* Stack:: Examining the stack
* Source:: Examining source files
* Data:: Examining data
+* Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
* Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
* Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
* Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
the compiler.
Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
-optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, many
+optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
executables containing debugging information.
without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
-in pushing your luck.
-
-@cindex optimized code, debugging
-@cindex debugging optimized code
-When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
-optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
-really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
-exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
-variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
-variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
-
-Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
-@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
-doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
-please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
-@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
+in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
@end smallexample
+@node Optimized Code
+@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
+@cindex optimized code, debugging
+@cindex debugging optimized code
+
+Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
+disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
+directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
+applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
+diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
+information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
+the running program back to constructs from your original source.
+
+@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
+can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
+progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
+where you may need to debug an optimized version.
+
+When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
+optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
+really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
+exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
+variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
+variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
+
+Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
+@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
+doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
+please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
+@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
+
+@menu
+* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
+@end menu
+
+@node Inline Functions
+@section Inline Functions
+@cindex inline functions, debugging
+
+@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
+body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
+routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
+non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
+arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
+them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
+You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
+@code{info frame} command.
+
+For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
+record information about inlining in the debug information ---
+@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
+other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
+when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
+do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
+@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
+function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
+displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
+local variables in the caller.
+
+The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
+unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
+the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
+start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
+the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
+the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
+instructions are executed.
+
+This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
+context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
+a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
+this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
+
+There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
+function calls are the same as normal calls:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item
+You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
+either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
+breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
+will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
+set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
+function instead.
+
+@item
+Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
+work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
+may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
+function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
+version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
+or inside the inlined function instead.
+
+@item
+@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
+using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
+debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
+and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
+
+@end itemize
+
+
@node Macros
@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
projects / deliverable / binutils-gdb.git / blobdiff