
34314 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
34315 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
34316 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
34317
34318 Replies:
34319 @table @samp
34320 @item V@var{value}
34321 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
34322 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
34323 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
34324 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
34325 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
34326 program is running.
34327
34328 @item U
34329 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
34330 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
34331 was not collected.
34332 @end table
34333
34334 @item qTfP
34335 @itemx qTsP
34336 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
34337 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
34338 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
34339 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
34340 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
34341
34342 @item qTfV
34343 @itemx qTsV
34344 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
34345 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
34346 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
34347 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
34348 trace state variables.
34349
34350 @item qTfSTM
34351 @itemx qTsSTM
34352 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
34353 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
34354 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
34355 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
34356
34357 Reply:
34358 @table @samp
34359 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
34360 A single marker
34361 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
34362 a comma-separated list of markers
34363 @item l
34364 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
34365 @item E @var{nn}
34366 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34367 @item
34368 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
34369 stub.
34370 @end table
34371
34372 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
34373 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
34374
34375 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
34376 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
34377 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
34378 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
34379 @dfn{last}).
34380
34381 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
34382 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
34383 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
34384 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
34385 tracepoint markers.
34386
34387 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
34388 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
34389 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
34390 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
34391 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
34392
34393 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
34394 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
34395 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
34396 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
34397 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
34398 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
34399 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
34400 available.
34401
34402 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
34403 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
34404 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
34405
34406 @end table
34407
34408 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
34409 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
34410 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
34411 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
34412 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
34413 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
34414 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
34415 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
34416 it had executed in the original location.
34417
34418 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
34419 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
34420 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
34421 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
34422 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
34423 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
34424 format of the request is:
34425
34426 @table @samp
34427 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
34428
34429 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
34430 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
34431 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
34432 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
34433 memory starting at @var{to}.
34434 @end table
34435
34436 Replies:
34437 @table @samp
34438 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
34439 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
34440 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
34441 @item E @var{NN}
34442 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
34443 relocating the instruction.
34444 @end table
34445
34446 @node Host I/O Packets
34447 @section Host I/O Packets
34448 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
34449 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
34450
34451 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
34452 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
34453 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
34454 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
34455 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
34456 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
34457 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
34458 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
34459 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
34460 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
34461
34462 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
34463 its arguments. They have this format:
34464
34465 @table @samp
34466
34467 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
34468 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
34469 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
34470 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
34471 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
34472 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
34473 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
34474 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
34475 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34476
34477 @end table
34478
34479 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
34480
34481 @table @samp
34482
34483 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
34484 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
34485 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
34486 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
34487 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
34488 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
34489 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
34490 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
34491 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
34492 @var{attachment}.
34493
34494 @item
34495 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
34496
34497 @end table
34498
34499 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
34500
34501 @table @samp
34502 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
34503 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
34504 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
34505 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
34506 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
34507 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
34508 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
34509
34510 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
34511 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
34512 -1 if an error occurs.
34513
34514 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
34515 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
34516 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
34517 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
34518 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
34519 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
34520 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
34521 @var{count} was zero.
34522
34523 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
34524 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
34525 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
34526 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
34527 some characters were escaped.
34528
34529 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
34530 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
34531 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
34532 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
34533 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
34534 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
34535 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
34536 error occurred.
34537
34538 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
34539 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
34540 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
34541
34542 @end table
34543
34544 @node Interrupts
34545 @section Interrupts
34546 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
34547
34548 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
34549 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
34550 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
34551 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
34552
34553 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
34554 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
34555 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
34556 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
34557 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
34558
34559 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
34560 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
34561 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
34562 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
34563 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
34564 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
34565 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
34566 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
34567
34568 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
34569 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
34570 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
34571
34572 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
34573 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
34574 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
34575 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
34576 currently-executing threads and processes.
34577 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
34578 running program, it should send one of the stop
34579 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
34580 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
34581 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
34582 Interrupts received while the
34583 program is stopped are discarded.
34584
34585 @node Notification Packets
34586 @section Notification Packets
34587 @cindex notification packets
34588 @cindex packets, notification
34589
34590 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
34591 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
34592 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
34593 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
34594 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
34595 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
34596 is not a problem.
34597
34598 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
34599 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
34600 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
34601 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
34602 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
34603 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
34604 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
34605
34606 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
34607 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
34608
34609 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
34610 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
34611 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
34612 not they understand it.
34613
34614 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
34615 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
34616 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
34617 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
34618 recipients.
34619
34620 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
34621 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
34622 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
34623 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
34624 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
34625
34626 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
34627 defined:
34628
34629 @table @samp
34630 @item Stop: @var{reply}
34631 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
34632 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
34633 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
34634 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
34635 @value{GDBN}.
34636 @end table
34637
34638 @node Remote Non-Stop
34639 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
34640
34641 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
34642 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
34643 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
34644 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34645
34646 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
34647 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
34648 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
34649 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
34650 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
34651 probe the target state after a mode change.
34652
34653 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
34654 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
34655 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
34656 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
34657 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
34658 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
34659 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
34660 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
34661 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
34662 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
34663 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
34664
34665 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
34666 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
34667 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
34668 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
34669 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
34670 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
34671 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
34672 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
34673 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
34674 sending any queued stop events.
34675
34676 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
34677 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
34678 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
34679 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
34680 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
34681 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
34682 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
34683
34684 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
34685 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
34686 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
34687 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
34688 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
34689 process normally.
34690
34691 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
34692 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
34693 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
34694 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
34695 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
34696 should process normally.
34697
34698 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
34699 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
34700 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
34701 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
34702 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
34703
34704 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
34705 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
34706 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
34707 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
34708 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
34709 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
34710 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
34711 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
34712 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
34713 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
34714 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
34715 @samp{OK}.
34716
34717 @node Packet Acknowledgment
34718 @section Packet Acknowledgment
34719
34720 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34721 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34722 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
34723 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34724 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
34725 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
34726 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
34727
34728 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
34729 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
34730 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
34731 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
34732 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
34733
34734 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
34735 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
34736 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
34737 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
34738
34739 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
34740 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
34741 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
34742 @pxref{qSupported}.
34743 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
34744 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
34745 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
34746 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
34747 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
34748 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
34749 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
34750
34751 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
34752 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
34753 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
34754 connection.
34755 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
34756 new connection is established,
34757 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
34758 for the current connection, once disabled.
34759
34760 @node Examples
34761 @section Examples
34762
34763 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
34764 does not get any direct output:
34765
34766 @smallexample
34767 -> @code{R00}
34768 <- @code{+}
34769 @emph{target restarts}
34770 -> @code{?}
34771 <- @code{+}
34772 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34773 -> @code{+}
34774 @end smallexample
34775
34776 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
34777
34778 @smallexample
34779 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
34780 <- @code{+}
34781 -> @code{s}
34782 <- @code{+}
34783 @emph{time passes}
34784 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34785 -> @code{+}
34786 -> @code{g}
34787 <- @code{+}
34788 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
34789 -> @code{+}
34790 @end smallexample
34791
34792 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34793 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34794 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
34795
34796 @menu
34797 * File-I/O Overview::
34798 * Protocol Basics::
34799 * The F Request Packet::
34800 * The F Reply Packet::
34801 * The Ctrl-C Message::
34802 * Console I/O::
34803 * List of Supported Calls::
34804 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
34805 * Constants::
34806 * File-I/O Examples::
34807 @end menu
34808
34809 @node File-I/O Overview
34810 @subsection File-I/O Overview
34811 @cindex file-i/o overview
34812
34813 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
34814 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
34815 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
34816 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
34817 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
34818 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
34819
34820 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
34821 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
34822 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
34823 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
34824 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
34825
34826 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
34827 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34828 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
34829 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
34830 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
34831 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
34832 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
34833
34834 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
34835 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
34836 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
34837 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
34838 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
34839
34840 @smallexample
34841 (@value{GDBP}) continue
34842 <- target requests 'system call X'
34843 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
34844 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
34845 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
34846 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
34847 @end smallexample
34848
34849 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
34850 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
34851 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
34852 system are not supported by this protocol.
34853
34854 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
34855
34856 @node Protocol Basics
34857 @subsection Protocol Basics
34858 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
34859
34860 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
34861 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
34862 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
34863 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
34864 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
34865 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
34866 to call the appropriate host system call:
34867
34868 @itemize @bullet
34869 @item
34870 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
34871
34872 @item
34873 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
34874 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
34875 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
34876 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
34877
34878 @end itemize
34879
34880 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
34881
34882 @itemize @bullet
34883 @item
34884 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
34885 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
34886 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
34887 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
34888 packet.
34889
34890 @item
34891 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
34892 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
34893
34894 @item
34895 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
34896
34897 @item
34898 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
34899
34900 @item
34901 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
34902 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
34903 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
34904 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
34905 packet.
34906
34907 @end itemize
34908
34909 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
34910 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
34911
34912 @itemize @bullet
34913 @item
34914 Return value.
34915
34916 @item
34917 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
34918
34919 @item
34920 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
34921
34922 @end itemize
34923
34924 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
34925 the latest continue or step action.
34926
34927 @node The F Request Packet
34928 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
34929 @cindex file-i/o request packet
34930 @cindex @code{F} request packet
34931
34932 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
34933
34934 @table @samp
34935 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
34936
34937 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
34938 This is just the name of the function.
34939
34940 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
34941 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
34942 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
34943 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
34944 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
34945 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
34946 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
34947
34948 @end table
34949
34950
34951
34952 @node The F Reply Packet
34953 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
34954 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
34955 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
34956
34957 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
34958
34959 @table @samp
34960
34961 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
34962
34963 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
34964
34965 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
34966 representation.
34967 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
34968
34969 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
34970 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
34971 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
34972
34973 @smallexample
34974 F0,0,C
34975 @end smallexample
34976
34977 @noindent
34978 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
34979
34980 @smallexample
34981 F-1,4,C
34982 @end smallexample
34983
34984 @noindent
34985 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
34986
34987 @end table
34988
34989
34990 @node The Ctrl-C Message
34991 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
34992 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
34993
34994 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
34995 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
34996 the target should behave as if it had
34997 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
34998 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
34999 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
35000 packet.
35001
35002 It's important for the target to know in which
35003 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
35004
35005 @itemize @bullet
35006 @item
35007 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
35008
35009 @item
35010 The system call on the host has been finished.
35011
35012 @end itemize
35013
35014 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
35015 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
35016 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
35017 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
35018 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
35019 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
35020
35021 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
35022 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
35023 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
35024 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
35025 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
35026 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
35027 or the full action has been completed.
35028
35029 @node Console I/O
35030 @subsection Console I/O
35031 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
35032
35033 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
35034 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
35035 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
35036 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
35037 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
35038 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
35039 conditions is met:
35040
35041 @itemize @bullet
35042 @item
35043 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
35044 @code{read}
35045 system call is treated as finished.
35046
35047 @item
35048 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
35049 newline.
35050
35051 @item
35052 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
35053 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
35054
35055 @end itemize
35056
35057 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
35058 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
35059 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
35060 is stopped at the user's request.
35061
35062
35063 @node List of Supported Calls
35064 @subsection List of Supported Calls
35065 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
35066
35067 @menu
35068 * open::
35069 * close::
35070 * read::
35071 * write::
35072 * lseek::
35073 * rename::
35074 * unlink::
35075 * stat/fstat::
35076 * gettimeofday::
35077 * isatty::
35078 * system::
35079 @end menu
35080
35081 @node open
35082 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
35083 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
35084
35085 @table @asis
35086 @item Synopsis:
35087 @smallexample
35088 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
35089 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
35090 @end smallexample
35091
35092 @item Request:
35093 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
35094
35095 @noindent
35096 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
35097
35098 @table @code
35099 @item O_CREAT
35100 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
35101 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
35102 are concerned.
35103
35104 @item O_EXCL
35105 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
35106 an error and open() fails.
35107
35108 @item O_TRUNC
35109 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
35110 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
35111 truncated to zero length.
35112
35113 @item O_APPEND
35114 The file is opened in append mode.
35115
35116 @item O_RDONLY
35117 The file is opened for reading only.
35118
35119 @item O_WRONLY
35120 The file is opened for writing only.
35121
35122 @item O_RDWR
35123 The file is opened for reading and writing.
35124 @end table
35125
35126 @noindent
35127 Other bits are silently ignored.
35128
35129
35130 @noindent
35131 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
35132
35133 @table @code
35134 @item S_IRUSR
35135 User has read permission.
35136
35137 @item S_IWUSR
35138 User has write permission.
35139
35140 @item S_IRGRP
35141 Group has read permission.
35142
35143 @item S_IWGRP
35144 Group has write permission.
35145
35146 @item S_IROTH
35147 Others have read permission.
35148
35149 @item S_IWOTH
35150 Others have write permission.
35151 @end table
35152
35153 @noindent
35154 Other bits are silently ignored.
35155
35156
35157 @item Return value:
35158 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
35159 occurred.
35160
35161 @item Errors:
35162
35163 @table @code
35164 @item EEXIST
35165 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
35166
35167 @item EISDIR
35168 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
35169
35170 @item EACCES
35171 The requested access is not allowed.
35172
35173 @item ENAMETOOLONG
35174 @var{pathname} was too long.
35175
35176 @item ENOENT
35177 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
35178
35179 @item ENODEV
35180 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
35181
35182 @item EROFS
35183 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
35184 write access was requested.
35185
35186 @item EFAULT
35187 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
35188
35189 @item ENOSPC
35190 No space on device to create the file.
35191
35192 @item EMFILE
35193 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
35194
35195 @item ENFILE
35196 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
35197 has been reached.
35198
35199 @item EINTR
35200 The call was interrupted by the user.
35201 @end table
35202
35203 @end table
35204
35205 @node close
35206 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
35207 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
35208
35209 @table @asis
35210 @item Synopsis:
35211 @smallexample
35212 int close(int fd);
35213 @end smallexample
35214
35215 @item Request:
35216 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
35217
35218 @item Return value:
35219 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
35220
35221 @item Errors:
35222
35223 @table @code
35224 @item EBADF
35225 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
35226
35227 @item EINTR
35228 The call was interrupted by the user.
35229 @end table
35230
35231 @end table
35232
35233 @node read
35234 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
35235 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
35236
35237 @table @asis
35238 @item Synopsis:
35239 @smallexample
35240 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
35241 @end smallexample
35242
35243 @item Request:
35244 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
35245
35246 @item Return value:
35247 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
35248 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
35249 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
35250
35251 @item Errors:
35252
35253 @table @code
35254 @item EBADF
35255 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
35256 reading.
35257
35258 @item EFAULT
35259 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35260
35261 @item EINTR
35262 The call was interrupted by the user.
35263 @end table
35264
35265 @end table
35266
35267 @node write
35268 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
35269 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
35270
35271 @table @asis
35272 @item Synopsis:
35273 @smallexample
35274 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
35275 @end smallexample
35276
35277 @item Request:
35278 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
35279
35280 @item Return value:
35281 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
35282 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
35283 is returned.
35284
35285 @item Errors:
35286
35287 @table @code
35288 @item EBADF
35289 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
35290 writing.
35291
35292 @item EFAULT
35293 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35294
35295 @item EFBIG
35296 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
35297 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
35298
35299 @item ENOSPC
35300 No space on device to write the data.
35301
35302 @item EINTR
35303 The call was interrupted by the user.
35304 @end table
35305
35306 @end table
35307
35308 @node lseek
35309 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
35310 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
35311
35312 @table @asis
35313 @item Synopsis:
35314 @smallexample
35315 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
35316 @end smallexample
35317
35318 @item Request:
35319 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
35320
35321 @var{flag} is one of:
35322
35323 @table @code
35324 @item SEEK_SET
35325 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
35326
35327 @item SEEK_CUR
35328 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
35329 bytes.
35330
35331 @item SEEK_END
35332 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
35333 bytes.
35334 @end table
35335
35336 @item Return value:
35337 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
35338 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
35339 value of -1 is returned.
35340
35341 @item Errors:
35342
35343 @table @code
35344 @item EBADF
35345 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
35346
35347 @item ESPIPE
35348 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
35349
35350 @item EINVAL
35351 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
35352
35353 @item EINTR
35354 The call was interrupted by the user.
35355 @end table
35356
35357 @end table
35358
35359 @node rename
35360 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
35361 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
35362
35363 @table @asis
35364 @item Synopsis:
35365 @smallexample
35366 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
35367 @end smallexample
35368
35369 @item Request:
35370 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
35371
35372 @item Return value:
35373 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35374
35375 @item Errors:
35376
35377 @table @code
35378 @item EISDIR
35379 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
35380 directory.
35381
35382 @item EEXIST
35383 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
35384
35385 @item EBUSY
35386 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
35387 process.
35388
35389 @item EINVAL
35390 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
35391 of itself.
35392
35393 @item ENOTDIR
35394 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
35395 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
35396 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
35397
35398 @item EFAULT
35399 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
35400
35401 @item EACCES
35402 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35403
35404 @item ENAMETOOLONG
35405
35406 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
35407
35408 @item ENOENT
35409 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
35410
35411 @item EROFS
35412 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
35413
35414 @item ENOSPC
35415 The device containing the file has no room for the new
35416 directory entry.
35417
35418 @item EINTR
35419 The call was interrupted by the user.
35420 @end table
35421
35422 @end table
35423
35424 @node unlink
35425 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
35426 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
35427
35428 @table @asis
35429 @item Synopsis:
35430 @smallexample
35431 int unlink(const char *pathname);
35432 @end smallexample
35433
35434 @item Request:
35435 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
35436
35437 @item Return value:
35438 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35439
35440 @item Errors:
35441
35442 @table @code
35443 @item EACCES
35444 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35445
35446 @item EPERM
35447 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
35448
35449 @item EBUSY
35450 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
35451 being used by another process.
35452
35453 @item EFAULT
35454 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35455
35456 @item ENAMETOOLONG
35457 @var{pathname} was too long.
35458
35459 @item ENOENT
35460 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
35461
35462 @item ENOTDIR
35463 A component of the path is not a directory.
35464
35465 @item EROFS
35466 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
35467
35468 @item EINTR
35469 The call was interrupted by the user.
35470 @end table
35471
35472 @end table
35473
35474 @node stat/fstat
35475 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
35476 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
35477 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
35478
35479 @table @asis
35480 @item Synopsis:
35481 @smallexample
35482 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
35483 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
35484 @end smallexample
35485
35486 @item Request:
35487 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
35488 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
35489
35490 @item Return value:
35491 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35492
35493 @item Errors:
35494
35495 @table @code
35496 @item EBADF
35497 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
35498
35499 @item ENOENT
35500 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
35501 path is an empty string.
35502
35503 @item ENOTDIR
35504 A component of the path is not a directory.
35505
35506 @item EFAULT
35507 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35508
35509 @item EACCES
35510 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35511
35512 @item ENAMETOOLONG
35513 @var{pathname} was too long.
35514
35515 @item EINTR
35516 The call was interrupted by the user.
35517 @end table
35518
35519 @end table
35520
35521 @node gettimeofday
35522 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
35523 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
35524
35525 @table @asis
35526 @item Synopsis:
35527 @smallexample
35528 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
35529 @end smallexample
35530
35531 @item Request:
35532 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
35533
35534 @item Return value:
35535 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
35536
35537 @item Errors:
35538
35539 @table @code
35540 @item EINVAL
35541 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
35542
35543 @item EFAULT
35544 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35545 @end table
35546
35547 @end table
35548
35549 @node isatty
35550 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
35551 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
35552
35553 @table @asis
35554 @item Synopsis:
35555 @smallexample
35556 int isatty(int fd);
35557 @end smallexample
35558
35559 @item Request:
35560 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
35561
35562 @item Return value:
35563 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
35564
35565 @item Errors:
35566
35567 @table @code
35568 @item EINTR
35569 The call was interrupted by the user.
35570 @end table
35571
35572 @end table
35573
35574 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
35575 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
35576 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
35577 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
35578 needed.
35579
35580
35581 @node system
35582 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
35583 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
35584
35585 @table @asis
35586 @item Synopsis:
35587 @smallexample
35588 int system(const char *command);
35589 @end smallexample
35590
35591 @item Request:
35592 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
35593
35594 @item Return value:
35595 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
35596 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
35597 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
35598 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
35599 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
35600 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
35601 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
35602
35603 @item Errors:
35604
35605 @table @code
35606 @item EINTR
35607 The call was interrupted by the user.
35608 @end table
35609
35610 @end table
35611
35612 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
35613 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
35614 the host is simplified before it's returned
35615 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
35616 is discarded, and the return value consists
35617 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
35618
35619 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
35620 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
35621 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
35622
35623 @table @code
35624 @item set remote system-call-allowed
35625 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
35626 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
35627 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
35628
35629 @item show remote system-call-allowed
35630 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
35631 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
35632 protocol.
35633 @end table
35634
35635 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35636 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35637 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35638
35639 @menu
35640 * Integral Datatypes::
35641 * Pointer Values::
35642 * Memory Transfer::
35643 * struct stat::
35644 * struct timeval::
35645 @end menu
35646
35647 @node Integral Datatypes
35648 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
35649 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35650
35651 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
35652 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
35653 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
35654
35655 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
35656 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
35657
35658 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
35659
35660 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
35661 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
35662
35663 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
35664
35665 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
35666 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
35667 byte order.
35668
35669 @node Pointer Values
35670 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
35671 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
35672
35673 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
35674 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
35675 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
35676 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
35677
35678 @smallexample
35679 @code{1aaf/12}
35680 @end smallexample
35681
35682 @noindent
35683 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
35684 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
35685 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
35686 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
35687
35688 @smallexample
35689 @code{123456/d}
35690 @end smallexample
35691
35692 @node Memory Transfer
35693 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
35694 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
35695
35696 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
35697 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
35698 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
35699 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
35700 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
35701 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
35702 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
35703
35704
35705 @node struct stat
35706 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
35707 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
35708
35709 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
35710 is defined as follows:
35711
35712 @smallexample
35713 struct stat @{
35714 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
35715 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
35716 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
35717 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
35718 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
35719 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
35720 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
35721 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
35722 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
35723 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
35724 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
35725 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
35726 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
35727 @};
35728 @end smallexample
35729
35730 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35731 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35732 structure is of size 64 bytes.
35733
35734 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
35735 range of values.
35736
35737 @table @code
35738
35739 @item st_dev
35740 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
35741
35742 @item st_ino
35743 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35744
35745 @item st_mode
35746 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
35747 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
35748
35749 @item st_uid
35750 @itemx st_gid
35751 @itemx st_rdev
35752 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35753
35754 @item st_atime
35755 @itemx st_mtime
35756 @itemx st_ctime
35757 These values have a host and file system dependent
35758 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
35759 support exact timing values.
35760 @end table
35761
35762 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
35763 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
35764 continuing.
35765
35766 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
35767 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
35768 get truncated on the target.
35769
35770 @node struct timeval
35771 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
35772 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
35773
35774 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
35775 is defined as follows:
35776
35777 @smallexample
35778 struct timeval @{
35779 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
35780 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
35781 @};
35782 @end smallexample
35783
35784 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35785 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35786 structure is of size 8 bytes.
35787
35788 @node Constants
35789 @subsection Constants
35790 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
35791
35792 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
35793 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
35794 values before and after the call as needed.
35795
35796 @menu
35797 * Open Flags::
35798 * mode_t Values::
35799 * Errno Values::
35800 * Lseek Flags::
35801 * Limits::
35802 @end menu
35803
35804 @node Open Flags
35805 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
35806 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
35807
35808 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
35809
35810 @smallexample
35811 O_RDONLY 0x0
35812 O_WRONLY 0x1
35813 O_RDWR 0x2
35814 O_APPEND 0x8
35815 O_CREAT 0x200
35816 O_TRUNC 0x400
35817 O_EXCL 0x800
35818 @end smallexample
35819
35820 @node mode_t Values
35821 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
35822 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
35823
35824 All values are given in octal representation.
35825
35826 @smallexample
35827 S_IFREG 0100000
35828 S_IFDIR 040000
35829 S_IRUSR 0400
35830 S_IWUSR 0200
35831 S_IXUSR 0100
35832 S_IRGRP 040
35833 S_IWGRP 020
35834 S_IXGRP 010
35835 S_IROTH 04
35836 S_IWOTH 02
35837 S_IXOTH 01
35838 @end smallexample
35839
35840 @node Errno Values
35841 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
35842 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
35843
35844 All values are given in decimal representation.
35845
35846 @smallexample
35847 EPERM 1
35848 ENOENT 2
35849 EINTR 4
35850 EBADF 9
35851 EACCES 13
35852 EFAULT 14
35853 EBUSY 16
35854 EEXIST 17
35855 ENODEV 19
35856 ENOTDIR 20
35857 EISDIR 21
35858 EINVAL 22
35859 ENFILE 23
35860 EMFILE 24
35861 EFBIG 27
35862 ENOSPC 28
35863 ESPIPE 29
35864 EROFS 30
35865 ENAMETOOLONG 91
35866 EUNKNOWN 9999
35867 @end smallexample
35868
35869 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
35870 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
35871
35872 @node Lseek Flags
35873 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
35874 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
35875
35876 @smallexample
35877 SEEK_SET 0
35878 SEEK_CUR 1
35879 SEEK_END 2
35880 @end smallexample
35881
35882 @node Limits
35883 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
35884 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
35885
35886 All values are given in decimal representation.
35887
35888 @smallexample
35889 INT_MIN -2147483648
35890 INT_MAX 2147483647
35891 UINT_MAX 4294967295
35892 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
35893 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
35894 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
35895 @end smallexample
35896
35897 @node File-I/O Examples
35898 @subsection File-I/O Examples
35899 @cindex file-i/o examples
35900
35901 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35902 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
35903
35904 @smallexample
35905 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
35906 @emph{request memory read from target}
35907 -> @code{m1234,6}
35908 <- XXXXXX
35909 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
35910 -> @code{F6}
35911 @end smallexample
35912
35913 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35914 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
35915
35916 @smallexample
35917 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35918 @emph{request memory write to target}
35919 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35920 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
35921 -> @code{F6}
35922 @end smallexample
35923
35924 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
35925 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
35926
35927 @smallexample
35928 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35929 -> @code{F-1,9}
35930 @end smallexample
35931
35932 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
35933 host is called:
35934
35935 @smallexample
35936 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35937 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
35938 <- @code{T02}
35939 @end smallexample
35940
35941 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
35942 host is called:
35943
35944 @smallexample
35945 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35946 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35947 <- @code{T02}
35948 @end smallexample
35949
35950 @node Library List Format
35951 @section Library List Format
35952 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
35953
35954 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
35955 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
35956 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
35957 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
35958 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
35959 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
35960 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35961 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
35962 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
35963 are loaded.
35964
35965 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
35966 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
35967 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
35968 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
35969
35970 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
35971 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
35972 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
35973 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
35974 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
35975 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
35976
35977 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35978 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
35979
35980 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
35981 offset, looks like this:
35982
35983 @smallexample
35984 <library-list>
35985 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
35986 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
35987 </library>
35988 </library-list>
35989 @end smallexample
35990
35991 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
35992 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
35993
35994 @smallexample
35995 <library-list>
35996 <library name="sharedlib.o">
35997 <section address="0x10000000"/>
35998 <section address="0x20000000"/>
35999 <section address="0x30000000"/>
36000 </library>
36001 </library-list>
36002 @end smallexample
36003
36004 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
36005
36006 @smallexample
36007 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
36008 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
36009 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
36010 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
36011 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
36012 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
36013 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
36014 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
36015 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
36016 @end smallexample
36017
36018 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
36019 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
36020 section for each library.
36021
36022 @node Memory Map Format
36023 @section Memory Map Format
36024 @cindex memory map format
36025
36026 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
36027 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
36028 memory map.
36029
36030 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36031 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
36032 lists memory regions.
36033
36034 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
36035 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
36036
36037 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
36038
36039 @smallexample
36040 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36041 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
36042 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
36043 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
36044 <memory-map>
36045 region...
36046 </memory-map>
36047 @end smallexample
36048
36049 Each region can be either:
36050
36051 @itemize
36052
36053 @item
36054 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
36055 bytes from there:
36056
36057 @smallexample
36058 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
36059 @end smallexample
36060
36061
36062 @item
36063 A region of read-only memory:
36064
36065 @smallexample
36066 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
36067 @end smallexample
36068
36069
36070 @item
36071 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
36072 bytes in length:
36073
36074 @smallexample
36075 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
36076 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
36077 </memory>
36078 @end smallexample
36079
36080 @end itemize
36081
36082 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
36083 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
36084 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
36085
36086 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
36087
36088 @smallexample
36089 <!-- ................................................... -->
36090 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
36091 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
36092 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
36093 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
36094 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
36095 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
36096 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
36097 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
36098 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
36099 and its type, or device. -->
36100 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
36101 start CDATA #REQUIRED
36102 length CDATA #REQUIRED
36103 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
36104 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
36105 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
36106 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
36107 @end smallexample
36108
36109 @node Thread List Format
36110 @section Thread List Format
36111 @cindex thread list format
36112
36113 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
36114 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36115 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
36116 the following structure:
36117
36118 @smallexample
36119 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36120 <threads>
36121 <thread id="id" core="0">
36122 ... description ...
36123 </thread>
36124 </threads>
36125 @end smallexample
36126
36127 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
36128 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
36129 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
36130 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
36131 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
36132
36133 @node Traceframe Info Format
36134 @section Traceframe Info Format
36135 @cindex traceframe info format
36136
36137 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
36138 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
36139 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
36140 collected in a traceframe.
36141
36142 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36143 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
36144
36145 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
36146 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
36147
36148 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
36149
36150 @smallexample
36151 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36152 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
36153 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
36154 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
36155 <traceframe-info>
36156 block...
36157 </traceframe-info>
36158 @end smallexample
36159
36160 Each traceframe block can be either:
36161
36162 @itemize
36163
36164 @item
36165 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
36166 @var{length} bytes from there:
36167
36168 @smallexample
36169 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
36170 @end smallexample
36171
36172 @end itemize
36173
36174 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
36175
36176 @smallexample
36177 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
36178 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
36179
36180 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
36181 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
36182 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
36183 @end smallexample
36184
36185 @include agentexpr.texi
36186
36187 @node Target Descriptions
36188 @appendix Target Descriptions
36189 @cindex target descriptions
36190
36191 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
36192 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
36193 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
36194
36195 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
36196 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
36197 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
36198 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
36199 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
36200 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
36201 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
36202
36203 @itemize @bullet
36204 @item
36205 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
36206 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
36207 @item
36208 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
36209 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
36210 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
36211 @item
36212 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
36213 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
36214 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
36215 @end itemize
36216
36217 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
36218 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
36219 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
36220 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
36221 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
36222
36223 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
36224 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
36225
36226 @menu
36227 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
36228 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
36229 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
36230 descriptions.
36231 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
36232 @end menu
36233
36234 @node Retrieving Descriptions
36235 @section Retrieving Descriptions
36236
36237 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
36238 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
36239 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
36240 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
36241 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
36242 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
36243 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
36244 Format}.
36245
36246 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
36247 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
36248 specify a file are:
36249
36250 @table @code
36251 @cindex set tdesc filename
36252 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
36253 Read the target description from @var{path}.
36254
36255 @cindex unset tdesc filename
36256 @item unset tdesc filename
36257 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
36258 will use the description supplied by the current target.
36259
36260 @cindex show tdesc filename
36261 @item show tdesc filename
36262 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
36263 @end table
36264
36265
36266 @node Target Description Format
36267 @section Target Description Format
36268 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
36269
36270 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
36271 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
36272 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
36273 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
36274 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
36275 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
36276 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
36277
36278 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
36279 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
36280 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
36281 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
36282 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
36283
36284 Here is a simple target description:
36285
36286 @smallexample
36287 <target version="1.0">
36288 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
36289 </target>
36290 @end smallexample
36291
36292 @noindent
36293 This minimal description only says that the target uses
36294 the x86-64 architecture.
36295
36296 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
36297 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
36298 are explained further below.
36299
36300 @smallexample
36301 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36302 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
36303 <target version="1.0">
36304 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
36305 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
36306 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
36307 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
36308 </target>
36309 @end smallexample
36310
36311 @noindent
36312 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
36313 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
36314 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
36315 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
36316 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
36317 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
36318 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
36319 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
36320 the version mismatch.
36321
36322 @subsection Inclusion
36323 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
36324 @cindex XInclude
36325 @ifnotinfo
36326 @cindex <xi:include>
36327 @end ifnotinfo
36328
36329 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
36330 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
36331 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
36332 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
36333 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
36334
36335 @smallexample
36336 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
36337 @end smallexample
36338
36339 @noindent
36340 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
36341 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
36342 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
36343 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
36344 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
36345 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
36346 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
36347 original description.
36348
36349 @subsection Architecture
36350 @cindex <architecture>
36351
36352 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
36353
36354 @smallexample
36355 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
36356 @end smallexample
36357
36358 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
36359 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
36360
36361 @subsection OS ABI
36362 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
36363
36364 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
36365 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
36366
36367 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
36368
36369 @smallexample
36370 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
36371 @end smallexample
36372
36373 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
36374 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
36375
36376 @subsection Compatible Architecture
36377 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
36378
36379 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
36380 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
36381
36382 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
36383
36384 @smallexample
36385 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
36386 @end smallexample
36387
36388 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
36389 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
36390
36391 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
36392 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
36393 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
36394 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
36395 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
36396 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
36397 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
36398
36399 @smallexample
36400 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
36401 <compatible>spu</compatible>
36402 @end smallexample
36403
36404 @subsection Features
36405 @cindex <feature>
36406
36407 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
36408 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
36409 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
36410 has this form:
36411
36412 @smallexample
36413 <feature name="@var{name}">
36414 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
36415 @var{reg}@dots{}
36416 </feature>
36417 @end smallexample
36418
36419 @noindent
36420 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
36421 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
36422 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
36423 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
36424
36425 @subsection Types
36426
36427 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
36428 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
36429 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
36430 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
36431 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
36432
36433 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
36434 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
36435 Types must be defined before they are used.
36436
36437 @cindex <vector>
36438 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
36439 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
36440 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
36441 @var{count}:
36442
36443 @smallexample
36444 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
36445 @end smallexample
36446
36447 @cindex <union>
36448 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
36449 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
36450 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
36451 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
36452
36453 @smallexample
36454 <union id="@var{id}">
36455 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
36456 @dots{}
36457 </union>
36458 @end smallexample
36459
36460 @cindex <struct>
36461 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
36462 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
36463 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
36464 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
36465 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
36466 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
36467 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
36468 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
36469
36470 @smallexample
36471 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36472 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36473 @dots{}
36474 </struct>
36475 @end smallexample
36476
36477 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
36478 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
36479
36480 @smallexample
36481 <struct id="@var{id}">
36482 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
36483 @dots{}
36484 </struct>
36485 @end smallexample
36486
36487 @cindex <flags>
36488 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
36489 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
36490 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
36491 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
36492 are supported.
36493
36494 @smallexample
36495 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36496 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36497 @dots{}
36498 </flags>
36499 @end smallexample
36500
36501 @subsection Registers
36502 @cindex <reg>
36503
36504 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
36505
36506 @smallexample
36507 <reg name="@var{name}"
36508 bitsize="@var{size}"
36509 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
36510 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
36511 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
36512 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
36513 @end smallexample
36514
36515 @noindent
36516 The components are as follows:
36517
36518 @table @var
36519
36520 @item name
36521 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
36522
36523 @item bitsize
36524 The register's size, in bits.
36525
36526 @item regnum
36527 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
36528 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
36529 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
36530 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
36531 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
36532 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
36533 in order of increasing register number.
36534
36535 @item save-restore
36536 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
36537 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
36538 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
36539 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
36540 ABI.
36541
36542 @item type
36543 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
36544 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
36545 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
36546 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
36547 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
36548 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
36549
36550 @item group
36551 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
36552 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
36553 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
36554 in @code{info registers}.
36555
36556 @end table
36557
36558 @node Predefined Target Types
36559 @section Predefined Target Types
36560 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
36561
36562 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
36563 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
36564 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
36565 types. The currently supported types are:
36566
36567 @table @code
36568
36569 @item int8
36570 @itemx int16
36571 @itemx int32
36572 @itemx int64
36573 @itemx int128
36574 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36575
36576 @item uint8
36577 @itemx uint16
36578 @itemx uint32
36579 @itemx uint64
36580 @itemx uint128
36581 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36582
36583 @item code_ptr
36584 @itemx data_ptr
36585 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
36586 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
36587 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
36588 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
36589 may be marked as data pointers.
36590
36591 @item ieee_single
36592 Single precision IEEE floating point.
36593
36594 @item ieee_double
36595 Double precision IEEE floating point.
36596
36597 @item arm_fpa_ext
36598 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
36599
36600 @item i387_ext
36601 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
36602
36603 @item i386_eflags
36604 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
36605
36606 @item i386_mxcsr
36607 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
36608
36609 @end table
36610
36611 @node Standard Target Features
36612 @section Standard Target Features
36613 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
36614
36615 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
36616 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
36617 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
36618 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
36619 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
36620 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
36621 can recognize them.
36622
36623 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
36624 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
36625 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
36626 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
36627 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
36628 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
36629 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
36630 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
36631
36632 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
36633 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
36634 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
36635
36636 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
36637 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
36638 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
36639 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
36640
36641 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
36642 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
36643 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
36644
36645 @menu
36646 * ARM Features::
36647 * i386 Features::
36648 * MIPS Features::
36649 * M68K Features::
36650 * PowerPC Features::
36651 @end menu
36652
36653
36654 @node ARM Features
36655 @subsection ARM Features
36656 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
36657
36658 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
36659 ARM targets.
36660 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
36661 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
36662
36663 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
36664 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
36665 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
36666 and @samp{xpsr}.
36667
36668 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
36669 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
36670
36671 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
36672 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
36673 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
36674 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
36675
36676 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
36677 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
36678 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
36679 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
36680 halves of the double-precision registers.
36681
36682 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
36683 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
36684 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
36685 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
36686 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
36687 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
36688
36689 @node i386 Features
36690 @subsection i386 Features
36691 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
36692
36693 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
36694 targets. It should describe the following registers:
36695
36696 @itemize @minus
36697 @item
36698 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
36699 @item
36700 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
36701 @item
36702 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
36703 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
36704 @item
36705 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
36706 @item
36707 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
36708 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
36709 @end itemize
36710
36711 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
36712
36713 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
36714 describe registers:
36715
36716 @itemize @minus
36717 @item
36718 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
36719 @item
36720 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
36721 @item
36722 @samp{mxcsr}
36723 @end itemize
36724
36725 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
36726 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
36727 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
36728
36729 @itemize @minus
36730 @item
36731 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
36732 @item
36733 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
36734 @end itemize
36735
36736 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
36737 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
36738
36739 @node MIPS Features
36740 @subsection MIPS Features
36741 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
36742
36743 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
36744 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
36745 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
36746 on the target.
36747
36748 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
36749 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
36750 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36751
36752 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
36753 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
36754 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
36755 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36756
36757 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
36758 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
36759 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
36760
36761 @node M68K Features
36762 @subsection M68K Features
36763 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
36764
36765 @table @code
36766 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
36767 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
36768 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
36769 One of those features must be always present.
36770 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
36771 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
36772 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
36773 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
36774
36775 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
36776 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
36777 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
36778 @samp{fpiaddr}.
36779 @end table
36780
36781 @node PowerPC Features
36782 @subsection PowerPC Features
36783 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
36784
36785 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
36786 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
36787 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
36788 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36789
36790 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
36791 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
36792
36793 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
36794 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
36795 and @samp{vrsave}.
36796
36797 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
36798 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
36799 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
36800 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
36801 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
36802 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
36803
36804 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
36805 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
36806 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
36807 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
36808 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
36809 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
36810 user.
36811
36812 @node Operating System Information
36813 @appendix Operating System Information
36814 @cindex operating system information
36815
36816 @menu
36817 * Process list::
36818 @end menu
36819
36820 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
36821 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
36822 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
36823 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
36824 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
36825 on a different aspect of target.
36826
36827 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
36828 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
36829 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
36830 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
36831
36832 @node Process list
36833 @appendixsection Process list
36834 @cindex operating system information, process list
36835
36836 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
36837 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
36838 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
36839 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
36840
36841 An example document is:
36842
36843 @smallexample
36844 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36845 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
36846 <osdata type="processes">
36847 <item>
36848 <column name="pid">1</column>
36849 <column name="user">root</column>
36850 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
36851 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
36852 </item>
36853 </osdata>
36854 @end smallexample
36855
36856 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
36857 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
36858 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
36859 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
36860 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
36861 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
36862 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
36863
36864 @node Trace File Format
36865 @appendix Trace File Format
36866 @cindex trace file format
36867
36868 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
36869 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
36870
36871 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
36872 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
36873 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
36874 in the future.
36875
36876 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
36877 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
36878 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
36879 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
36880 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
36881 of this section.
36882
36883 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
36884
36885 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
36886 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
36887 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
36888 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
36889 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
36890 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
36891 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
36892 endianness.
36893
36894 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
36895
36896 @table @code
36897 @item R @var{bytes}
36898 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
36899 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
36900 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
36901 hexadecimal encoding.
36902
36903 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
36904 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
36905 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
36906 @var{length} bytes.
36907
36908 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
36909 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
36910 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
36911
36912 @end table
36913
36914 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
36915 of blocks.
36916
36917 @node Index Section Format
36918 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
36919 @cindex .gdb_index section format
36920 @cindex index section format
36921
36922 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
36923 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
36924 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
36925 description.
36926
36927 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
36928 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
36929 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
36930 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
36931 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
36932 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
36933
36934 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
36935
36936 @enumerate
36937 @item
36938 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
36939 unless otherwise noted:
36940
36941 @enumerate
36942 @item
36943 The version number, currently 4. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
36944
36945 @item
36946 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
36947
36948 @item
36949 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
36950 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
36951 to the next offset.
36952
36953 @item
36954 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
36955
36956 @item
36957 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
36958
36959 @item
36960 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
36961 @end enumerate
36962
36963 @item
36964 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
36965 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
36966 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
36967 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
36968 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
36969 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
36970 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
36971 CU indices.
36972
36973 @item
36974 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
36975 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
36976 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
36977 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
36978
36979 @item
36980 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
36981 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
36982
36983 @enumerate
36984 @item
36985 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
36986
36987 @item
36988 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
36989 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
36990
36991 @item
36992 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
36993 @end enumerate
36994
36995 @item
36996 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
36997 the hash table is always a power of 2.
36998
36999 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
37000 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
37001 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
37002 constant pool.
37003
37004 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
37005 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
37006 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
37007
37008 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
37009 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
37010 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
37011 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula
37012 @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}. The terminating @samp{\0} is not
37013 incorporated into the hash.
37014
37015 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
37016 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
37017 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
37018 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
37019 collision.
37020
37021 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
37022 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
37023 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
37024 the code.
37025
37026 @item
37027 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
37028 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
37029 strings.
37030
37031 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
37032 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
37033 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
37034 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
37035 symbol.
37036
37037 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
37038 @end enumerate
37039
37040 @include gpl.texi
37041
37042 @node GNU Free Documentation License
37043 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
37044 @include fdl.texi
37045
37046 @node Index
37047 @unnumbered Index
37048
37049 @printindex cp
37050
37051 @tex
37052 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
37053 % meantime:
37054 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
37055 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
37056 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
37057 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
37058 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
37059 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
37060 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
37061 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
37062 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
37063 \page\colophon
37064 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
37065 @end tex
37066
37067 @bye
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