bda2e7b1df65990ec727019744aaf4231c477b8b
[binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @c man begin INCLUDE
10 @include gdb-cfg.texi
11 @c man end
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27 @syncodeindex ky fn
28 @syncodeindex tp fn
29
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32 @syncodeindex vr fn
33
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
36 @set EDITION Tenth
37
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
46 @direntry
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 @end direntry
49
50 @copying
51 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
52 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
53
54 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
60
61 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
64 @c man end
65 @end copying
66
67 @ifnottex
68 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
69
70 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
74 @end ifset
75 Version @value{GDBVN}.
76
77 @insertcopying
78 @end ifnottex
79
80 @titlepage
81 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
86 @sp 1
87 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
88 @end ifset
89 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90 @page
91 @tex
92 {\parskip=0pt
93 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96 }
97 @end tex
98
99 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
101 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
104
105 @insertcopying
106 @end titlepage
107 @page
108
109 @ifnottex
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
111
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
113
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
115
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
119 @end ifset
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
121
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
123
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
127
128 @menu
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
131
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138 * Stack:: Examining the stack
139 * Source:: Examining source files
140 * Data:: Examining data
141 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
145
146 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
147
148 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149 * Altering:: Altering execution
150 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
169 @end ifset
170 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
173 @end ifclear
174 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
181 @value{GDBN}
182 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
183 the operating system
184 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
187 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
193 @end menu
194
195 @end ifnottex
196
197 @contents
198
199 @node Summary
200 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
201
202 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
205
206 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
208
209 @itemize @bullet
210 @item
211 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
212
213 @item
214 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
215
216 @item
217 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
218
219 @item
220 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
222 @end itemize
223
224 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
227
228 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
229 @ref{D,,D}.
230
231 @cindex Modula-2
232 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
234
235 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
237
238 @cindex Pascal
239 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
242 syntax.
243
244 @cindex Fortran
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
247 underscore.
248
249 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
251
252 @menu
253 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
256 @end menu
257
258 @node Free Software
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software
260
261 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262 General Public License
263 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
269
270 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
272 from anyone else.
273
274 @node Free Documentation
275 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
276
277 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279 include with the free software. Many of our most important
280 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282 when an important free software package does not come with a free
283 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
284 gaps today.
285
286 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290 them from the free software world.
291
292 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296 contract to make it non-free.
297
298 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
305
306 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
310
311 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
317 community.
318
319 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
327 of the manual.
328
329 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333 manual to replace it.
334
335 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340 the free software community.
341
342 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
351
352 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
360
361 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362 published by other publishers, at
363 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
364
365 @node Contributors
366 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
367
368 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374 blow-by-blow account.
375
376 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
377
378 @quotation
379 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
382 @end quotation
383
384 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
386 releases:
387 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
396
397 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
399
400 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
405
406 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
409
410 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
412
413 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
414
415 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
417 support.
418 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
434
435 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
436
437 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
438 libraries.
439
440 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441 about several machine instruction sets.
442
443 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446 and RDI targets, respectively.
447
448 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449 command-line editing and command history.
450
451 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
453
454 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
456 symbols.
457
458 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
460
461 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
462
463 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
464 processors.
465
466 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
467
468 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
469
470 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
471
472 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
473 watchpoints.
474
475 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
476
477 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
478
479 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
481
482 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
489
490 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
492
493 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
508
509 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
511
512 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
513 Hat.
514
515 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
521
522 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
533 Weigand.
534
535 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
539
540 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
542
543 @node Sample Session
544 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
545
546 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
549
550 @iftex
551 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
553 @end iftex
554
555 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
557
558 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
567
568 @smallexample
569 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
570 $ @b{./m4}
571 @b{define(foo,0000)}
572
573 @b{foo}
574 0000
575 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
576
577 @b{bar}
578 0000
579 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
580
581 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
582 @b{baz}
583 @b{Ctrl-d}
584 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
585 @end smallexample
586
587 @noindent
588 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
589
590 @smallexample
591 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
594 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
596 the conditions.
597 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
598 for details.
599
600 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
601 (@value{GDBP})
602 @end smallexample
603
604 @noindent
605 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608 that examples fit in this manual.
609
610 @smallexample
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618 @code{break} command.
619
620 @smallexample
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
623 @end smallexample
624
625 @noindent
626 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
629
630 @smallexample
631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
633 @b{define(foo,0000)}
634
635 @b{foo}
636 0000
637 @end smallexample
638
639 @noindent
640 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642 context where it stops.
643
644 @smallexample
645 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
646
647 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
648 at builtin.c:879
649 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
650 @end smallexample
651
652 @noindent
653 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654 the next line of the current function.
655
656 @smallexample
657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
658 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
659 : nil,
660 @end smallexample
661
662 @noindent
663 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
667
668 @smallexample
669 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
670 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
671 at input.c:530
672 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
673 @end smallexample
674
675 @noindent
676 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681 stack frame for each active subroutine.
682
683 @smallexample
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
686 at input.c:530
687 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
688 at builtin.c:882
689 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
691 at macro.c:71
692 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
694 @end smallexample
695
696 @noindent
697 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
700
701 @smallexample
702 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
703 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
705 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
709 : xstrdup(rq);
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
712 @end smallexample
713
714 @noindent
715 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718 (@code{print}) to see their values.
719
720 @smallexample
721 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
725 @end smallexample
726
727 @noindent
728 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
731
732 @smallexample
733 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
734 533 xfree(rquote);
735 534
736 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
737 : xstrdup (lq);
738 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
739 : xstrdup (rq);
740 537
741 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
743 540 @}
744 541
745 542 void
746 @end smallexample
747
748 @noindent
749 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
751
752 @smallexample
753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
754 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
755 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
756 540 @}
757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
758 $3 = 9
759 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
760 $4 = 7
761 @end smallexample
762
763 @noindent
764 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
769 assignments.
770
771 @smallexample
772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
773 $5 = 7
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
775 $6 = 9
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782 example that caused trouble initially:
783
784 @smallexample
785 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
786 Continuing.
787
788 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
789
790 baz
791 0000
792 @end smallexample
793
794 @noindent
795 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
798
799 @smallexample
800 @b{Ctrl-d}
801 Program exited normally.
802 @end smallexample
803
804 @noindent
805 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
808
809 @smallexample
810 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
811 @end smallexample
812
813 @node Invocation
814 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
815
816 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
817 The essentials are:
818 @itemize @bullet
819 @item
820 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
821 @item
822 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
823 @end itemize
824
825 @menu
826 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
830 @end menu
831
832 @node Invoking GDB
833 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
834
835 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
837
838 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
840
841 The command-line options described here are designed
842 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843 options may effectively be unavailable.
844
845 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846 specifying an executable program:
847
848 @smallexample
849 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
850 @end smallexample
851
852 @noindent
853 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
854 specified:
855
856 @smallexample
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
858 @end smallexample
859
860 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861 to debug a running process:
862
863 @smallexample
864 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
865 @end smallexample
866
867 @noindent
868 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
870
871 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
876
877 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
879 option processing.
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
882 @end smallexample
883 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
885
886 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -silent
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
896
897 @noindent
898 Type
899
900 @smallexample
901 @value{GDBP} -help
902 @end smallexample
903
904 @noindent
905 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
907
908 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910 @samp{-x} option is used.
911
912
913 @menu
914 * File Options:: Choosing files
915 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
917 @end menu
918
919 @node File Options
920 @subsection Choosing Files
921
922 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
935
936 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938 argument and ignore it.
939
940 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
945
946 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
948 @c it.
949
950 @table @code
951 @item -symbols @var{file}
952 @itemx -s @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--symbols}
954 @cindex @code{-s}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
956
957 @item -exec @var{file}
958 @itemx -e @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--exec}
960 @cindex @code{-e}
961 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
963
964 @item -se @var{file}
965 @cindex @code{--se}
966 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
967 file.
968
969 @item -core @var{file}
970 @itemx -c @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--core}
972 @cindex @code{-c}
973 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
974
975 @item -pid @var{number}
976 @itemx -p @var{number}
977 @cindex @code{--pid}
978 @cindex @code{-p}
979 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
980
981 @item -command @var{file}
982 @itemx -x @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--command}
984 @cindex @code{-x}
985 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
988
989 @item -eval-command @var{command}
990 @itemx -ex @var{command}
991 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
992 @cindex @code{-ex}
993 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
994
995 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
997
998 @smallexample
999 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1001 @end smallexample
1002
1003 @item -init-command @var{file}
1004 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1005 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1006 @cindex @code{-ix}
1007 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008 after loading gdbinit files).
1009 @xref{Startup}.
1010
1011 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1013 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1014 @cindex @code{-iex}
1015 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016 after loading gdbinit files).
1017 @xref{Startup}.
1018
1019 @item -directory @var{directory}
1020 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1021 @cindex @code{--directory}
1022 @cindex @code{-d}
1023 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1024
1025 @item -r
1026 @itemx -readnow
1027 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1028 @cindex @code{-r}
1029 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1032
1033 @end table
1034
1035 @node Mode Options
1036 @subsection Choosing Modes
1037
1038 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039 batch mode or quiet mode.
1040
1041 @table @code
1042 @anchor{-nx}
1043 @item -nx
1044 @itemx -n
1045 @cindex @code{--nx}
1046 @cindex @code{-n}
1047 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1049
1050 @table @code
1051 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052 This is the system-wide init file.
1053 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056 have been processed.
1057 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058 This is the init file in your home directory.
1059 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060 command options have been processed.
1061 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062 This is the init file in the current directory.
1063 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1066 @end table
1067
1068 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069 For documentation on how to write command files,
1070 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1071
1072 @anchor{-nh}
1073 @item -nh
1074 @cindex @code{--nh}
1075 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076 in your home directory.
1077 @xref{Startup}.
1078
1079 @item -quiet
1080 @itemx -silent
1081 @itemx -q
1082 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1083 @cindex @code{--silent}
1084 @cindex @code{-q}
1085 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1087
1088 @item -batch
1089 @cindex @code{--batch}
1090 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1097
1098 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100 make this more useful, the message
1101
1102 @smallexample
1103 Program exited normally.
1104 @end smallexample
1105
1106 @noindent
1107 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1109 mode.
1110
1111 @item -batch-silent
1112 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116 for an interactive session.
1117
1118 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119 messages, for example.
1120
1121 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1123
1124 @item -return-child-result
1125 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1128
1129 @itemize @bullet
1130 @item
1131 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1134 @item
1135 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1136 @item
1137 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138 the exit code will be -1.
1139 @end itemize
1140
1141 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1143 interface.
1144
1145 @item -nowindows
1146 @itemx -nw
1147 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1148 @cindex @code{-nw}
1149 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1152
1153 @item -windows
1154 @itemx -w
1155 @cindex @code{--windows}
1156 @cindex @code{-w}
1157 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1158 used if possible.
1159
1160 @item -cd @var{directory}
1161 @cindex @code{--cd}
1162 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163 instead of the current directory.
1164
1165 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1170
1171 @item -fullname
1172 @itemx -f
1173 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1174 @cindex @code{-f}
1175 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1183 frame.
1184
1185 @item -annotate @var{level}
1186 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1187 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1195
1196 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1197 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1198
1199 @item --args
1200 @cindex @code{--args}
1201 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203 This option stops option processing.
1204
1205 @item -baud @var{bps}
1206 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1207 @cindex @code{--baud}
1208 @cindex @code{-b}
1209 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1211
1212 @item -l @var{timeout}
1213 @cindex @code{-l}
1214 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215 for remote debugging.
1216
1217 @item -tty @var{device}
1218 @itemx -t @var{device}
1219 @cindex @code{--tty}
1220 @cindex @code{-t}
1221 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1223
1224 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1225 @item -tui
1226 @cindex @code{--tui}
1227 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1233
1234 @c @item -xdb
1235 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1239 @c systems.
1240
1241 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1247
1248 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1254
1255 @item -write
1256 @cindex @code{--write}
1257 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1259 (@pxref{Patching}).
1260
1261 @item -statistics
1262 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1263 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1265
1266 @item -version
1267 @cindex @code{--version}
1268 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1270
1271 @item -configuration
1272 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1273 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1276
1277 @end table
1278
1279 @node Startup
1280 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1282
1283 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1284
1285 @enumerate
1286 @item
1287 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1289
1290 @item
1291 @cindex init file
1292 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1295 that file.
1296
1297 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1298 @item
1299 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1302 that file.
1303
1304 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1305 @item
1306 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1310 gets loaded.
1311
1312 @item
1313 Processes command line options and operands.
1314
1315 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1316 @item
1317 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320 This is only done if the current directory is
1321 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1324 @value{GDBN}.
1325
1326 @item
1327 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1331
1332 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333 you must do something like the following:
1334
1335 @smallexample
1336 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1337 @end smallexample
1338
1339 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1340 off too late.
1341
1342 @item
1343 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1346
1347 @item
1348 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1351 @end enumerate
1352
1353 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1359
1360 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1362
1363 @cindex init file name
1364 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1372
1373
1374 @node Quitting GDB
1375 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1378
1379 @table @code
1380 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1383 @itemx q
1384 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1388 error code.
1389 @end table
1390
1391 @cindex interrupt
1392 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396 until a time when it is safe.
1397
1398 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1401
1402 @node Shell Commands
1403 @section Shell Commands
1404
1405 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407 just use the @code{shell} command.
1408
1409 @table @code
1410 @kindex shell
1411 @kindex !
1412 @cindex shell escape
1413 @item shell @var{command-string}
1414 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1415 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1420 @end table
1421
1422 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1424 @value{GDBN}:
1425
1426 @table @code
1427 @kindex make
1428 @cindex calling make
1429 @item make @var{make-args}
1430 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1432 @end table
1433
1434 @node Logging Output
1435 @section Logging Output
1436 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1438
1439 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1441
1442 @table @code
1443 @kindex set logging
1444 @item set logging on
1445 Enable logging.
1446 @item set logging off
1447 Disable logging.
1448 @cindex logging file name
1449 @item set logging file @var{file}
1450 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457 @kindex show logging
1458 @item show logging
1459 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1460 @end table
1461
1462 @node Commands
1463 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1464
1465 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1470
1471 @menu
1472 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473 * Completion:: Command completion
1474 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1475 @end menu
1476
1477 @node Command Syntax
1478 @section Command Syntax
1479
1480 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1486
1487 @cindex abbreviation
1488 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1495
1496 @cindex repeating commands
1497 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1504
1505 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1508
1509 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1514
1515 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1516 @cindex comment
1517 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519 Files,,Command Files}).
1520
1521 @cindex repeating command sequences
1522 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1526 for editing.
1527
1528 @node Completion
1529 @section Command Completion
1530
1531 @cindex completion
1532 @cindex word completion
1533 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1537
1538 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541 enter it). For example, if you type
1542
1543 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1547 @smallexample
1548 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1549 @end smallexample
1550
1551 @noindent
1552 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1557 @end smallexample
1558
1559 @noindent
1560 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1566
1567 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1575 example:
1576
1577 @smallexample
1578 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581 make_abs_section make_function_type
1582 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588 @noindent
1589 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1591 command.
1592
1593 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1598
1599 @cindex quotes in commands
1600 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1601 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605 @value{GDBN} commands.
1606
1607 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1618
1619 @smallexample
1620 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1623 @end smallexample
1624
1625 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1628 place:
1629
1630 @smallexample
1631 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1634 @end smallexample
1635
1636 @noindent
1637 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1640
1641 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1645
1646 @cindex completion of structure field names
1647 @cindex structure field name completion
1648 @cindex completion of union field names
1649 @cindex union field name completion
1650 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1655 left-hand-side:
1656
1657 @smallexample
1658 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660 to_data to_isatty to_write
1661 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1662 to_flush to_read
1663 @end smallexample
1664
1665 @noindent
1666 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1668 follows:
1669
1670 @smallexample
1671 struct ui_file
1672 @{
1673 int *magic;
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1683 void *to_data;
1684 @}
1685 @end smallexample
1686
1687
1688 @node Help
1689 @section Getting Help
1690 @cindex online documentation
1691 @kindex help
1692
1693 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694 using the command @code{help}.
1695
1696 @table @code
1697 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1698 @item help
1699 @itemx h
1700 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1702
1703 @smallexample
1704 (@value{GDBP}) help
1705 List of classes of commands:
1706
1707 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709 data -- Examining data
1710 files -- Specifying and examining files
1711 internals -- Maintenance commands
1712 obscure -- Obscure features
1713 running -- Running the program
1714 stack -- Examining the stack
1715 status -- Status inquiries
1716 support -- Support facilities
1717 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1720
1721 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722 commands in that class.
1723 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1724 documentation.
1725 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1726 (@value{GDBP})
1727 @end smallexample
1728 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1729
1730 @item help @var{class}
1731 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733 help display for the class @code{status}:
1734
1735 @smallexample
1736 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1737 Status inquiries.
1738
1739 List of commands:
1740
1741 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743 info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745 show -- Generic command for showing things
1746 about the debugger
1747
1748 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1749 documentation.
1750 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1751 (@value{GDBP})
1752 @end smallexample
1753
1754 @item help @var{command}
1755 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1757
1758 @kindex apropos
1759 @item apropos @var{args}
1760 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1763
1764 @smallexample
1765 apropos alias
1766 @end smallexample
1767
1768 @noindent
1769 results in:
1770
1771 @smallexample
1772 @c @group
1773 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778 @c @end group
1779 @end smallexample
1780
1781 @kindex complete
1782 @item complete @var{args}
1783 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785 command you want completed. For example:
1786
1787 @smallexample
1788 complete i
1789 @end smallexample
1790
1791 @noindent results in:
1792
1793 @smallexample
1794 @group
1795 if
1796 ignore
1797 info
1798 inspect
1799 @end group
1800 @end smallexample
1801
1802 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1803 @end table
1804
1805 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1811 Index}.
1812
1813 @c @group
1814 @table @code
1815 @kindex info
1816 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1817 @item info
1818 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823 @w{@code{help info}}.
1824
1825 @kindex set
1826 @item set
1827 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829 @code{set prompt $}.
1830
1831 @kindex show
1832 @item show
1833 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834 @value{GDBN} itself.
1835 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1839
1840 @kindex info set
1841 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1847 @end table
1848 @c @end group
1849
1850 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1852
1853 @table @code
1854 @kindex show version
1855 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1856 @item show version
1857 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1865 @value{GDBN}.
1866
1867 @kindex show copying
1868 @kindex info copying
1869 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1870 @item show copying
1871 @itemx info copying
1872 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1873
1874 @kindex show warranty
1875 @kindex info warranty
1876 @item show warranty
1877 @itemx info warranty
1878 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1880
1881 @kindex show configuration
1882 @item show configuration
1883 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1888 your report.
1889
1890 @end table
1891
1892 @node Running
1893 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1894
1895 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896 debugging information when you compile it.
1897
1898 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901 kill a child process.
1902
1903 @menu
1904 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905 * Starting:: Starting your program
1906 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1908
1909 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1913
1914 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1917 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1918 @end menu
1919
1920 @node Compilation
1921 @section Compiling for Debugging
1922
1923 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927 and addresses in the executable code.
1928
1929 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1930 the compiler.
1931
1932 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936 executables containing debugging information.
1937
1938 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1943
1944 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1947
1948 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1954
1955 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1958
1959 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962 format in @value{GDBN}.
1963
1964 @need 2000
1965 @node Starting
1966 @section Starting your Program
1967 @cindex starting
1968 @cindex running
1969
1970 @table @code
1971 @kindex run
1972 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1973 @item run
1974 @itemx r
1975 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1980
1981 @end table
1982
1983 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988 message like this one:
1989
1990 @smallexample
1991 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992 Try "help target" or "continue".
1993 @end smallexample
1994
1995 @noindent
1996 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997 first (@pxref{load}).
1998
1999 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004 divided into four categories:
2005
2006 @table @asis
2007 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2008 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2012 the arguments.
2013 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
2015 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2016
2017 @item The @emph{environment.}
2018 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2019 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2020 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2021 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2022
2023 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2024 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2025 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2026 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2027
2028 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2029 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2030 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2031 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2032 set a different device for your program.
2033 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2034
2035 @cindex pipes
2036 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2037 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2038 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2039 wrong program.
2040 @end table
2041
2042 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2043 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2044 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2045 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2046 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2047
2048 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2049 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2050 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2051 your current breakpoints.
2052
2053 @table @code
2054 @kindex start
2055 @item start
2056 @cindex run to main procedure
2057 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2058 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2059 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2060 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2061 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2062 procedure, depending on the language used.
2063
2064 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2065 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2066 the @samp{run} command.
2067
2068 @cindex elaboration phase
2069 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2070 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2071 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2072 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2073 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2074 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2075 will remain to halt execution.
2076
2077 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2078 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2079 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2080 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2081 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2082
2083 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2084 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2085 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2086 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2087 elaboration code before running your program.
2088
2089 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2090 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2091 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2092 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2093 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2094 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2095 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2096 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2097 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2098 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2099 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2100
2101 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2102 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2103 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2104 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2105
2106 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2107 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2108 environment:
2109
2110 @smallexample
2111 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2112 (@value{GDBP}) run
2113 @end smallexample
2114
2115 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2116 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2117
2118 @kindex set disable-randomization
2119 @item set disable-randomization
2120 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2121 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2122 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2123 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2124 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2125
2126 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2127 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2128
2129 @smallexample
2130 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2131 @end smallexample
2132
2133 @item set disable-randomization off
2134 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2135 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2136 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2137 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2138 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2139 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2140
2141 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2142 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2143 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2144 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2145 a code at its expected addresses.
2146
2147 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2148 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2149 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2150 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2151 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2152 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2153 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2154 a randomly chosen address.
2155
2156 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2157 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2158 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2159 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2160 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2161
2162 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2163 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2164
2165 @item show disable-randomization
2166 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2167 the virtual address space of the started program.
2168
2169 @end table
2170
2171 @node Arguments
2172 @section Your Program's Arguments
2173
2174 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2175 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2176 @code{run} command.
2177 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2178 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2179 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2180 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2181 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2182
2183 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2184 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2185 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2186 the program, not by the shell.
2187
2188 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2189 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2190
2191 @table @code
2192 @kindex set args
2193 @item set args
2194 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2195 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2196 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2197 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2198 it again without arguments.
2199
2200 @kindex show args
2201 @item show args
2202 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2203 @end table
2204
2205 @node Environment
2206 @section Your Program's Environment
2207
2208 @cindex environment (of your program)
2209 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2210 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2211 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2212 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2213 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2214 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2215 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2216
2217 @table @code
2218 @kindex path
2219 @item path @var{directory}
2220 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2221 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2222 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2223 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2224 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2225 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2226 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2227
2228 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2229 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2230 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2231 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2232 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2233 @var{directory} to the search path.
2234 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2235 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2236
2237 @kindex show paths
2238 @item show paths
2239 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2240 environment variable).
2241
2242 @kindex show environment
2243 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2244 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2245 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2246 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2247 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2248
2249 @kindex set environment
2250 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2251 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2252 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2253 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2254 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2255 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2256 null value.
2257 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2258 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2259
2260 For example, this command:
2261
2262 @smallexample
2263 set env USER = foo
2264 @end smallexample
2265
2266 @noindent
2267 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2268 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2269 are not actually required.)
2270
2271 @kindex unset environment
2272 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2273 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2274 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2275 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2276 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2277 @end table
2278
2279 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2280 the shell indicated
2281 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2282 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2283 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2284 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2285 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2286 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2287 @file{.profile}.
2288
2289 @node Working Directory
2290 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2291
2292 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2293 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2294 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2295 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2296 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2297 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2298
2299 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2300 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2301 Specify Files}.
2302
2303 @table @code
2304 @kindex cd
2305 @cindex change working directory
2306 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2307 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2308 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2309
2310 @kindex pwd
2311 @item pwd
2312 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2313 @end table
2314
2315 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2316 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2317 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2318 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2319 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2320 current working directory of the debuggee.
2321
2322 @node Input/Output
2323 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2324
2325 @cindex redirection
2326 @cindex i/o
2327 @cindex terminal
2328 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2329 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2330 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2331 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2332 running your program.
2333
2334 @table @code
2335 @kindex info terminal
2336 @item info terminal
2337 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2338 program is using.
2339 @end table
2340
2341 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2342 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2343
2344 @smallexample
2345 run > outfile
2346 @end smallexample
2347
2348 @noindent
2349 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2350
2351 @kindex tty
2352 @cindex controlling terminal
2353 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2354 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2355 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2356 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2357 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2358
2359 @smallexample
2360 tty /dev/ttyb
2361 @end smallexample
2362
2363 @noindent
2364 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2365 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2366 that as their controlling terminal.
2367
2368 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2369 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2370 terminal.
2371
2372 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2373 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2374 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2375 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2376
2377 @cindex inferior tty
2378 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2379 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2380 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2381 program.
2382
2383 @table @code
2384 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2385 @kindex set inferior-tty
2386 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2387
2388 @item show inferior-tty
2389 @kindex show inferior-tty
2390 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2391 @end table
2392
2393 @node Attach
2394 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2395 @kindex attach
2396 @cindex attach
2397
2398 @table @code
2399 @item attach @var{process-id}
2400 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2401 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2402 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2403 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2404 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2405
2406 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2407 executing the command.
2408 @end table
2409
2410 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2411 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2412 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2413 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2414
2415 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2416 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2417 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2418 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2419 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2420 Specify Files}.
2421
2422 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2423 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2424 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2425 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2426 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2427 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2428 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2429
2430 @table @code
2431 @kindex detach
2432 @item detach
2433 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2434 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2435 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2436 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2437 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2438 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2439 executing the command.
2440 @end table
2441
2442 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2443 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2444 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2445 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2446 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2447 Messages}).
2448
2449 @node Kill Process
2450 @section Killing the Child Process
2451
2452 @table @code
2453 @kindex kill
2454 @item kill
2455 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2456 @end table
2457
2458 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2459 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2460 is running.
2461
2462 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2463 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2464 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2465 outside the debugger.
2466
2467 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2468 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2469 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2470 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2471 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2472 breakpoint settings).
2473
2474 @node Inferiors and Programs
2475 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2476
2477 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2478 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2479 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2480 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2481 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2482 from multiple executables.
2483
2484 @cindex inferior
2485 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2486 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2487 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2488 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2489 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2490 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2491 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2492 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2493 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2494 threads running in it.
2495
2496 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2497 inferiors}}:
2498
2499 @table @code
2500 @kindex info inferiors
2501 @item info inferiors
2502 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2503
2504 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2505
2506 @enumerate
2507 @item
2508 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2509
2510 @item
2511 the target system's inferior identifier
2512
2513 @item
2514 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2515
2516 @end enumerate
2517
2518 @noindent
2519 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2520 indicates the current inferior.
2521
2522 For example,
2523 @end table
2524 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2525
2526 @smallexample
2527 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2528 Num Description Executable
2529 2 process 2307 hello
2530 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2531 @end smallexample
2532
2533 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2534
2535 @table @code
2536 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2537 @item inferior @var{infno}
2538 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2539 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2540 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2541 @end table
2542
2543
2544 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2545 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2546 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2547 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2548 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2549 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2550
2551 @table @code
2552 @kindex add-inferior
2553 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2554 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2555 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2556 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2557 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2558 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2559
2560 @kindex clone-inferior
2561 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2562 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2563 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2564 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2565 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2566
2567 @smallexample
2568 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2569 Num Description Executable
2570 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2571 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2572 Added inferior 2.
2573 1 inferiors added.
2574 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2575 Num Description Executable
2576 2 <null> helloworld
2577 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2578 @end smallexample
2579
2580 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2581
2582 @kindex remove-inferiors
2583 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2584 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2585 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2586 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2587
2588 @end table
2589
2590 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2591 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2592 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2593 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2594
2595 @table @code
2596 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2597 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2598 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2599 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2600 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2601 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2602
2603 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2604 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2605 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2606 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2607 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2608 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2609 @end table
2610
2611 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2612 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2613 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2614 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2615
2616
2617 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2618 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2619
2620 @table @code
2621 @kindex set print inferior-events
2622 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2623 @item set print inferior-events
2624 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2625 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2626 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2627 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2628 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2629 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2630
2631 @kindex show print inferior-events
2632 @item show print inferior-events
2633 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2634 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2635 @end table
2636
2637 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2638 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2639 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2640
2641
2642 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2643 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2644 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2645 info program-spaces}} command.
2646
2647 @table @code
2648 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2649 @item maint info program-spaces
2650 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2651 @value{GDBN}.
2652
2653 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2654
2655 @enumerate
2656 @item
2657 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2658
2659 @item
2660 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2661 the @code{file} command.
2662
2663 @end enumerate
2664
2665 @noindent
2666 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2667 indicates the current program space.
2668
2669 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2670 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2671 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2672
2673 @smallexample
2674 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2675 Id Executable
2676 2 goodbye
2677 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2678 * 1 hello
2679 @end smallexample
2680
2681 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2682 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2683 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2684 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2685 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2686
2687 @smallexample
2688 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2689 Id Executable
2690 * 1 vfork-test
2691 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2695 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2696 @end table
2697
2698 @node Threads
2699 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2700
2701 @cindex threads of execution
2702 @cindex multiple threads
2703 @cindex switching threads
2704 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2705 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2706 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2707 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2708 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2709 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2710 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2711
2712 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2713 programs:
2714
2715 @itemize @bullet
2716 @item automatic notification of new threads
2717 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2718 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2719 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2720 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2721 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2722 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2723 messages on thread start and exit.
2724 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2725 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2726 isn't compatible with the program.
2727 @end itemize
2728
2729 @quotation
2730 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2731 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2732 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2733 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2734 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2735 like this:
2736
2737 @smallexample
2738 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2739 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2740 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2741 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2742 @end smallexample
2743 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2744 @c doesn't support threads"?
2745 @end quotation
2746
2747 @cindex focus of debugging
2748 @cindex current thread
2749 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2750 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2751 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2752 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2753 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2754
2755 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2756 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2757 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2758 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2759 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2760 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2761 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2762 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2763 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2764 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2765
2766 @smallexample
2767 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2768 @end smallexample
2769
2770 @noindent
2771 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2772 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2773 further qualifier.
2774
2775 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2776 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2777 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2778 @c program?
2779 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2780 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2781 @c threads ab initio?
2782
2783 @cindex thread number
2784 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2785 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2786 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2787
2788 @table @code
2789 @kindex info threads
2790 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2791 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2792 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2793 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2794 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2795
2796 @enumerate
2797 @item
2798 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2799
2800 @item
2801 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2802
2803 @item
2804 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2805 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2806 program itself.
2807
2808 @item
2809 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2810 @end enumerate
2811
2812 @noindent
2813 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2814 indicates the current thread.
2815
2816 For example,
2817 @end table
2818 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2819
2820 @smallexample
2821 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2822 Id Target Id Frame
2823 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2824 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2825 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2826 at threadtest.c:68
2827 @end smallexample
2828
2829 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2830 Solaris-specific command:
2831
2832 @table @code
2833 @item maint info sol-threads
2834 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2835 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2836 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2837 @end table
2838
2839 @table @code
2840 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2841 @item thread @var{threadno}
2842 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2843 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2844 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2845 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2846 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2847
2848 @smallexample
2849 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2850 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2851 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2852 8 printf ("hello\n");
2853 @end smallexample
2854
2855 @noindent
2856 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2857 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2858 threads.
2859
2860 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2861 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2862 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2863 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2864 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2865 information on convenience variables.
2866
2867 @kindex thread apply
2868 @cindex apply command to several threads
2869 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2870 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2871 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2872 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2873 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2874 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2875 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2876 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2877
2878 @kindex thread name
2879 @cindex name a thread
2880 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2881 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2882 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2883 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2884
2885 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2886 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2887 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2888 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2889 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2890
2891 @kindex thread find
2892 @cindex search for a thread
2893 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2894 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2895 matches the supplied regular expression.
2896
2897 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2898 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2899 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2900 is the LWP id.
2901
2902 @smallexample
2903 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2904 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2905 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2906 Id Target Id Frame
2907 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2908 @end smallexample
2909
2910 @kindex set print thread-events
2911 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2912 @item set print thread-events
2913 @itemx set print thread-events on
2914 @itemx set print thread-events off
2915 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2916 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2917 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2918 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2919 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2920
2921 @kindex show print thread-events
2922 @item show print thread-events
2923 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2924 have started and exited.
2925 @end table
2926
2927 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2928 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2929 programs with multiple threads.
2930
2931 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2932 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2933
2934 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2935 @table @code
2936 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2937 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2938 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2939 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2940 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2941 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2942 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2943 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2944 macro.
2945
2946 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2947 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2948 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2949 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2950 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2951 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2952
2953 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2954 refers to the default system directories that are
2955 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2956 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2957 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2958
2959 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2960 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2961 was loaded in the inferior process.
2962
2963 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2964 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2965 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2966 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2967 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2968 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2969 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2970
2971 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2972 only on some platforms.
2973
2974 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2975 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2976 Display current libthread_db search path.
2977
2978 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2979 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2980 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2981 @item set debug libthread-db
2982 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2983 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2984 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2985 @end table
2986
2987 @node Forks
2988 @section Debugging Forks
2989
2990 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2991 @cindex multiple processes
2992 @cindex processes, multiple
2993 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2994 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2995 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2996 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2997 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2998 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2999 will cause it to terminate.
3000
3001 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3002 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3003 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3004 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3005 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3006 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3007 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3008 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3009 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3010 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3011
3012 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3013 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3014 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3015 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3016
3017 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3018 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3019
3020 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3021 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3022
3023 @table @code
3024 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3025 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3026 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3027 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3028 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3029
3030 @table @code
3031 @item parent
3032 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3033 unimpeded. This is the default.
3034
3035 @item child
3036 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3037 unimpeded.
3038
3039 @end table
3040
3041 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3042 @item show follow-fork-mode
3043 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3044 @end table
3045
3046 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3047 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3048 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3049
3050 @table @code
3051 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3052 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3053 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3054 retain debugger control over them both.
3055
3056 @table @code
3057 @item on
3058 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3059 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3060 independently. This is the default.
3061
3062 @item off
3063 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3064 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3065 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3066 is held suspended.
3067
3068 @end table
3069
3070 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3071 @item show detach-on-fork
3072 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3073 @end table
3074
3075 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3076 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3077 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3078 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3079 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3080 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3081
3082 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3083 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3084 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3085 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3086 and Programs}.
3087
3088 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3089 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3090 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3091 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3092 the child process's @code{main}.
3093
3094 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3095 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3096
3097 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3098 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3099 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3100 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3101 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3102 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3103 command.
3104
3105 @table @code
3106 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3107 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3108
3109 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3110 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3111
3112 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3113
3114 @table @code
3115 @item new
3116 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3117 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3118 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3119 original inferior.
3120
3121 For example:
3122
3123 @smallexample
3124 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3125 (gdb) info inferior
3126 Id Description Executable
3127 * 1 <null> prog1
3128 (@value{GDBP}) run
3129 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3130 Program exited normally.
3131 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3132 Id Description Executable
3133 * 2 <null> prog2
3134 1 <null> prog1
3135 @end smallexample
3136
3137 @item same
3138 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3139 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3140 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3141 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3142 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3143
3144 For example:
3145
3146 @smallexample
3147 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3148 Id Description Executable
3149 * 1 <null> prog1
3150 (@value{GDBP}) run
3151 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3152 Program exited normally.
3153 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3154 Id Description Executable
3155 * 1 <null> prog2
3156 @end smallexample
3157
3158 @end table
3159 @end table
3160
3161 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3162 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3163 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3164
3165 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3166 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3167
3168 @cindex checkpoint
3169 @cindex restart
3170 @cindex bookmark
3171 @cindex snapshot of a process
3172 @cindex rewind program state
3173
3174 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3175 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3176 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3177 later.
3178
3179 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3180 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3181 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3182 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3183 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3184
3185 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3186 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3187 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3188 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3189 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3190 start again from there.
3191
3192 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3193 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3194
3195 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3196
3197 @table @code
3198 @kindex checkpoint
3199 @item checkpoint
3200 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3201 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3202 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3203
3204 @kindex info checkpoints
3205 @item info checkpoints
3206 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3207 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3208 listed:
3209
3210 @table @code
3211 @item Checkpoint ID
3212 @item Process ID
3213 @item Code Address
3214 @item Source line, or label
3215 @end table
3216
3217 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3218 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3219 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3220 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3221 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3222 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3223 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3224
3225 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3226 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3227 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3228 the debugger.
3229
3230 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3231 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3232 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3233
3234 @end table
3235
3236 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3237 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3238 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3239 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3240 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3241 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3242 previously read data can be read again.
3243
3244 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3245 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3246 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3247 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3248 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3249 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3250
3251 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3252 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3253 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3254 different execution path this time.
3255
3256 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3257 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3258 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3259 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3260 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3261 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3262 potentially pose a problem.
3263
3264 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3265
3266 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3267 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3268 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3269 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3270 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3271 next.
3272
3273 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3274 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3275 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3276 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3277 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3278
3279 @node Stopping
3280 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3281
3282 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3283 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3284 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3285
3286 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3287 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3288 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3289 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3290 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3291 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3292 explicitly request this information at any time.
3293
3294 @table @code
3295 @kindex info program
3296 @item info program
3297 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3298 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3299 @end table
3300
3301 @menu
3302 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3303 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3304 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3305 Skipping over functions and files
3306 * Signals:: Signals
3307 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3308 @end menu
3309
3310 @node Breakpoints
3311 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3312
3313 @cindex breakpoints
3314 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3315 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3316 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3317 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3318 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3319 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3320 program.
3321
3322 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3323 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3324 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3325 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3326 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3327 call).
3328
3329 @cindex watchpoints
3330 @cindex data breakpoints
3331 @cindex memory tracing
3332 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3333 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3334 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3335 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3336 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3337 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3338 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3339 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3340 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3341 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3342 same commands.
3343
3344 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3345 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3346 Automatic Display}.
3347
3348 @cindex catchpoints
3349 @cindex breakpoint on events
3350 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3351 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3352 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3353 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3354 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3355 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3356 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3357
3358 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3359 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3360 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3361 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3362 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3363 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3364 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3365 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3366 enable it again.
3367
3368 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3369 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3370 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3371 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3372 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3373 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3374 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3375
3376 @menu
3377 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3378 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3379 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3380 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3381 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3382 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3383 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3384 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3385 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3386 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3387 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3388 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3389 @end menu
3390
3391 @node Set Breaks
3392 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3393
3394 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3395 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3396 @c
3397 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3398
3399 @kindex break
3400 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3401 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3402 @cindex latest breakpoint
3403 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3404 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3405 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3406 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3407 convenience variables.
3408
3409 @table @code
3410 @item break @var{location}
3411 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3412 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3413 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3414 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3415 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3416
3417 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3418 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3419 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3420 that situation.
3421
3422 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3423 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3424 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3425
3426 @item break
3427 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3428 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3429 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3430 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3431 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3432 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3433 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3434 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3435 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3436 inside loops.
3437
3438 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3439 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3440 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3441 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3442 existed when your program stopped.
3443
3444 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3445 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3446 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3447 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3448 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3449 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3450 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3451
3452 @kindex tbreak
3453 @item tbreak @var{args}
3454 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3455 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3456 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3457 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3458
3459 @kindex hbreak
3460 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3461 @item hbreak @var{args}
3462 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3463 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3464 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3465 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3466 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3467 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3468 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3469 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3470 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3471 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3472 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3473 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3474 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3475 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3476 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3477 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3478 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3479 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3480
3481 @kindex thbreak
3482 @item thbreak @var{args}
3483 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3484 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3485 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3486 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3487 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3488 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3489 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3490 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3491
3492 @kindex rbreak
3493 @cindex regular expression
3494 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3495 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3496 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3497 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3498 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3499 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3500 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3501 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3502 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3503
3504 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3505 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3506 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3507 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3508 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3509 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3510
3511 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3512 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3513 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3514 classes.
3515
3516 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3517 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3518 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3519
3520 @smallexample
3521 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3522 @end smallexample
3523
3524 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3525 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3526 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3527 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3528 every function in a given file:
3529
3530 @smallexample
3531 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3532 @end smallexample
3533
3534 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3535 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3536
3537 @kindex info breakpoints
3538 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3539 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3540 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3541 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3542 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3543 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3544 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3545
3546 @table @emph
3547 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3548 @item Type
3549 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3550 @item Disposition
3551 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3552 @item Enabled or Disabled
3553 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3554 that are not enabled.
3555 @item Address
3556 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3557 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3558 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3559 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3560 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3561 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3562 @item What
3563 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3564 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3565 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3566 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3567 @end table
3568
3569 @noindent
3570 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3571 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3572 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3573 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3574 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3575 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3576
3577 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3578 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3579 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3580 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3581
3582 @noindent
3583 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3584 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3585 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3586 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3587 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3588
3589 @noindent
3590 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3591 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3592 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3593 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3594 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3595 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3596
3597 @noindent
3598 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3599 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3600
3601 @end table
3602
3603 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3604 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3605 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3606 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3607
3608 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3609 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3610 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3611 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3612
3613 @itemize @bullet
3614 @item
3615 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3616
3617 @item
3618 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3619 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3620
3621 @item
3622 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3623 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3624
3625 @item
3626 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3627 several places where that function is inlined.
3628 @end itemize
3629
3630 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3631 the relevant locations.
3632
3633 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3634 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3635 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3636 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3637 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3638 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3639 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3640
3641 For example:
3642
3643 @smallexample
3644 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3645 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3646 stop only if i==1
3647 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3648 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3649 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3650 @end smallexample
3651
3652 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3653 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3654 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3655 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3656 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3657 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3658 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3659 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3660 that belong to that breakpoint.
3661
3662 @cindex pending breakpoints
3663 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3664 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3665 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3666 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3667 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3668 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3669 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3670 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3671 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3672 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3673 is not yet resolved.
3674
3675 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3676 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3677 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3678 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3679 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3680 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3681
3682 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3683 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3684 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3685 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3686
3687 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3688 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3689 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3690
3691 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3692 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3693 address specification to an address:
3694
3695 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3696 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3697 @table @code
3698 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3699 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3700 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3701
3702 @item set breakpoint pending on
3703 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3704 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3705
3706 @item set breakpoint pending off
3707 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3708 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3709 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3710
3711 @item show breakpoint pending
3712 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3713 @end table
3714
3715 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3716 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3717 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3718
3719 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3720 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3721 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3722 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3723 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3724 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3725 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3726 breakpoints.
3727
3728 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3729
3730 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3731 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3732 @table @code
3733 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3734 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3735 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3736 breakpoint must be used.
3737
3738 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3739 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3740 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3741 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3742 @end table
3743
3744 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3745 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3746 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3747 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3748 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3749 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3750 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3751 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3752 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3753
3754 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3755 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3756 @table @code
3757 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3758 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3759 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3760 removed from the target when it stops.
3761
3762 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3763 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3764 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3765 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3766 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3767
3768 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3769 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3770 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3771 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3772 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3773 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3774 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3775 @end table
3776
3777 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3778 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3779 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3780
3781 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3782 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3783
3784 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3785
3786 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3787 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3788 @table @code
3789 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3790 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3791 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3792 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3793 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3794
3795 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3796 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3797 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3798 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3799 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3800 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3801 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3802 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3803 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3804 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3805 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3806 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3807 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3808
3809 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3810 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3811 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3812 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3813 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3814 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3815 @end table
3816
3817
3818 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3819 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3820 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3821 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3822 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3823 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3824 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3825 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3826
3827
3828 @node Set Watchpoints
3829 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3830
3831 @cindex setting watchpoints
3832 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3833 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3834 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3835 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3836 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3837
3838 @itemize @bullet
3839 @item
3840 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3841
3842 @item
3843 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3844 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3845 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3846
3847 @item
3848 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3849 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3850 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3851 @end itemize
3852
3853 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3854 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3855 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3856 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3857 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3858 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3859 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3860 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3861 the expression changes.
3862
3863 @cindex software watchpoints
3864 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3865 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3866 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3867 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3868 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3869 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3870 culprit.)
3871
3872 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3873 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3874 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3875
3876 @table @code
3877 @kindex watch
3878 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3879 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3880 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3881 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3882 to watch the value of a single variable:
3883
3884 @smallexample
3885 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3886 @end smallexample
3887
3888 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3889 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3890 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3891 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3892 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3893 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3894
3895 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3896 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3897 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3898 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3899 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3900 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3901 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3902 error.
3903
3904 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3905 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3906 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3907 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3908 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3909 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3910 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3911 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3912 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3913 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3914 Examples:
3915
3916 @smallexample
3917 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3918 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3919 @end smallexample
3920
3921 @kindex rwatch
3922 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3923 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3924 by the program.
3925
3926 @kindex awatch
3927 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3928 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3929 or written into by the program.
3930
3931 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3932 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3933 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3934 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3935 @end table
3936
3937 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3938 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3939 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3940 a never-changing value:
3941
3942 @smallexample
3943 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3944 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3945 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3946 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3947 @end smallexample
3948
3949 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3950 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3951 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3952 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3953 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3954 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3955
3956 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3957 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3958 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3959 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3960 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3961 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3962 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3963 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3964
3965 @table @code
3966 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3967 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3968 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3969
3970 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3971 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3972 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3973 @end table
3974
3975 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3976 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3977 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3978
3979 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3980
3981 @smallexample
3982 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3983 @end smallexample
3984
3985 @noindent
3986 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3987
3988 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3989 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3990 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3991 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3992 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3993 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3994 will print a message like this:
3995
3996 @smallexample
3997 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3998 @end smallexample
3999
4000 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4001 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4002 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4003 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4004 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4005 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4006 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4007 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4008
4009 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4010 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4011 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4012 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4013 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4014 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4015
4016 @smallexample
4017 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4018 @end smallexample
4019
4020 @noindent
4021 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4022
4023 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4024 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4025 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4026 expression with separately allocated resources.
4027
4028 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4029 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4030 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4031
4032 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4033 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4034 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4035 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4036 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4037 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4038 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4039 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4040 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4041
4042 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4043 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4044 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4045 watched expression from every thread.
4046
4047 @quotation
4048 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4049 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4050 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4051 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4052 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4053 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4054 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4055 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4056 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4057 @end quotation
4058
4059 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4060
4061 @node Set Catchpoints
4062 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4063 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4064 @cindex exception handlers
4065 @cindex event handling
4066
4067 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4068 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4069 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4070
4071 @table @code
4072 @kindex catch
4073 @item catch @var{event}
4074 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4075
4076 @table @code
4077 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4078 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4079 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4080 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4081 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4082
4083 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4084 regular expression will be caught.
4085
4086 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4087 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4088 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4089 exception being thrown.
4090
4091 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4092 @value{GDBN}:
4093
4094 @itemize @bullet
4095 @item
4096 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4097 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4098 supported.
4099
4100 @item
4101 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4102 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4103 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4104 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4105 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4106 built.
4107
4108 @item
4109 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4110 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4111
4112 @item
4113 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4114 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4115 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4116 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4117
4118 @item
4119 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4120 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4121 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4122 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4123 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4124 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4125 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4126 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4127 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4128
4129 @item
4130 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4131
4132 @item
4133 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4134 @end itemize
4135
4136 @item exception
4137 @cindex Ada exception catching
4138 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4139 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4140 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4141 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4142 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4143
4144 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4145 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4146 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4147 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4148 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4149 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4150 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4151 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4152
4153 @item exception unhandled
4154 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4155
4156 @item assert
4157 A failed Ada assertion.
4158
4159 @item exec
4160 @cindex break on fork/exec
4161 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4162 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4163
4164 @item syscall
4165 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4166 @cindex break on a system call.
4167 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4168 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4169 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4170 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4171 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4172 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4173 will be caught.
4174
4175 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4176 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4177 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4178 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4179
4180 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4181 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4182 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4183 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4184
4185 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4186 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4187 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4188 available choices.
4189
4190 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4191 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4192 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4193 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4194 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4195 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4196 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4197 behind the OS upgrades).
4198
4199 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4200 arguments to it:
4201
4202 @smallexample
4203 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4204 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4205 (@value{GDBP}) r
4206 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4207
4208 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4209 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4210 (@value{GDBP}) c
4211 Continuing.
4212
4213 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4214 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4215 (@value{GDBP})
4216 @end smallexample
4217
4218 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4219
4220 @smallexample
4221 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4222 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4223 (@value{GDBP}) r
4224 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4225
4226 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4227 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4228 (@value{GDBP}) c
4229 Continuing.
4230
4231 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4232 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4233 (@value{GDBP})
4234 @end smallexample
4235
4236 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4237 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4238 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4239
4240 @smallexample
4241 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4242 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4243 (@value{GDBP}) r
4244 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4245
4246 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4247 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4248 (@value{GDBP}) c
4249 Continuing.
4250
4251 Program exited normally.
4252 (@value{GDBP})
4253 @end smallexample
4254
4255 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4256 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4257 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4258 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4259
4260 @smallexample
4261 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4262 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4263 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4264 (@value{GDBP})
4265 @end smallexample
4266
4267 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4268 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4269 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4270 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4271 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4272 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4273
4274 @smallexample
4275 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4276 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4277 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4278 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4279 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4280 (@value{GDBP})
4281 @end smallexample
4282
4283 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4284
4285 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4286 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4287
4288 @smallexample
4289 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4290 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4291 @end smallexample
4292
4293 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4294
4295 @item fork
4296 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4297 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4298
4299 @item vfork
4300 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4301 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4302
4303 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4304 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4305 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4306 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4307 matches one of the affected libraries.
4308
4309 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4310 The delivery of a signal.
4311
4312 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4313 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4314 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4315
4316 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4317 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4318 signal names.
4319
4320 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4321 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4322 will be caught.
4323
4324 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4325 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4326 catchpoint.
4327
4328 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4329 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4330 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4331 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4332 commands.
4333
4334 @end table
4335
4336 @item tcatch @var{event}
4337 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4338 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4339
4340 @end table
4341
4342 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4343
4344
4345 @node Delete Breaks
4346 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4347
4348 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4349 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4350 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4351 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4352 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4353 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4354
4355 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4356 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4357 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4358 their breakpoint numbers.
4359
4360 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4361 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4362 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4363
4364 @table @code
4365 @kindex clear
4366 @item clear
4367 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4368 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4369 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4370 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4371
4372 @item clear @var{location}
4373 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4374 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4375 most useful ones are listed below:
4376
4377 @table @code
4378 @item clear @var{function}
4379 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4380 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4381
4382 @item clear @var{linenum}
4383 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4384 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4385 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4386 @end table
4387
4388 @cindex delete breakpoints
4389 @kindex delete
4390 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4391 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4392 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4393 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4394 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4395 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4396 @end table
4397
4398 @node Disabling
4399 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4400
4401 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4402 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4403 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4404 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4405 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4406
4407 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4408 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4409 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4410 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4411 do not know which numbers to use.
4412
4413 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4414 affects all of its locations.
4415
4416 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4417 different states of enablement:
4418
4419 @itemize @bullet
4420 @item
4421 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4422 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4423 @item
4424 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4425 @item
4426 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4427 disabled.
4428 @item
4429 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4430 N times, then becomes disabled.
4431 @item
4432 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4433 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4434 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4435 @end itemize
4436
4437 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4438 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4439
4440 @table @code
4441 @kindex disable
4442 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4443 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4444 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4445 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4446 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4447 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4448 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4449
4450 @kindex enable
4451 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4452 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4453 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4454
4455 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4456 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4457 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4458
4459 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4460 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4461 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4462 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4463 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4464 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4465 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4466
4467 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4468 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4469 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4470 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4471 @end table
4472
4473 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4474 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4475 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4476 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4477 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4478 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4479 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4480 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4481 Stepping}.)
4482
4483 @node Conditions
4484 @subsection Break Conditions
4485 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4486 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4487
4488 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4489 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4490 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4491 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4492 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4493 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4494 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4495 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4496
4497 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4498 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4499 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4500 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4501 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4502
4503 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4504 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4505 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4506 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4507 one.
4508
4509 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4510 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4511 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4512 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4513 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4514 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4515 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4516 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4517 conditions for the
4518 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4519 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4520
4521 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4522 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4523 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4524 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4525 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4526 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4527
4528 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4529 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4530 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4531 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4532 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4533
4534 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4535 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4536 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4537 with the @code{condition} command.
4538
4539 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4540 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4541 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4542 catchpoint.
4543
4544 @table @code
4545 @kindex condition
4546 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4547 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4548 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4549 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4550 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4551 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4552 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4553 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4554 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4555 prints an error message:
4556
4557 @smallexample
4558 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4559 @end smallexample
4560
4561 @noindent
4562 @value{GDBN} does
4563 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4564 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4565 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4566
4567 @item condition @var{bnum}
4568 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4569 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4570 @end table
4571
4572 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4573 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4574 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4575 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4576 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4577 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4578 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4579 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4580 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4581 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4582 your program reaches it.
4583
4584 @table @code
4585 @kindex ignore
4586 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4587 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4588 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4589 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4590 takes no action.
4591
4592 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4593 a count of zero.
4594
4595 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4596 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4597 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4598 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4599
4600 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4601 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4602 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4603
4604 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4605 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4606 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4607 Variables}.
4608 @end table
4609
4610 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4611
4612
4613 @node Break Commands
4614 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4615
4616 @cindex breakpoint commands
4617 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4618 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4619 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4620 enable other breakpoints.
4621
4622 @table @code
4623 @kindex commands
4624 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4625 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4626 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4627 @itemx end
4628 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4629 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4630 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4631
4632 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4633 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4634
4635 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4636 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4637 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4638 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4639 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4640 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4641 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4642 Expressions}).
4643 @end table
4644
4645 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4646 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4647
4648 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4649 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4650 that resumes execution.
4651
4652 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4653 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4654 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4655 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4656 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4657
4658 @kindex silent
4659 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4660 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4661 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4662 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4663 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4664 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4665
4666 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4667 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4668 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4669
4670 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4671 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4672
4673 @smallexample
4674 break foo if x>0
4675 commands
4676 silent
4677 printf "x is %d\n",x
4678 cont
4679 end
4680 @end smallexample
4681
4682 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4683 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4684 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4685 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4686 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4687 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4688 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4689
4690 @smallexample
4691 break 403
4692 commands
4693 silent
4694 set x = y + 4
4695 cont
4696 end
4697 @end smallexample
4698
4699 @node Dynamic Printf
4700 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4701
4702 @cindex dynamic printf
4703 @cindex dprintf
4704 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4705 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4706 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4707 having to recompile it.
4708
4709 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4710 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4711 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4712 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4713 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4714 redirects to files and so forth.
4715
4716 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4717 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4718 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4719 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4720 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4721 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4722 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4723
4724 @table @code
4725 @kindex dprintf
4726 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4727 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4728 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4729 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4730
4731 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4732 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4733 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4734 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4735 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4736 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4737
4738 @item gdb
4739 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4740 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4741
4742 @item call
4743 @kindex dprintf-style call
4744 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4745 @code{printf}).
4746
4747 @item agent
4748 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4749 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4750 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4751 support running commands on the target.
4752
4753 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4754 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4755 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4756 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4757 command.
4758
4759 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4760 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4761 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4762 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4763 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4764 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4765
4766 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4767 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4768 you could do the following:
4769
4770 @example
4771 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4772 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4773 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4774 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4775 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4776 (gdb) info break
4777 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4778 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4779 continue
4780 (gdb)
4781 @end example
4782
4783 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4784 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4785 the variable settings.
4786
4787 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4788 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4789 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4790 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4791 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4792 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4793
4794 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4795 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4796 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4797
4798 @end table
4799
4800 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4801 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4802 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4803 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4804 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4805 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4806
4807 @node Save Breakpoints
4808 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4809
4810 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4811 breakpoints}} command.
4812
4813 @table @code
4814 @kindex save breakpoints
4815 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4816 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4817 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4818 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4819 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4820 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4821 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4822 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4823 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4824 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4825 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4826 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4827 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4828 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4829 that can no longer be recreated.
4830 @end table
4831
4832 @node Static Probe Points
4833 @subsection Static Probe Points
4834
4835 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4836 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4837 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4838 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4839 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4840 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4841 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4842
4843 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4844 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4845 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4846 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4847 in your applications.
4848
4849 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4850 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4851 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4852 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4853 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4854 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4855 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4856 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4857
4858 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4859 probes}, with optional arguments:
4860
4861 @table @code
4862 @kindex info probes
4863 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4864 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4865 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4866 probes from all providers are listed.
4867
4868 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4869 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4870 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4871
4872 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4873 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4874 given, all object files are considered.
4875
4876 @item info probes all
4877 List the available static probes, from all types.
4878 @end table
4879
4880 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4881 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4882 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4883 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4884 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4885 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4886 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4887 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4888 at the current probe point.
4889
4890 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4891 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4892 an error message.
4893
4894
4895 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4896 @node Error in Breakpoints
4897 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4898
4899 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4900 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4901
4902 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4903 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4904 @smallexample
4905 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4906 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4907 @end smallexample
4908
4909 @noindent
4910 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4911 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4912 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4913
4914 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4915 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4916
4917 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4918 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4919 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4920
4921 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4922 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4923 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4924 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4925
4926 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4927 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4928 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4929 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4930 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4931 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4932 first in the bundle.
4933
4934 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4935 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4936 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4937 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4938 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4939 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4940 is hit.
4941
4942 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4943 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4944
4945 @smallexample
4946 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4947 @end smallexample
4948
4949 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4950 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4951 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4952 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4953 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4954 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4955 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4956 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4957
4958 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4959 adjusted breakpoints:
4960
4961 @smallexample
4962 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4963 to 0x00010410.
4964 @end smallexample
4965
4966 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4967 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4968 frequently than expected.
4969
4970 @node Continuing and Stepping
4971 @section Continuing and Stepping
4972
4973 @cindex stepping
4974 @cindex continuing
4975 @cindex resuming execution
4976 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4977 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4978 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4979 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4980 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4981 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4982 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4983 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4984
4985 @table @code
4986 @kindex continue
4987 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4988 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4989 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4990 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4991 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4992 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4993 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4994 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4995 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4996 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4997
4998 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4999 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5000 @code{continue} is ignored.
5001
5002 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5003 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5004 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5005 @code{continue}.
5006 @end table
5007
5008 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5009 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5010 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5011 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5012
5013 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5014 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5015 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5016 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5017 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5018 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5019
5020 @table @code
5021 @kindex step
5022 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5023 @item step
5024 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5025 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5026 abbreviated @code{s}.
5027
5028 @quotation
5029 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5030 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5031 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5032 @c distinction here.
5033 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5034 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5035 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5036 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5037 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5038 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5039 below.
5040 @end quotation
5041
5042 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5043 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5044 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5045 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5046 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5047 called within the line.
5048
5049 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5050 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5051 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5052 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5053 was any debugging information about the routine.
5054
5055 @item step @var{count}
5056 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5057 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5058 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5059
5060 @kindex next
5061 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5062 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5063 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5064 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5065 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5066 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5067 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5068 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5069
5070 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5071
5072
5073 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5074 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5075 @c
5076 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5077 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5078 @c function are executed without stopping.
5079
5080 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5081 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5082 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5083
5084 @kindex set step-mode
5085 @item set step-mode
5086 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5087 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5088 @itemx set step-mode on
5089 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5090 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5091 information rather than stepping over it.
5092
5093 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5094 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5095 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5096
5097 @item set step-mode off
5098 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5099 debug information. This is the default.
5100
5101 @item show step-mode
5102 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5103 source line debug information.
5104
5105 @kindex finish
5106 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5107 @item finish
5108 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5109 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5110 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5111
5112 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5113 ,Returning from a Function}).
5114
5115 @kindex until
5116 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5117 @cindex run until specified location
5118 @item until
5119 @itemx u
5120 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5121 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5122 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5123 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5124 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5125 than the address of the jump.
5126
5127 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5128 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5129 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5130 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5131 through the next iteration.
5132
5133 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5134 stack frame.
5135
5136 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5137 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5138 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5139 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5140 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5141
5142 @smallexample
5143 (@value{GDBP}) f
5144 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5145 206 expand_input();
5146 (@value{GDBP}) until
5147 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5148 @end smallexample
5149
5150 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5151 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5152 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5153 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5154 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5155 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5156 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5157
5158 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5159 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5160 argument.
5161
5162 @item until @var{location}
5163 @itemx u @var{location}
5164 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5165 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5166 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5167 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5168 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5169 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5170 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5171 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5172 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5173 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5174 invocations have returned.
5175
5176 @smallexample
5177 94 int factorial (int value)
5178 95 @{
5179 96 if (value > 1) @{
5180 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5181 98 @}
5182 99 return (value);
5183 100 @}
5184 @end smallexample
5185
5186
5187 @kindex advance @var{location}
5188 @item advance @var{location}
5189 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5190 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5191 @ref{Specify Location}.
5192 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5193 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5194 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5195 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5196
5197
5198 @kindex stepi
5199 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5200 @item stepi
5201 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5202 @itemx si
5203 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5204
5205 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5206 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5207 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5208 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5209
5210 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5211
5212 @need 750
5213 @kindex nexti
5214 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5215 @item nexti
5216 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5217 @itemx ni
5218 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5219 proceed until the function returns.
5220
5221 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5222
5223 @end table
5224
5225 @anchor{range stepping}
5226 @cindex range stepping
5227 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5228 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5229 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5230 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5231 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5232 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5233 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5234 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5235 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5236 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5237 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5238 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5239 if necessary:
5240
5241 @table @code
5242 @kindex set range-stepping
5243 @kindex show range-stepping
5244 @item set range-stepping
5245 @itemx show range-stepping
5246 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5247
5248 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5249 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5250 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5251 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5252 default is @code{on}.
5253
5254 @end table
5255
5256 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5257 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5258 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5259
5260 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5261 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5262 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5263
5264 For example, consider the following C function:
5265
5266 @smallexample
5267 101 int func()
5268 102 @{
5269 103 foo(boring());
5270 104 bar(boring());
5271 105 @}
5272 @end smallexample
5273
5274 @noindent
5275 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5276 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5277 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5278 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5279
5280 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5281 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5282 is called from many places.
5283
5284 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5285 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5286 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5287 @code{foo}.
5288
5289 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5290 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5291
5292 @table @code
5293 @kindex skip function
5294 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5295 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5296 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5297 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5298 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5299
5300 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5301 will be skipped.
5302
5303 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5304 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5305
5306 @kindex skip file
5307 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5308 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5309 will be skipped over when stepping.
5310
5311 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5312 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5313 @end table
5314
5315 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5316 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5317
5318 @table @code
5319 @kindex info skip
5320 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5321 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5322 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5323 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5324
5325 @table @emph
5326 @item Identifier
5327 A number identifying this skip.
5328 @item Type
5329 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5330 @item Enabled or Disabled
5331 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5332 @item Address
5333 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5334 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5335 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5336 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5337 address here.
5338 @item What
5339 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5340 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5341 where it is defined.
5342 @end table
5343
5344 @kindex skip delete
5345 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5346 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5347 skips.
5348
5349 @kindex skip enable
5350 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5351 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5352 skips.
5353
5354 @kindex skip disable
5355 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5356 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5357 skips.
5358
5359 @end table
5360
5361 @node Signals
5362 @section Signals
5363 @cindex signals
5364
5365 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5366 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5367 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5368 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5369 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5370 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5371 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5372 requested an alarm).
5373
5374 @cindex fatal signals
5375 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5376 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5377 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5378 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5379 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5380 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5381
5382 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5383 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5384 signal.
5385
5386 @cindex handling signals
5387 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5388 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5389 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5390 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5391 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5392
5393 @table @code
5394 @kindex info signals
5395 @kindex info handle
5396 @item info signals
5397 @itemx info handle
5398 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5399 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5400 the defined types of signals.
5401
5402 @item info signals @var{sig}
5403 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5404
5405 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5406
5407 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5408 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5409 for details about this command.
5410
5411 @kindex handle
5412 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5413 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5414 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5415 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5416 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5417 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5418 say what change to make.
5419 @end table
5420
5421 @c @group
5422 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5423 Their full names are:
5424
5425 @table @code
5426 @item nostop
5427 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5428 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5429
5430 @item stop
5431 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5432 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5433
5434 @item print
5435 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5436
5437 @item noprint
5438 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5439 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5440
5441 @item pass
5442 @itemx noignore
5443 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5444 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5445 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5446
5447 @item nopass
5448 @itemx ignore
5449 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5450 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5451 @end table
5452 @c @end group
5453
5454 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5455 program until you
5456 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5457 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5458 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5459 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5460 program sees that signal when you continue.
5461
5462 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5463 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5464 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5465 erroneous signals.
5466
5467 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5468 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5469 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5470 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5471 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5472 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5473 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5474 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5475 Program a Signal}.
5476
5477 @cindex extra signal information
5478 @anchor{extra signal information}
5479
5480 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5481 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5482 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5483 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5484 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5485 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5486 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5487 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5488 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5489 system header.
5490
5491 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5492 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5493
5494 @smallexample
5495 @group
5496 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5497 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5498 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5499 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5500 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5501 type = struct @{
5502 int si_signo;
5503 int si_errno;
5504 int si_code;
5505 union @{
5506 int _pad[28];
5507 struct @{...@} _kill;
5508 struct @{...@} _timer;
5509 struct @{...@} _rt;
5510 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5511 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5512 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5513 @} _sifields;
5514 @}
5515 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5516 type = struct @{
5517 void *si_addr;
5518 @}
5519 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5520 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5521 @end group
5522 @end smallexample
5523
5524 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5525
5526 @node Thread Stops
5527 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5528
5529 @cindex stopped threads
5530 @cindex threads, stopped
5531
5532 @cindex continuing threads
5533 @cindex threads, continuing
5534
5535 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5536 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5537 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5538 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5539 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5540 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5541 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5542 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5543 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5544
5545 @menu
5546 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5547 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5548 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5549 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5550 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5551 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5552 @end menu
5553
5554 @node All-Stop Mode
5555 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5556
5557 @cindex all-stop mode
5558
5559 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5560 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5561 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5562 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5563 underfoot.
5564
5565 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5566 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5567 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5568
5569 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5570 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5571 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5572 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5573 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5574 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5575 stops.
5576
5577 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5578 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5579 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5580 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5581
5582 @cindex automatic thread selection
5583 @cindex switching threads automatically
5584 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5585 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5586 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5587 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5588 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5589 thread.
5590
5591 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5592 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5593
5594 @table @code
5595 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5596 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5597 @cindex lock scheduler
5598 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5599 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5600 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5601 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5602 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5603 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5604 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5605 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5606 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5607 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5608 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5609 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5610
5611 @item show scheduler-locking
5612 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5613 @end table
5614
5615 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5616 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5617 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5618 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5619 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5620 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5621 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5622 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5623 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5624 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5625 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5626 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5627 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5628 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5629
5630 @table @code
5631 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5632 @item set schedule-multiple
5633 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5634 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5635 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5636 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5637 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5638 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5639
5640 @item show schedule-multiple
5641 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5642 multiple processes.
5643 @end table
5644
5645 @node Non-Stop Mode
5646 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5647
5648 @cindex non-stop mode
5649
5650 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5651 @c with more details.
5652
5653 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5654 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5655 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5656 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5657 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5658 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5659
5660 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5661 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5662 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5663 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5664 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5665 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5666 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5667 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5668 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5669 independently and simultaneously.
5670
5671 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5672 or attach to your program:
5673
5674 @smallexample
5675 # Enable the async interface.
5676 set target-async 1
5677
5678 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5679 set pagination off
5680
5681 # Finally, turn it on!
5682 set non-stop on
5683 @end smallexample
5684
5685 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5686
5687 @table @code
5688 @kindex set non-stop
5689 @item set non-stop on
5690 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5691 @item set non-stop off
5692 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5693 @kindex show non-stop
5694 @item show non-stop
5695 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5696 @end table
5697
5698 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5699 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5700 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5701 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5702 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5703 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5704 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5705 default.
5706
5707 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5708 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5709 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5710
5711 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5712 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5713 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5714 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5715 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5716
5717 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5718 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5719 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5720 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5721 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5722
5723 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5724
5725 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5726 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5727 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5728 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5729 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5730 previously current thread.
5731
5732 @node Background Execution
5733 @subsection Background Execution
5734
5735 @cindex foreground execution
5736 @cindex background execution
5737 @cindex asynchronous execution
5738 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5739
5740 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5741 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5742 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5743 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5744 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5745 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5746
5747 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5748 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5749 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5750
5751 @table @code
5752 @kindex set target-async
5753 @item set target-async on
5754 Enable asynchronous mode.
5755 @item set target-async off
5756 Disable asynchronous mode.
5757 @kindex show target-async
5758 @item show target-async
5759 Show the current target-async setting.
5760 @end table
5761
5762 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5763 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5764
5765 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5766 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5767 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5768 are:
5769
5770 @table @code
5771 @kindex run&
5772 @item run
5773 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5774
5775 @item attach
5776 @kindex attach&
5777 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5778
5779 @item step
5780 @kindex step&
5781 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5782
5783 @item stepi
5784 @kindex stepi&
5785 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5786
5787 @item next
5788 @kindex next&
5789 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5790
5791 @item nexti
5792 @kindex nexti&
5793 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5794
5795 @item continue
5796 @kindex continue&
5797 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5798
5799 @item finish
5800 @kindex finish&
5801 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5802
5803 @item until
5804 @kindex until&
5805 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5806
5807 @end table
5808
5809 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5810 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5811 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5812 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5813 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5814 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5815
5816 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5817 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5818
5819 @table @code
5820 @kindex interrupt
5821 @item interrupt
5822 @itemx interrupt -a
5823
5824 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5825 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5826 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5827 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5828 @end table
5829
5830 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5831 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5832
5833 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5834 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5835 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5836
5837 @table @code
5838 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5839 @cindex thread breakpoints
5840 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5841 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5842 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5843 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5844 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5845 specify some source line.
5846
5847 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5848 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5849 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5850 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5851 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5852
5853 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5854 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5855 program.
5856
5857 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5858 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5859 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5860
5861 @smallexample
5862 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5863 @end smallexample
5864
5865 @end table
5866
5867 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
5868 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
5869 thread list. For example:
5870
5871 @smallexample
5872 (@value{GDBP}) c
5873 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
5874 @end smallexample
5875
5876 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
5877 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
5878 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
5879 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
5880 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
5881 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
5882 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
5883 command.
5884
5885 @node Interrupted System Calls
5886 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5887
5888 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5889 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5890 @cindex premature return from system calls
5891 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5892 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5893 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5894 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5895 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5896 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5897 stop execution.
5898
5899 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5900 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5901 style anyways.
5902
5903 For example, do not write code like this:
5904
5905 @smallexample
5906 sleep (10);
5907 @end smallexample
5908
5909 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5910 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5911
5912 Instead, write this:
5913
5914 @smallexample
5915 int unslept = 10;
5916 while (unslept > 0)
5917 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5918 @end smallexample
5919
5920 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5921 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5922 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5923 @value{GDBN}.
5924
5925 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5926 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5927 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5928 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5929
5930 @node Observer Mode
5931 @subsection Observer Mode
5932
5933 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5934 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5935 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5936 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5937 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5938
5939 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5940 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5941 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5942 mode.
5943
5944 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5945 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5946 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5947 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5948 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5949
5950 @table @code
5951
5952 @kindex observer
5953 @item set observer on
5954 @itemx set observer off
5955 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5956 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5957 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5958 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5959
5960 @item show observer
5961 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5962
5963 @kindex may-write-registers
5964 @item set may-write-registers on
5965 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5966 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5967 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5968 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5969
5970 @item show may-write-registers
5971 Show the current permission to write registers.
5972
5973 @kindex may-write-memory
5974 @item set may-write-memory on
5975 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5976 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5977 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5978 defaults to @code{on}.
5979
5980 @item show may-write-memory
5981 Show the current permission to write memory.
5982
5983 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5984 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5985 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5986 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5987 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5988 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5989
5990 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5991 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5992
5993 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5994 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5995 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5996 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5997 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5998 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5999 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6000
6001 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6002 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6003
6004 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6005 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6006 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6007 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6008 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6009 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6010 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6011
6012 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6013 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6014
6015 @kindex may-interrupt
6016 @item set may-interrupt on
6017 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6018 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6019 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6020 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6021 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6022
6023 @item show may-interrupt
6024 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6025
6026 @end table
6027
6028 @node Reverse Execution
6029 @chapter Running programs backward
6030 @cindex reverse execution
6031 @cindex running programs backward
6032
6033 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6034 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6035 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6036 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6037
6038 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6039 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6040 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6041 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6042 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6043 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6044
6045 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6046 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6047 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6048 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6049 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6050 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6051 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6052 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6053 prior values@footnote{
6054 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6055 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6056 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6057
6058 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6059 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6060 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6061 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6062 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6063 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6064 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6065 }.
6066
6067 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6068 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6069
6070 @table @code
6071 @kindex reverse-continue
6072 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6073 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6074 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6075 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6076 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6077 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6078 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6079
6080 @kindex reverse-step
6081 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6082 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6083 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6084 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6085
6086 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6087 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6088 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6089 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6090 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6091 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6092
6093 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6094 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6095
6096 @kindex reverse-stepi
6097 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6098 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6099 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6100 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6101 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6102 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6103 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6104
6105 @kindex reverse-next
6106 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6107 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6108 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6109 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6110 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6111 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6112 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6113 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6114 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6115 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6116
6117 @kindex reverse-nexti
6118 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6119 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6120 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6121 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6122 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6123 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6124 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6125 frame) is reached.
6126
6127 @kindex reverse-finish
6128 @item reverse-finish
6129 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6130 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6131 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6132 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6133
6134 @kindex set exec-direction
6135 @item set exec-direction
6136 Set the direction of target execution.
6137 @item set exec-direction reverse
6138 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6139 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6140 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6141 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6142 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6143 @item set exec-direction forward
6144 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6145 This is the default.
6146 @end table
6147
6148
6149 @node Process Record and Replay
6150 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6151 @cindex process record and replay
6152 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6153
6154 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6155 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6156 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6157
6158 @cindex replay mode
6159 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6160 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6161 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6162 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6163 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6164 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6165 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6166 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6167 execution log.
6168
6169 @cindex record mode
6170 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6171 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6172 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6173 for future replay.
6174
6175 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6176 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6177 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6178 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6179 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6180 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6181
6182 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6183 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6184 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6185 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6186
6187 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6188 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6189
6190 @table @code
6191 @kindex target record
6192 @kindex target record-full
6193 @kindex target record-btrace
6194 @kindex record
6195 @kindex record full
6196 @kindex record btrace
6197 @kindex rec
6198 @kindex rec full
6199 @kindex rec btrace
6200 @item record @var{method}
6201 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6202 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6203 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6204 recording methods are available:
6205
6206 @table @code
6207 @item full
6208 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6209 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6210 execution.
6211
6212 @item btrace
6213 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6214 replaying and reverse execution.
6215
6216 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6217 @end table
6218
6219 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6220 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6221 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6222 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6223
6224 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6225 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6226
6227 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6228 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6229 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6230 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6231 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6232
6233 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6234 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6235 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6236 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6237 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6238 does not support these two modes.
6239
6240 @kindex record stop
6241 @kindex rec s
6242 @item record stop
6243 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6244 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6245 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6246
6247 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6248 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6249 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6250 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6251 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6252
6253 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6254 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6255 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6256 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6257 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6258
6259 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6260 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6261
6262 @kindex record goto
6263 @item record goto
6264 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6265 ways to specify the location to go to:
6266
6267 @table @code
6268 @item record goto begin
6269 @itemx record goto start
6270 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6271
6272 @item record goto end
6273 Go to the end of the execution log.
6274
6275 @item record goto @var{n}
6276 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6277 @end table
6278
6279 @kindex record save
6280 @item record save @var{filename}
6281 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6282 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6283 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6284
6285 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6286
6287 @kindex record restore
6288 @item record restore @var{filename}
6289 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6290 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6291
6292 @kindex set record full
6293 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6294 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6295 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6296 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6297
6298 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6299 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6300 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6301 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6302 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6303 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6304 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6305 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6306
6307 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6308 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6309 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6310
6311 @kindex show record full
6312 @item show record full insn-number-max
6313 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6314 recording method.
6315
6316 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6317 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6318 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6319 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6320 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6321 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6322 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6323 oldest one to be deleted.
6324
6325 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6326 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6327
6328 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6329 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6330
6331 @item set record full memory-query
6332 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6333 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6334 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6335 case.
6336
6337 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6338 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6339 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6340 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6341 results.
6342
6343 @item show record full memory-query
6344 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6345
6346 @kindex info record
6347 @item info record
6348 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6349 method:
6350
6351 @table @code
6352 @item full
6353 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6354 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6355
6356 @itemize @bullet
6357 @item
6358 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6359 @item
6360 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6361 @item
6362 Highest recorded instruction number.
6363 @item
6364 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6365 @item
6366 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6367 @item
6368 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6369 @end itemize
6370
6371 @item btrace
6372 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6373 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6374 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6375 @end table
6376
6377 @kindex record delete
6378 @kindex rec del
6379 @item record delete
6380 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6381 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6382 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6383 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6384
6385 @kindex record instruction-history
6386 @kindex rec instruction-history
6387 @item record instruction-history
6388 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6389 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6390 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6391 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6392 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6393
6394 @table @code
6395 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6396 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6397 @var{insn}.
6398
6399 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6400 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6401 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6402 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6403 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6404 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6405
6406 @item record instruction-history
6407 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6408
6409 @item record instruction-history -
6410 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6411
6412 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6413 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6414 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6415 number @var{end} is not included.
6416 @end table
6417
6418 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6419
6420 @kindex set record
6421 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6422 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6423 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6424 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6425 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6426
6427 @kindex show record
6428 @item show record instruction-history-size
6429 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6430 instruction-history} command.
6431
6432 @kindex record function-call-history
6433 @kindex rec function-call-history
6434 @item record function-call-history
6435 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6436 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6437 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6438 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6439 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6440 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6441
6442 @smallexample
6443 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6444 1 void foo (void)
6445 2 @{
6446 3 @}
6447 4
6448 5 void bar (void)
6449 6 @{
6450 7 ...
6451 8 foo ();
6452 9 ...
6453 10 @}
6454 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6455 1 foo.c:6-8 bar
6456 2 foo.c:2-3 foo
6457 3 foo.c:9-10 bar
6458 @end smallexample
6459
6460 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6461 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6462 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6463 to print:
6464
6465 @table @code
6466 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6467 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6468
6469 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6470 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6471 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6472 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6473 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6474
6475 @item record function-call-history
6476 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6477
6478 @item record function-call-history -
6479 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6480
6481 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6482 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6483 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6484 included.
6485 @end table
6486
6487 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6488
6489 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6490 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6491 Define how many lines to print in the
6492 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6493 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6494
6495 @item show record function-call-history-size
6496 Show how many lines to print in the
6497 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6498 @end table
6499
6500
6501 @node Stack
6502 @chapter Examining the Stack
6503
6504 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6505 stopped and how it got there.
6506
6507 @cindex call stack
6508 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6509 is generated.
6510 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6511 the arguments of the call,
6512 and the local variables of the function being called.
6513 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6514 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6515 stack}.
6516
6517 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6518 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6519
6520 @cindex selected frame
6521 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6522 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6523 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6524 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6525 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6526 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6527
6528 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6529 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6530 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6531
6532 @menu
6533 * Frames:: Stack frames
6534 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6535 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6536 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6537 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6538
6539 @end menu
6540
6541 @node Frames
6542 @section Stack Frames
6543
6544 @cindex frame, definition
6545 @cindex stack frame
6546 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6547 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6548 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6549 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6550 which the function is executing.
6551
6552 @cindex initial frame
6553 @cindex outermost frame
6554 @cindex innermost frame
6555 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6556 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6557 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6558 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6559 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6560 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6561 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6562 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6563
6564 @cindex frame pointer
6565 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6566 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6567 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6568 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6569 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6570 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6571
6572 @cindex frame number
6573 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6574 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6575 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6576 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6577 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6578
6579 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6580 @c underflow problems.
6581 @cindex frameless execution
6582 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6583 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6584 @smallexample
6585 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6586 @end smallexample
6587 generates functions without a frame.)
6588 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6589 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6590 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6591 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6592 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6593 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6594 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6595
6596 @table @code
6597 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6598 @cindex current stack frame
6599 @item frame @var{args}
6600 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6601 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6602 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6603 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6604
6605 @kindex select-frame
6606 @cindex selecting frame silently
6607 @item select-frame
6608 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6609 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6610 @code{frame}.
6611 @end table
6612
6613 @node Backtrace
6614 @section Backtraces
6615
6616 @cindex traceback
6617 @cindex call stack traces
6618 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6619 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6620 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6621 stack.
6622
6623 @anchor{backtrace-command}
6624 @table @code
6625 @kindex backtrace
6626 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6627 @item backtrace
6628 @itemx bt
6629 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6630 frames in the stack.
6631
6632 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6633 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6634
6635 @item backtrace @var{n}
6636 @itemx bt @var{n}
6637 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6638
6639 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6640 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6641 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6642
6643 @item backtrace full
6644 @itemx bt full
6645 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6646 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6647 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6648 number of frames to print, as described above.
6649
6650 @item backtrace no-filters
6651 @itemx bt no-filters
6652 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6653 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6654 @itemx bt no-filters full
6655 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6656 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6657 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6658 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6659 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6660 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6661 support.
6662 @end table
6663
6664 @kindex where
6665 @kindex info stack
6666 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6667 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6668
6669 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6670 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6671 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6672 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6673 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6674 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6675 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6676 multi-threaded program.
6677
6678 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6679 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6680 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6681 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6682 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6683 line number.
6684
6685 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6686 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6687
6688 @smallexample
6689 @group
6690 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6691 at builtin.c:993
6692 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6693 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6694 at macro.c:71
6695 (More stack frames follow...)
6696 @end group
6697 @end smallexample
6698
6699 @noindent
6700 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6701 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6702 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6703
6704 @noindent
6705 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6706 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6707 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6708 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6709 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6710
6711 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6712 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6713 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6714 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6715 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6716 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6717 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6718 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6719 such a backtrace might look like:
6720
6721 @smallexample
6722 @group
6723 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6724 at builtin.c:993
6725 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6726 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6727 at macro.c:71
6728 (More stack frames follow...)
6729 @end group
6730 @end smallexample
6731
6732 @noindent
6733 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6734 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6735
6736 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6737 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6738 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6739
6740 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6741 @cindex program entry point
6742 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6743 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6744 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6745 @code{main}@footnote{
6746 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6747 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6748 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6749 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6750 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6751 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6752
6753 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6754 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6755
6756 @table @code
6757 @item set backtrace past-main
6758 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6759 @kindex set backtrace
6760 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6761
6762 @item set backtrace past-main off
6763 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6764 default.
6765
6766 @item show backtrace past-main
6767 @kindex show backtrace
6768 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6769
6770 @item set backtrace past-entry
6771 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6772 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6773 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6774 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6775
6776 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6777 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6778 application. This is the default.
6779
6780 @item show backtrace past-entry
6781 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6782
6783 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6784 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6785 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6786 @cindex backtrace limit
6787 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6788 or zero means unlimited levels.
6789
6790 @item show backtrace limit
6791 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6792 @end table
6793
6794 You can control how file names are displayed.
6795
6796 @table @code
6797 @item set filename-display
6798 @itemx set filename-display relative
6799 @cindex filename-display
6800 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6801
6802 @item set filename-display basename
6803 Display only basename of a filename.
6804
6805 @item set filename-display absolute
6806 Display an absolute filename.
6807
6808 @item show filename-display
6809 Show the current way to display filenames.
6810 @end table
6811
6812 @node Frame Filter Management
6813 @section Management of Frame Filters.
6814 @cindex managing frame filters
6815
6816 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6817 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6818
6819 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6820 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6821
6822 @table @code
6823 @kindex info frame-filter
6824 @item info frame-filter
6825 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6826 their name, priority and enabled status.
6827
6828 @kindex disable frame-filter
6829 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6830 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6831 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6832 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6833 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6834 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6835 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6836 across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6837 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6838 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6839 may be enabled again later.
6840
6841 @kindex enable frame-filter
6842 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6843 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6844 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6845 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6846 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6847 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6848 all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6849 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6850 @var{filter-dictionary}.
6851
6852 Example:
6853
6854 @smallexample
6855 (gdb) info frame-filter
6856
6857 global frame-filters:
6858 Priority Enabled Name
6859 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6860 100 Yes Reverse
6861
6862 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6863 Priority Enabled Name
6864 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6865
6866 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6867 Priority Enabled Name
6868 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6869
6870 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6871 (gdb) info frame-filter
6872
6873 global frame-filters:
6874 Priority Enabled Name
6875 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6876 100 Yes Reverse
6877
6878 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6879 Priority Enabled Name
6880 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6881
6882 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6883 Priority Enabled Name
6884 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6885
6886 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6887 (gdb) info frame-filter
6888
6889 global frame-filters:
6890 Priority Enabled Name
6891 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6892 100 Yes Reverse
6893
6894 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6895 Priority Enabled Name
6896 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6897
6898 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6899 Priority Enabled Name
6900 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6901 @end smallexample
6902
6903 @kindex set frame-filter priority
6904 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6905 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6906 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6907 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6908 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6909 dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6910
6911 @kindex show frame-filter priority
6912 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6913 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6914 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6915 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6916 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6917 dictionary resides.
6918
6919 Example:
6920
6921 @smallexample
6922 (gdb) info frame-filter
6923
6924 global frame-filters:
6925 Priority Enabled Name
6926 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6927 100 Yes Reverse
6928
6929 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6930 Priority Enabled Name
6931 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6932
6933 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6934 Priority Enabled Name
6935 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6936
6937 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6938 (gdb) info frame-filter
6939
6940 global frame-filters:
6941 Priority Enabled Name
6942 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6943 50 Yes Reverse
6944
6945 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6946 Priority Enabled Name
6947 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6948
6949 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6950 Priority Enabled Name
6951 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6952 @end smallexample
6953 @end table
6954
6955 @node Selection
6956 @section Selecting a Frame
6957
6958 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6959 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6960 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6961 of the stack frame just selected.
6962
6963 @table @code
6964 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6965 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6966 @item frame @var{n}
6967 @itemx f @var{n}
6968 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6969 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6970 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6971 @code{main}.
6972
6973 @item frame @var{addr}
6974 @itemx f @var{addr}
6975 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6976 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6977 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6978 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6979 switches between them.
6980
6981 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6982 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6983
6984 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6985 pointer and a program counter.
6986
6987 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6988 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6989
6990 @kindex up
6991 @item up @var{n}
6992 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6993 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6994 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6995
6996 @kindex down
6997 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6998 @item down @var{n}
6999 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7000 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
7001 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
7002 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7003 @end table
7004
7005 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7006 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7007 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7008 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7009
7010 @need 1000
7011 For example:
7012
7013 @smallexample
7014 @group
7015 (@value{GDBP}) up
7016 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7017 at env.c:10
7018 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7019 @end group
7020 @end smallexample
7021
7022 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7023 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7024 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7025 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7026 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7027 for details.
7028
7029 @table @code
7030 @kindex down-silently
7031 @kindex up-silently
7032 @item up-silently @var{n}
7033 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7034 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7035 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7036 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7037 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7038 distracting.
7039 @end table
7040
7041 @node Frame Info
7042 @section Information About a Frame
7043
7044 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7045 stack frame.
7046
7047 @table @code
7048 @item frame
7049 @itemx f
7050 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7051 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7052 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7053 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7054 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7055
7056 @kindex info frame
7057 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7058 @item info frame
7059 @itemx info f
7060 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7061 including:
7062
7063 @itemize @bullet
7064 @item
7065 the address of the frame
7066 @item
7067 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7068 @item
7069 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7070 @item
7071 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7072 @item
7073 the address of the frame's arguments
7074 @item
7075 the address of the frame's local variables
7076 @item
7077 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7078 @item
7079 which registers were saved in the frame
7080 @end itemize
7081
7082 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7083 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7084 the usual conventions.
7085
7086 @item info frame @var{addr}
7087 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7088 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7089 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7090 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7091 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7092 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7093
7094 @kindex info args
7095 @item info args
7096 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7097
7098 @item info locals
7099 @kindex info locals
7100 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7101 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7102 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7103
7104 @end table
7105
7106
7107 @node Source
7108 @chapter Examining Source Files
7109
7110 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7111 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7112 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7113 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7114 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7115 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7116 source files by explicit command.
7117
7118 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7119 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7120 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7121
7122 @menu
7123 * List:: Printing source lines
7124 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7125 * Edit:: Editing source files
7126 * Search:: Searching source files
7127 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7128 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7129 @end menu
7130
7131 @node List
7132 @section Printing Source Lines
7133
7134 @kindex list
7135 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7136 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7137 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7138 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7139 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7140
7141 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7142
7143 @table @code
7144 @item list @var{linenum}
7145 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7146 current source file.
7147
7148 @item list @var{function}
7149 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7150 @var{function}.
7151
7152 @item list
7153 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7154 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7155 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7156 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7157 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7158
7159 @item list -
7160 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7161 @end table
7162
7163 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7164 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7165 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7166
7167 @table @code
7168 @kindex set listsize
7169 @item set listsize @var{count}
7170 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7171 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7172 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7173 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7174
7175 @kindex show listsize
7176 @item show listsize
7177 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7178 @end table
7179
7180 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7181 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7182 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7183 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7184 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7185
7186 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7187 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7188 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7189 to specify some source line.
7190
7191 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7192
7193 @table @code
7194 @item list @var{linespec}
7195 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7196
7197 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7198 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7199 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7200 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7201 the same source file as the first linespec.
7202
7203 @item list ,@var{last}
7204 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7205
7206 @item list @var{first},
7207 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7208
7209 @item list +
7210 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7211
7212 @item list -
7213 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7214
7215 @item list
7216 As described in the preceding table.
7217 @end table
7218
7219 @node Specify Location
7220 @section Specifying a Location
7221 @cindex specifying location
7222 @cindex linespec
7223
7224 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7225 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7226 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7227 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7228
7229 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7230 @value{GDBN} understands:
7231
7232 @table @code
7233 @item @var{linenum}
7234 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7235
7236 @item -@var{offset}
7237 @itemx +@var{offset}
7238 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7239 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7240 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7241 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7242 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7243 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7244 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7245 linespec.
7246
7247 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7248 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7249 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7250 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7251 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7252 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7253 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7254
7255 @item @var{function}
7256 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7257 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7258
7259 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7260 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7261
7262 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7263 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7264 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7265 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7266 functions in different source files.
7267
7268 @item @var{label}
7269 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7270 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7271 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7272 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7273 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7274
7275 @item *@var{address}
7276 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7277 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7278 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7279 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7280 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7281 source files.
7282
7283 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7284 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7285 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7286 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7287 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7288 of @var{address}:
7289
7290 @table @code
7291 @item @var{expression}
7292 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7293
7294 @item @var{funcaddr}
7295 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7296 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7297 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7298 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7299 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7300 (although the Pascal form also works).
7301
7302 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7303 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7304
7305 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7306 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7307 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7308 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7309 functions with identical names in different source files.
7310 @end table
7311
7312 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7313 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7314 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7315 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7316 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7317 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7318
7319 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7320 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7321 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7322 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7323 each one of those probes.
7324
7325 @end table
7326
7327
7328 @node Edit
7329 @section Editing Source Files
7330 @cindex editing source files
7331
7332 @kindex edit
7333 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7334 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7335 The editing program of your choice
7336 is invoked with the current line set to
7337 the active line in the program.
7338 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7339 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7340
7341 @table @code
7342 @item edit @var{location}
7343 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7344 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7345 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7346 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7347 command most commonly used:
7348
7349 @table @code
7350 @item edit @var{number}
7351 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7352
7353 @item edit @var{function}
7354 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7355 @end table
7356
7357 @end table
7358
7359 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7360 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7361 @footnote{
7362 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7363 following command-line syntax:
7364 @smallexample
7365 ex +@var{number} file
7366 @end smallexample
7367 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7368 the file where to start editing.}.
7369 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7370 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7371 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7372 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7373 @smallexample
7374 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7375 export EDITOR
7376 gdb @dots{}
7377 @end smallexample
7378 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7379 @smallexample
7380 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7381 gdb @dots{}
7382 @end smallexample
7383
7384 @node Search
7385 @section Searching Source Files
7386 @cindex searching source files
7387
7388 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7389 regular expression.
7390
7391 @table @code
7392 @kindex search
7393 @kindex forward-search
7394 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7395 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7396 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7397 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7398 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7399 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7400 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7401 @code{fo}.
7402
7403 @kindex reverse-search
7404 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7405 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7406 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7407 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7408 this command as @code{rev}.
7409 @end table
7410
7411 @node Source Path
7412 @section Specifying Source Directories
7413
7414 @cindex source path
7415 @cindex directories for source files
7416 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7417 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7418 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7419 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7420 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7421 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7422 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7423
7424 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7425 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7426 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7427 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7428 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7429 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7430 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7431 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7432 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7433 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7434 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7435
7436 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7437 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7438 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7439 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7440 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7441 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7442
7443 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7444 source files.
7445
7446 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7447 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7448 each line is in the file.
7449
7450 @kindex directory
7451 @kindex dir
7452 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7453 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7454 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7455
7456 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7457 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7458
7459 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7460 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7461 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7462 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7463 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7464 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7465 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7466 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7467 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7468 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7469 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7470 name to look up the sources.
7471
7472 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7473 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7474 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7475 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7476 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7477 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7478 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7479 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7480
7481 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7482 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7483 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7484 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7485 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7486 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7487 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7488
7489 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7490 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7491 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7492 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7493 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7494 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7495 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7496 command.
7497
7498 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7499 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7500 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7501 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7502 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7503 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7504 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7505
7506 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7507 @cindex default source path substitution
7508 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7509 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7510 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7511 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7512 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7513 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7514 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7515 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7516 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7517 together.
7518
7519 @table @code
7520 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7521 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7522 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7523 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7524 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7525 part of absolute file names) or
7526 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7527 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7528
7529 @kindex cdir
7530 @kindex cwd
7531 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7532 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7533 @cindex compilation directory
7534 @cindex current directory
7535 @cindex working directory
7536 @cindex directory, current
7537 @cindex directory, compilation
7538 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7539 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7540 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7541 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7542 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7543 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7544
7545 @item directory
7546 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7547
7548 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7549 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7550
7551 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7552 @kindex set directories
7553 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7554 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7555
7556 @item show directories
7557 @kindex show directories
7558 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7559
7560 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7561 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7562 @kindex set substitute-path
7563 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7564 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7565 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7566
7567 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7568 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7569
7570 @smallexample
7571 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7572 @end smallexample
7573
7574 @noindent
7575 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7576 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7577 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7578
7579 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7580 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7581 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7582 the substitution.
7583
7584 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7585
7586 @smallexample
7587 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7588 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7589 @end smallexample
7590
7591 @noindent
7592 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7593 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7594 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7595 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7596
7597
7598 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7599 @kindex unset substitute-path
7600 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7601 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7602 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7603
7604 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7605
7606 @item show substitute-path [path]
7607 @kindex show substitute-path
7608 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7609 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7610
7611 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7612 rules.
7613
7614 @end table
7615
7616 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7617 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7618 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7619
7620 @enumerate
7621 @item
7622 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7623
7624 @item
7625 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7626 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7627 directories in one command.
7628 @end enumerate
7629
7630 @node Machine Code
7631 @section Source and Machine Code
7632 @cindex source line and its code address
7633
7634 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7635 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7636 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7637 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7638 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7639 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7640 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7641 well as hex.
7642
7643 @table @code
7644 @kindex info line
7645 @item info line @var{linespec}
7646 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7647 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7648 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7649 @end table
7650
7651 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7652 the object code for the first line of function
7653 @code{m4_changequote}:
7654
7655 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7656 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7657 @smallexample
7658 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7659 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7660 @end smallexample
7661
7662 @noindent
7663 @cindex code address and its source line
7664 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7665 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7666 @smallexample
7667 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7668 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7669 @end smallexample
7670
7671 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7672 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7673 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7674 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7675 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7676 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7677 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7678 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7679 Variables}).
7680
7681 @table @code
7682 @kindex disassemble
7683 @cindex assembly instructions
7684 @cindex instructions, assembly
7685 @cindex machine instructions
7686 @cindex listing machine instructions
7687 @item disassemble
7688 @itemx disassemble /m
7689 @itemx disassemble /r
7690 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7691 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7692 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7693 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7694 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7695 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7696 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7697 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7698 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7699 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7700
7701 @table @code
7702 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7703 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7704 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7705 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7706 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7707 @end table
7708
7709 @noindent
7710 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7711 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7712
7713 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7714 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7715
7716 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7717 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7718 @end table
7719
7720 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7721 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7722
7723 @smallexample
7724 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7725 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7726 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7727 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7728 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7729 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7730 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7731 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7732 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7733 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7734 End of assembler dump.
7735 @end smallexample
7736
7737 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7738 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7739
7740 @smallexample
7741 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7742 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7743 5 @{
7744 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7745 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7746 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7747 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7748 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7749
7750 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7751 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7752 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7753
7754 7 return 0;
7755 8 @}
7756 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7757 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7758 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7759
7760 End of assembler dump.
7761 @end smallexample
7762
7763 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7764
7765 @smallexample
7766 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7767 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7768 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7769 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7770 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7771 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7772 End of assembler dump.
7773 @end smallexample
7774
7775 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7776 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7777 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7778 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7779
7780 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7781 mnemonics or other syntax.
7782
7783 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7784 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7785 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7786 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7787 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7788
7789 @table @code
7790 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7791 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7792 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7793 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7794 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7795 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7796
7797 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7798 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7799 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7800 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7801
7802 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7803 @item show disassembly-flavor
7804 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7805 @end table
7806
7807 @table @code
7808 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7809 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7810 @item set disassemble-next-line
7811 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7812 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7813 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7814 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7815 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7816 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7817 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7818 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7819 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7820 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7821 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7822 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7823 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7824 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7825 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7826 instruction.
7827 @end table
7828
7829
7830 @node Data
7831 @chapter Examining Data
7832
7833 @cindex printing data
7834 @cindex examining data
7835 @kindex print
7836 @kindex inspect
7837 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7838 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7839 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7840 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7841 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7842 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7843
7844 @table @code
7845 @item print @var{expr}
7846 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7847 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7848 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7849 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7850 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7851 Formats}.
7852
7853 @item print
7854 @itemx print /@var{f}
7855 @cindex reprint the last value
7856 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7857 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7858 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7859 @end table
7860
7861 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7862 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7863 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7864
7865 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7866 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7867 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7868 Table}.
7869
7870 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7871 @kindex explore
7872 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7873 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7874 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7875 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7876 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7877 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7878 embedded in the higher level data types.
7879
7880 @table @code
7881 @item explore @var{arg}
7882 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7883 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7884 @end table
7885
7886 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7887 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7888 C program as
7889
7890 @smallexample
7891 struct SimpleStruct
7892 @{
7893 int i;
7894 double d;
7895 @};
7896
7897 struct ComplexStruct
7898 @{
7899 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7900 int arr[10];
7901 @};
7902 @end smallexample
7903
7904 @noindent
7905 followed by variable declarations as
7906
7907 @smallexample
7908 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7909 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7910 @end smallexample
7911
7912 @noindent
7913 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7914 @code{explore} command as follows.
7915
7916 @smallexample
7917 (gdb) explore cs
7918 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7919 the following fields:
7920
7921 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7922 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7923
7924 Enter the field number of choice:
7925 @end smallexample
7926
7927 @noindent
7928 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7929 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7930 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7931 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7932 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7933 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7934 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7935 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7936
7937 @smallexample
7938 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7939 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7940 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7941 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7942
7943 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7944 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7945
7946 Press enter to return to parent value:
7947 @end smallexample
7948
7949 @noindent
7950 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7951 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7952 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7953 to explore.
7954
7955 @smallexample
7956 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7957 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7958
7959 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7960
7961 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7962
7963 Press enter to return to parent value:
7964 @end smallexample
7965
7966 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7967 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7968 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7969 level data structure).
7970
7971 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7972 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7973 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7974 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7975 same example as above, your can explore the type
7976 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7977 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7978
7979 @smallexample
7980 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7981 @end smallexample
7982
7983 @noindent
7984 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7985 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7986 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7987 example.
7988
7989 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7990 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7991 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7992 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7993 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7994
7995 @table @code
7996 @item explore value @var{expr}
7997 @cindex explore value
7998 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7999 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8000 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8001 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8002 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8003
8004 @item explore type @var{arg}
8005 @cindex explore type
8006 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8007 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8008 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8009 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8010 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8011 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8012 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8013 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8014 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8015 @end table
8016
8017 @menu
8018 * Expressions:: Expressions
8019 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8020 * Variables:: Program variables
8021 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8022 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8023 * Memory:: Examining memory
8024 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8025 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8026 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8027 * Value History:: Value history
8028 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8029 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8030 * Registers:: Registers
8031 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8032 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8033 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8034 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8035 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8036 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8037 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8038 character set than GDB does
8039 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
8040 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8041 @end menu
8042
8043 @node Expressions
8044 @section Expressions
8045
8046 @cindex expressions
8047 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8048 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8049 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8050 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8051 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8052 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8053 @ref{Compilation}.
8054
8055 @cindex arrays in expressions
8056 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8057 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8058 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8059 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8060 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8061 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8062
8063 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8064 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8065 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8066 languages.
8067
8068 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8069 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8070
8071 @cindex casts, in expressions
8072 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8073 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8074 at that address in memory.
8075 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8076
8077 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8078 to programming languages:
8079
8080 @table @code
8081 @item @@
8082 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8083 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8084
8085 @item ::
8086 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8087 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8088
8089 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8090 @cindex type casting memory
8091 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8092 @cindex casts, to view memory
8093 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8094 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8095 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8096 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8097 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8098 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8099 @end table
8100
8101 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8102 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8103 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8104
8105 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8106 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8107 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8108 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8109 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8110 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8111 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8112
8113 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8114 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8115 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8116 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8117 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8118 as well.
8119
8120 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8121 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8122 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8123 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8124 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8125 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8126 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8127 choices.
8128
8129 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8130 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8131 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8132
8133 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8134 @smallexample
8135 @group
8136 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8137 [0] cancel
8138 [1] all
8139 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8140 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8141 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8142 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8143 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8144 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8145 > 2 4 6
8146 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8147 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8148 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8149 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8150 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8151 breakpoints.
8152 (@value{GDBP})
8153 @end group
8154 @end smallexample
8155
8156 @table @code
8157 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8158 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8159 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8160
8161 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8162 is ambiguous.
8163
8164 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8165 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8166 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8167 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8168 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8169 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8170 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8171 in the use of the menu.
8172
8173 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8174 when an ambiguity is detected.
8175
8176 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8177 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8178
8179 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8180 @item show multiple-symbols
8181 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8182 @end table
8183
8184 @node Variables
8185 @section Program Variables
8186
8187 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8188 in your program.
8189
8190 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8191 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8192
8193 @itemize @bullet
8194 @item
8195 global (or file-static)
8196 @end itemize
8197
8198 @noindent or
8199
8200 @itemize @bullet
8201 @item
8202 visible according to the scope rules of the
8203 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8204 @end itemize
8205
8206 @noindent This means that in the function
8207
8208 @smallexample
8209 foo (a)
8210 int a;
8211 @{
8212 bar (a);
8213 @{
8214 int b = test ();
8215 bar (b);
8216 @}
8217 @}
8218 @end smallexample
8219
8220 @noindent
8221 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8222 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8223 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8224 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8225
8226 @cindex variable name conflict
8227 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8228 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8229 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8230 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8231 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8232 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8233 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8234
8235 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8236 @ifnotinfo
8237 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8238 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8239 @end ifnotinfo
8240 @smallexample
8241 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8242 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8243 @end smallexample
8244
8245 @noindent
8246 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8247 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8248 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8249 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8250
8251 @smallexample
8252 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8253 @end smallexample
8254
8255 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8256 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8257 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8258 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8259 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8260
8261 @smallexample
8262 void
8263 foo (int a)
8264 @{
8265 if (a < 10)
8266 bar (a);
8267 else
8268 process (a); /* Stop here */
8269 @}
8270
8271 int
8272 bar (int a)
8273 @{
8274 foo (a + 5);
8275 @}
8276 @end smallexample
8277
8278 @noindent
8279 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8280 here is what you might see
8281 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8282
8283 @smallexample
8284 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8285 $1 = 10
8286 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8287 $2 = 5
8288 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
8289 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8290 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8291 $3 = 5
8292 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8293 $4 = 0
8294 @end smallexample
8295
8296 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8297 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8298 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8299 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8300 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8301 @c conflict?? --mew
8302
8303 @cindex wrong values
8304 @cindex variable values, wrong
8305 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8306 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8307 @quotation
8308 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8309 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8310 scope, and just before exit.
8311 @end quotation
8312 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8313 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8314 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8315 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8316 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8317 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8318 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8319 variable definitions may be gone.
8320
8321 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8322 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8323 when compiling.
8324
8325 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8326 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8327 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8328 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8329 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8330 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8331 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8332
8333 @smallexample
8334 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8335 @end smallexample
8336
8337 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8338 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8339 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8340 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8341 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8342
8343 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8344 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8345 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8346 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8347
8348 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8349 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8350 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8351 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8352 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8353
8354 @smallexample
8355 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8356 29 i++;
8357 (gdb) next
8358 30 e (i);
8359 (gdb) print i
8360 $1 = 31
8361 (gdb) print i@@entry
8362 $2 = 30
8363 @end smallexample
8364
8365 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8366 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8367 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8368 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8369 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8370 For program code
8371
8372 @smallexample
8373 char var0[] = "A";
8374 signed char var1[] = "A";
8375 @end smallexample
8376
8377 You get during debugging
8378 @smallexample
8379 (gdb) print var0
8380 $1 = "A"
8381 (gdb) print var1
8382 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8383 @end smallexample
8384
8385 @node Arrays
8386 @section Artificial Arrays
8387
8388 @cindex artificial array
8389 @cindex arrays
8390 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8391 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8392 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8393 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8394 program.
8395
8396 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8397 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8398 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8399 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8400 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8401 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8402 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8403 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8404 example. If a program says
8405
8406 @smallexample
8407 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8408 @end smallexample
8409
8410 @noindent
8411 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8412
8413 @smallexample
8414 p *array@@len
8415 @end smallexample
8416
8417 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8418 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8419 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8420 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8421 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8422
8423 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8424 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8425 The value need not be in memory:
8426 @smallexample
8427 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8428 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8429 @end smallexample
8430
8431 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8432 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8433 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8434 @smallexample
8435 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8436 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8437 @end smallexample
8438
8439 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8440 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8441 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8442 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8443 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8444 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8445 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8446 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8447 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8448 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8449
8450 @smallexample
8451 set $i = 0
8452 p dtab[$i++]->fv
8453 @key{RET}
8454 @key{RET}
8455 @dots{}
8456 @end smallexample
8457
8458 @node Output Formats
8459 @section Output Formats
8460
8461 @cindex formatted output
8462 @cindex output formats
8463 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8464 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8465 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8466 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8467 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8468
8469 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8470 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8471 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8472 letters supported are:
8473
8474 @table @code
8475 @item x
8476 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8477 hexadecimal.
8478
8479 @item d
8480 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8481
8482 @item u
8483 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8484
8485 @item o
8486 Print as integer in octal.
8487
8488 @item t
8489 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8490 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8491 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8492 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8493
8494 @item a
8495 @cindex unknown address, locating
8496 @cindex locate address
8497 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8498 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8499 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8500
8501 @smallexample
8502 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8503 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8504 @end smallexample
8505
8506 @noindent
8507 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8508 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8509
8510 @item c
8511 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8512 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8513 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8514 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8515
8516 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8517 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8518 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8519 data.
8520
8521 @item f
8522 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8523 using typical floating point syntax.
8524
8525 @item s
8526 @cindex printing strings
8527 @cindex printing byte arrays
8528 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8529 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8530 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8531 natural types.
8532
8533 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8534 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8535 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8536 array.
8537
8538 @item z
8539 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8540 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8541 to the size of the integer type.
8542
8543 @item r
8544 @cindex raw printing
8545 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8546 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8547 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8548 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8549 pretty-printer which might exist.
8550 @end table
8551
8552 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8553
8554 @smallexample
8555 p/x $pc
8556 @end smallexample
8557
8558 @noindent
8559 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8560 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8561
8562 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8563 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8564 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8565
8566 @node Memory
8567 @section Examining Memory
8568
8569 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8570 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8571
8572 @cindex examining memory
8573 @table @code
8574 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8575 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8576 @itemx x @var{addr}
8577 @itemx x
8578 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8579 @end table
8580
8581 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8582 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8583 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8584 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8585 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8586
8587 @table @r
8588 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8589 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8590 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8591 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8592 @c 4.1.2.
8593
8594 @item @var{f}, the display format
8595 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8596 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8597 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8598 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8599 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8600
8601 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8602 The unit size is any of
8603
8604 @table @code
8605 @item b
8606 Bytes.
8607 @item h
8608 Halfwords (two bytes).
8609 @item w
8610 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8611 @item g
8612 Giant words (eight bytes).
8613 @end table
8614
8615 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8616 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8617 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8618 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8619 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8620 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8621 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8622 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8623 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8624 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8625 be altered.
8626
8627 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8628 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8629 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8630 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8631 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8632 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8633 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8634 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8635 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8636 a value from memory).
8637 @end table
8638
8639 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8640 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8641 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8642 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8643 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8644
8645 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8646 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8647 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8648 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8649 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8650
8651 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8652 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8653 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8654 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8655 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8656 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8657 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8658 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8659 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8660
8661 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8662 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8663 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8664 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8665 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8666 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8667 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8668
8669 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8670 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8671
8672 @smallexample
8673 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8674 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8675 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8676 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8677 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8678 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8679 @end smallexample
8680
8681 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8682 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8683 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8684 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8685 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8686 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8687 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8688 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8689 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8690
8691 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8692 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8693 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8694
8695 @cindex remote memory comparison
8696 @cindex verify remote memory image
8697 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8698 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8699 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8700 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8701 situations.
8702
8703 @table @code
8704 @kindex compare-sections
8705 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8706 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8707 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8708 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8709 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8710 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8711 remote request.
8712 @end table
8713
8714 @node Auto Display
8715 @section Automatic Display
8716 @cindex automatic display
8717 @cindex display of expressions
8718
8719 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8720 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8721 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8722 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8723 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8724 The automatic display looks like this:
8725
8726 @smallexample
8727 2: foo = 38
8728 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8729 @end smallexample
8730
8731 @noindent
8732 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8733 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8734 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8735 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8736 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8737 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8738
8739 @table @code
8740 @kindex display
8741 @item display @var{expr}
8742 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8743 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8744
8745 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8746
8747 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8748 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8749 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8750 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8751 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8752
8753 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8754 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8755 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8756 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8757 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8758 @end table
8759
8760 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8761 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8762 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8763
8764 @table @code
8765 @kindex delete display
8766 @kindex undisplay
8767 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8768 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8769 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8770 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8771 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8772 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8773 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8774
8775 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8776 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8777
8778 @kindex disable display
8779 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8780 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8781 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8782 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8783 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8784 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8785 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8786 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8787
8788 @kindex enable display
8789 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8790 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8791 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8792 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8793 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8794 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8795 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8796
8797 @item display
8798 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8799 done when your program stops.
8800
8801 @kindex info display
8802 @item info display
8803 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8804 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8805 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8806 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8807 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8808 @end table
8809
8810 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8811 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8812 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8813 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8814 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8815 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8816 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8817 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8818 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8819 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8820 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8821
8822 @node Print Settings
8823 @section Print Settings
8824
8825 @cindex format options
8826 @cindex print settings
8827 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8828 and symbols are printed.
8829
8830 @noindent
8831 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8832
8833 @table @code
8834 @kindex set print
8835 @item set print address
8836 @itemx set print address on
8837 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8838 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8839 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8840 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8841 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8842 @code{set print address on}:
8843
8844 @smallexample
8845 @group
8846 (@value{GDBP}) f
8847 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8848 at input.c:530
8849 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8850 @end group
8851 @end smallexample
8852
8853 @item set print address off
8854 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8855 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8856
8857 @smallexample
8858 @group
8859 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8860 (@value{GDBP}) f
8861 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8862 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8863 @end group
8864 @end smallexample
8865
8866 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8867 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8868 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8869 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8870
8871 @kindex show print
8872 @item show print address
8873 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8874 @end table
8875
8876 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8877 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8878 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8879 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8880 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8881 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8882 it prints a symbolic address:
8883
8884 @table @code
8885 @item set print symbol-filename on
8886 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8887 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8888 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8889 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8890
8891 @item set print symbol-filename off
8892 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8893 default.
8894
8895 @item show print symbol-filename
8896 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8897 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8898 @end table
8899
8900 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8901 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8902 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8903
8904 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8905 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8906
8907 @table @code
8908 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8909 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8910 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8911 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8912 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8913 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8914 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8915 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8916
8917 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8918 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8919 symbolic address.
8920 @end table
8921
8922 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8923 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8924 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8925 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8926 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8927 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8928 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8929 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8930
8931 @smallexample
8932 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8933 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8934 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8935 @end smallexample
8936
8937 @quotation
8938 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8939 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8940 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8941 @end quotation
8942
8943 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8944 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8945
8946 @table @code
8947 @item set print symbol on
8948 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8949 one exists.
8950
8951 @item set print symbol off
8952 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8953 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8954 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8955
8956 @item show print symbol
8957 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8958 address.
8959 @end table
8960
8961 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8962
8963 @table @code
8964 @item set print array
8965 @itemx set print array on
8966 @cindex pretty print arrays
8967 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8968 but uses more space. The default is off.
8969
8970 @item set print array off
8971 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8972
8973 @item show print array
8974 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8975 arrays.
8976
8977 @cindex print array indexes
8978 @item set print array-indexes
8979 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8980 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8981 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8982 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8983
8984 @item set print array-indexes off
8985 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8986
8987 @item show print array-indexes
8988 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8989 arrays.
8990
8991 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8992 @itemx set print elements unlimited
8993 @cindex number of array elements to print
8994 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8995 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8996 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8997 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8998 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8999 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9000 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9001 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9002
9003 @item show print elements
9004 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9005 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9006
9007 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9008 @kindex set print frame-arguments
9009 @cindex printing frame argument values
9010 @cindex print all frame argument values
9011 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9012 @cindex do not print frame argument values
9013 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9014 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9015 values are:
9016
9017 @table @code
9018 @item all
9019 The values of all arguments are printed.
9020
9021 @item scalars
9022 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9023 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9024 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9025 only scalar arguments are shown:
9026
9027 @smallexample
9028 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9029 at frame-args.c:23
9030 @end smallexample
9031
9032 @item none
9033 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9034 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9035
9036 @smallexample
9037 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9038 at frame-args.c:23
9039 @end smallexample
9040 @end table
9041
9042 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9043 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9044 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9045 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9046 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9047 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9048 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9049 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9050 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9051 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9052
9053 @item show print frame-arguments
9054 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9055
9056 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9057 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9058
9059 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9060 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9061 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9062 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9063 This is the default.
9064
9065 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9066 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9067
9068 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9069 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9070 @kindex set print entry-values
9071 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9072 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9073 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9074 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9075 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9076
9077 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9078 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9079 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9080 @code{no} setting.
9081
9082 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9083 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9084 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9085 this information.
9086
9087 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9088
9089 @table @code
9090 @item no
9091 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9092 point.
9093 @smallexample
9094 #0 equal (val=5)
9095 #0 different (val=6)
9096 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9097 #0 born (val=10)
9098 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9099 @end smallexample
9100
9101 @item only
9102 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9103 values are never printed.
9104 @smallexample
9105 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9106 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9107 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9108 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9109 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9110 @end smallexample
9111
9112 @item preferred
9113 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9114 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9115 value for such parameter.
9116 @smallexample
9117 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9118 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9119 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9120 #0 born (val=10)
9121 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9122 @end smallexample
9123
9124 @item if-needed
9125 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9126 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9127 parameter.
9128 @smallexample
9129 #0 equal (val=5)
9130 #0 different (val=6)
9131 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9132 #0 born (val=10)
9133 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9134 @end smallexample
9135
9136 @item both
9137 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9138 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9139 optimizations.
9140 @smallexample
9141 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9142 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9143 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9144 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9145 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9146 @end smallexample
9147
9148 @item compact
9149 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9150 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9151 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9152 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9153 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9154 @smallexample
9155 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9156 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9157 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9158 #0 born (val=10)
9159 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9160 @end smallexample
9161
9162 @item default
9163 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9164 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9165 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9166 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9167 @smallexample
9168 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9169 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9170 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9171 #0 born (val=10)
9172 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9173 @end smallexample
9174 @end table
9175
9176 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9177 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9178
9179 @item show print entry-values
9180 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9181 entry.
9182
9183 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9184 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9185 @cindex repeated array elements
9186 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9187 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9188 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9189 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9190 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9191 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9192 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9193 is 10.
9194
9195 @item show print repeats
9196 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9197 elements.
9198
9199 @item set print null-stop
9200 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9201 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9202 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9203 contain only short strings.
9204 The default is off.
9205
9206 @item show print null-stop
9207 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9208 @sc{null} character.
9209
9210 @item set print pretty on
9211 @cindex print structures in indented form
9212 @cindex indentation in structure display
9213 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9214 per line, like this:
9215
9216 @smallexample
9217 @group
9218 $1 = @{
9219 next = 0x0,
9220 flags = @{
9221 sweet = 1,
9222 sour = 1
9223 @},
9224 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9225 @}
9226 @end group
9227 @end smallexample
9228
9229 @item set print pretty off
9230 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9231
9232 @smallexample
9233 @group
9234 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9235 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9236 @end group
9237 @end smallexample
9238
9239 @noindent
9240 This is the default format.
9241
9242 @item show print pretty
9243 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9244
9245 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9246 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9247 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9248 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9249 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9250 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9251 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9252 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9253
9254 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9255 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9256 international character sets, and is the default.
9257
9258 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9259 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9260
9261 @item set print union on
9262 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9263 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9264 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9265
9266 @item set print union off
9267 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9268 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9269 instead.
9270
9271 @item show print union
9272 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9273 structures and other unions.
9274
9275 For example, given the declarations
9276
9277 @smallexample
9278 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9279 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9280 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9281 Bug_forms;
9282
9283 struct thing @{
9284 Species it;
9285 union @{
9286 Tree_forms tree;
9287 Bug_forms bug;
9288 @} form;
9289 @};
9290
9291 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9292 @end smallexample
9293
9294 @noindent
9295 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9296
9297 @smallexample
9298 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9299 @end smallexample
9300
9301 @noindent
9302 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9303
9304 @smallexample
9305 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9306 @end smallexample
9307
9308 @noindent
9309 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9310 and in Pascal.
9311 @end table
9312
9313 @need 1000
9314 @noindent
9315 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9316
9317 @table @code
9318 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9319 @item set print demangle
9320 @itemx set print demangle on
9321 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9322 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9323 linkage. The default is on.
9324
9325 @item show print demangle
9326 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9327
9328 @item set print asm-demangle
9329 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9330 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9331 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9332 The default is off.
9333
9334 @item show print asm-demangle
9335 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9336 or demangled form.
9337
9338 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9339 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9340 @kindex set demangle-style
9341 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9342 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9343 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9344
9345 @table @code
9346 @item auto
9347 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9348 This is the default.
9349
9350 @item gnu
9351 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9352
9353 @item hp
9354 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9355
9356 @item lucid
9357 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9358
9359 @item arm
9360 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9361 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9362 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9363 require further enhancement to permit that.
9364
9365 @end table
9366 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9367
9368 @item show demangle-style
9369 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9370
9371 @item set print object
9372 @itemx set print object on
9373 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9374 @cindex display derived types
9375 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9376 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9377 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9378 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9379 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9380 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9381 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9382
9383 @item set print object off
9384 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9385 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9386
9387 @item show print object
9388 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9389
9390 @item set print static-members
9391 @itemx set print static-members on
9392 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9393 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9394
9395 @item set print static-members off
9396 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9397
9398 @item show print static-members
9399 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9400
9401 @item set print pascal_static-members
9402 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9403 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9404 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9405 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9406
9407 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9408 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9409
9410 @item show print pascal_static-members
9411 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9412
9413 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9414 @item set print vtbl
9415 @itemx set print vtbl on
9416 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9417 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9418 @cindex VTBL display
9419 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9420 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9421 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9422
9423 @item set print vtbl off
9424 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9425
9426 @item show print vtbl
9427 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9428 @end table
9429
9430 @node Pretty Printing
9431 @section Pretty Printing
9432
9433 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9434 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9435 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9436
9437 @menu
9438 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9439 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9440 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9441 @end menu
9442
9443 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9444 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9445
9446 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9447 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9448 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9449
9450 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9451 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9452 pretty-printers with their names.
9453 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9454 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9455 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9456 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9457
9458 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9459 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9460 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9461 do anything special.
9462
9463 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9464
9465 @itemize @bullet
9466 @item
9467 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9468 all inferiors.
9469
9470 @item
9471 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9472 when debugging that program.
9473 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9474
9475 @item
9476 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9477 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9478 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9479 @end itemize
9480
9481 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9482 pretty-printers are selected,
9483
9484 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9485 for new types.
9486
9487 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9488 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9489
9490 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9491
9492 @smallexample
9493 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9494 $1 = @{
9495 static npos = 4294967295,
9496 _M_dataplus = @{
9497 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9498 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9499 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9500 @},
9501 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9502 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9503 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9504 @}
9505 @}
9506 @end smallexample
9507
9508 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9509
9510 @smallexample
9511 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9512 $2 = "abcd"
9513 @end smallexample
9514
9515 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9516 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9517 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9518
9519 @table @code
9520 @kindex info pretty-printer
9521 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9522 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9523 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9524
9525 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9526 whose pretty-printers to list.
9527 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9528 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9529 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9530 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9531 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9532
9533 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9534 to list.
9535
9536 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9537 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9538 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9539 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9540
9541 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9542 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9543 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9544 @end table
9545
9546 Example:
9547
9548 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9549 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9550 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9551 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9552
9553 @smallexample
9554 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9555 library1.so:
9556 foo
9557 library2.so:
9558 bar
9559 bar1
9560 bar2
9561 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9562 library2.so:
9563 bar
9564 bar1
9565 bar2
9566 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9567 1 printer disabled
9568 2 of 3 printers enabled
9569 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9570 library1.so:
9571 foo [disabled]
9572 library2.so:
9573 bar
9574 bar1
9575 bar2
9576 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9577 1 printer disabled
9578 1 of 3 printers enabled
9579 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9580 library1.so:
9581 foo [disabled]
9582 library2.so:
9583 bar
9584 bar1 [disabled]
9585 bar2
9586 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9587 1 printer disabled
9588 0 of 3 printers enabled
9589 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9590 library1.so:
9591 foo [disabled]
9592 library2.so:
9593 bar [disabled]
9594 bar1 [disabled]
9595 bar2
9596 @end smallexample
9597
9598 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9599 as can each individual subprinter.
9600
9601 @node Value History
9602 @section Value History
9603
9604 @cindex value history
9605 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9606 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9607 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9608 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9609 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9610 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9611 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9612 symbol table.
9613
9614 @cindex @code{$}
9615 @cindex @code{$$}
9616 @cindex history number
9617 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9618 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9619 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9620 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9621 history number.
9622
9623 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9624 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9625 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9626 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9627 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9628 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9629 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9630
9631 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9632 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9633
9634 @smallexample
9635 p *$
9636 @end smallexample
9637
9638 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9639 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9640
9641 @smallexample
9642 p *$.next
9643 @end smallexample
9644
9645 @noindent
9646 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9647 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9648
9649 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9650 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9651
9652 @smallexample
9653 print x
9654 set x=5
9655 @end smallexample
9656
9657 @noindent
9658 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9659 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9660
9661 @table @code
9662 @kindex show values
9663 @item show values
9664 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9665 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9666 values} does not change the history.
9667
9668 @item show values @var{n}
9669 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9670
9671 @item show values +
9672 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9673 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9674 @end table
9675
9676 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9677 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9678
9679 @node Convenience Vars
9680 @section Convenience Variables
9681
9682 @cindex convenience variables
9683 @cindex user-defined variables
9684 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9685 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9686 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9687 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9688 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9689
9690 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9691 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9692 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9693 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9694 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9695
9696 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9697 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9698 For example:
9699
9700 @smallexample
9701 set $foo = *object_ptr
9702 @end smallexample
9703
9704 @noindent
9705 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9706 @code{object_ptr}.
9707
9708 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9709 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9710 value with another assignment at any time.
9711
9712 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9713 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9714 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9715 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9716
9717 @table @code
9718 @kindex show convenience
9719 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9720 @item show convenience
9721 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9722 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9723 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9724
9725 @kindex init-if-undefined
9726 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9727 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9728 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9729 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9730 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9731 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9732 override default values used in a command script.
9733
9734 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9735 any side-effects do not occur.
9736 @end table
9737
9738 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9739 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9740 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9741
9742 @smallexample
9743 set $i = 0
9744 print bar[$i++]->contents
9745 @end smallexample
9746
9747 @noindent
9748 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9749
9750 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9751 values likely to be useful.
9752
9753 @table @code
9754 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9755 @item $_
9756 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9757 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9758 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9759 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9760 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9761 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9762 to the type of @code{$__}.
9763
9764 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9765 @item $__
9766 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9767 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9768 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9769
9770 @item $_exitcode
9771 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9772 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9773 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9774 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9775
9776 @item $_exitsignal
9777 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
9778 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
9779 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
9780 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
9781
9782 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
9783 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
9784 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
9785 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
9786 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
9787
9788 @smallexample
9789 #include <signal.h>
9790
9791 int
9792 main (int argc, char *argv[])
9793 @{
9794 raise (SIGALRM);
9795 return 0;
9796 @}
9797 @end smallexample
9798
9799 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
9800 or signalled would be:
9801
9802 @smallexample
9803 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
9804 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
9805 End with a line saying just ``end''.
9806 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
9807 >echo The program has exited\n
9808 >else
9809 >echo The program has signalled\n
9810 >end
9811 >end
9812 (@value{GDBP}) run
9813 Starting program:
9814
9815 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
9816 The program no longer exists.
9817 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9818 The program has signalled
9819 @end smallexample
9820
9821 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
9822 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
9823 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
9824 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
9825
9826 @smallexample
9827 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9828 The program has exited
9829 @end smallexample
9830
9831 @item $_exception
9832 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9833 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9834
9835 @item $_probe_argc
9836 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9837 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9838
9839 @item $_sdata
9840 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9841 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9842 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9843 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9844 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9845
9846 @item $_siginfo
9847 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9848 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9849 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9850 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9851 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9852
9853 @item $_tlb
9854 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9855 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9856 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9857 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9858 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9859 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9860
9861 @end table
9862
9863 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9864 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9865 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9866
9867 @node Convenience Funs
9868 @section Convenience Functions
9869
9870 @cindex convenience functions
9871 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9872 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9873 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9874 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9875 @value{GDBN}.
9876
9877 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9878 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
9879
9880 @table @code
9881
9882 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
9883 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
9884 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
9885 returns zero.
9886
9887 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
9888 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
9889 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
9890 it is @code{void}:
9891
9892 @smallexample
9893 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9894 $1 = void
9895 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9896 $2 = 1
9897 (@value{GDBP}) run
9898 Starting program: ./a.out
9899 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
9900 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9901 $3 = 0
9902 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9903 $4 = 0
9904 @end smallexample
9905
9906 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
9907 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
9908 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
9909 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
9910 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
9911 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
9912 anymore.
9913
9914 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
9915 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
9916
9917 @smallexample
9918 void
9919 foo (void)
9920 @{
9921 @}
9922 @end smallexample
9923
9924 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
9925
9926 @smallexample
9927 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
9928 $1 = void
9929 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
9930 $2 = 1
9931 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
9932 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
9933 $3 = void
9934 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
9935 $4 = 1
9936 @end smallexample
9937
9938 @end table
9939
9940 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9941 @code{Python} support.
9942
9943 @table @code
9944
9945 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9946 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9947 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9948 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9949 Otherwise it returns zero.
9950
9951 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9952 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9953 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9954 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9955 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9956 regular expression support.
9957
9958 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9959 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9960 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9961 Otherwise it returns zero.
9962
9963 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9964 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9965 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9966
9967 @end table
9968
9969 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9970 convenience functions.
9971
9972 @table @code
9973 @item help function
9974 @kindex help function
9975 @cindex show all convenience functions
9976 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9977 @end table
9978
9979 @node Registers
9980 @section Registers
9981
9982 @cindex registers
9983 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9984 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9985 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9986 your machine.
9987
9988 @table @code
9989 @kindex info registers
9990 @item info registers
9991 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9992 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9993
9994 @kindex info all-registers
9995 @cindex floating point registers
9996 @item info all-registers
9997 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9998 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9999
10000 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10001 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10002 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10003 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10004 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10005 @end table
10006
10007 @cindex stack pointer register
10008 @cindex program counter register
10009 @cindex process status register
10010 @cindex frame pointer register
10011 @cindex standard registers
10012 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10013 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10014 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10015 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10016 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10017 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10018 register that contains the processor status. For example,
10019 you could print the program counter in hex with
10020
10021 @smallexample
10022 p/x $pc
10023 @end smallexample
10024
10025 @noindent
10026 or print the instruction to be executed next with
10027
10028 @smallexample
10029 x/i $pc
10030 @end smallexample
10031
10032 @noindent
10033 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10034 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10035 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10036 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10037 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10038 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10039 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10040
10041 @smallexample
10042 set $sp += 4
10043 @end smallexample
10044
10045 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10046 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10047 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10048 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10049 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10050 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10051 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10052
10053 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10054 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10055 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10056 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10057 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10058 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10059 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10060
10061 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10062 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10063 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10064 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10065 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10066 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10067 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10068 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10069 prints the data in both formats.
10070
10071 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
10072 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
10073 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10074 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10075 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10076 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10077 registers in @code{struct} notation:
10078
10079 @smallexample
10080 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10081 $1 = @{
10082 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10083 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10084 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10085 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10086 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10087 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10088 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10089 @}
10090 @end smallexample
10091
10092 @noindent
10093 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10094 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10095 value to a @code{struct} member:
10096
10097 @smallexample
10098 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10099 @end smallexample
10100
10101 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10102 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10103 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10104 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10105 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10106 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10107
10108 @cindex caller-saved registers
10109 @cindex call-clobbered registers
10110 @cindex volatile registers
10111 @cindex <not saved> values
10112 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10113 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10114 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10115 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10116 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10117 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10118 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10119 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10120 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10121 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10122 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10123 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10124 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10125 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10126 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10127 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10128 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10129 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10130 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10131 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10132 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10133 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10134 represent the value the register had just before the call.
10135
10136 @node Floating Point Hardware
10137 @section Floating Point Hardware
10138 @cindex floating point
10139
10140 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10141 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10142
10143 @table @code
10144 @kindex info float
10145 @item info float
10146 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10147 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10148 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10149 the ARM and x86 machines.
10150 @end table
10151
10152 @node Vector Unit
10153 @section Vector Unit
10154 @cindex vector unit
10155
10156 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10157 more information about the status of the vector unit.
10158
10159 @table @code
10160 @kindex info vector
10161 @item info vector
10162 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10163 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10164 @end table
10165
10166 @node OS Information
10167 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10168 @cindex OS information
10169
10170 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10171 you debug your program.
10172
10173 @cindex auxiliary vector
10174 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10175 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10176 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10177 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10178 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10179 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10180 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10181 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10182 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10183 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10184 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10185 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10186
10187 @table @code
10188 @kindex info auxv
10189 @item info auxv
10190 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10191 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10192 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10193 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10194 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10195 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10196 an unrecognized tag.
10197 @end table
10198
10199 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10200 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10201 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10202 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10203 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10204 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10205 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10206
10207 @table @code
10208 @kindex info os
10209 @item info os @var{infotype}
10210
10211 Display OS information of the requested type.
10212
10213 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10214
10215 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10216 @table @code
10217 @kindex info os processes
10218 @item processes
10219 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10220 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10221 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10222 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10223 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10224 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10225
10226 @kindex info os procgroups
10227 @item procgroups
10228 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10229 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10230 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10231 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10232 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10233 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10234 and the process group leader is listed first.
10235
10236 @kindex info os threads
10237 @item threads
10238 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10239 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10240 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10241 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10242 process is not listed.
10243
10244 @kindex info os files
10245 @item files
10246 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10247 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10248 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10249 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10250
10251 @kindex info os sockets
10252 @item sockets
10253 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10254 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10255 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10256 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10257 connection.
10258
10259 @kindex info os shm
10260 @item shm
10261 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10262 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10263 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10264 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10265 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10266 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10267 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10268
10269 @kindex info os semaphores
10270 @item semaphores
10271 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10272 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10273 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10274 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10275 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10276
10277 @kindex info os msg
10278 @item msg
10279 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10280 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10281 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10282 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10283 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10284 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10285 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10286 the message queue was last changed.
10287
10288 @kindex info os modules
10289 @item modules
10290 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10291 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10292 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10293 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10294 in memory.
10295 @end table
10296
10297 @item info os
10298 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10299 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10300 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10301 types, this command will report an error.
10302 @end table
10303
10304 @node Memory Region Attributes
10305 @section Memory Region Attributes
10306 @cindex memory region attributes
10307
10308 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10309 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10310 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10311 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10312 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10313 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10314 user can override the fetched regions.
10315
10316 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10317 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10318 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10319 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10320 all memory.
10321
10322 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10323 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10324
10325 @table @code
10326 @kindex mem
10327 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10328 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10329 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10330 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10331 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10332 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10333
10334 @item mem auto
10335 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10336 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10337
10338 @kindex delete mem
10339 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10340 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10341 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10342
10343 @kindex disable mem
10344 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10345 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10346 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10347 It may be enabled again later.
10348
10349 @kindex enable mem
10350 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10351 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10352
10353 @kindex info mem
10354 @item info mem
10355 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10356 for each region:
10357
10358 @table @emph
10359 @item Memory Region Number
10360 @item Enabled or Disabled.
10361 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10362 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10363
10364 @item Lo Address
10365 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10366
10367 @item Hi Address
10368 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10369
10370 @item Attributes
10371 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10372 @end table
10373 @end table
10374
10375
10376 @subsection Attributes
10377
10378 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10379 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10380 write accesses to a memory region.
10381
10382 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10383 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10384 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10385
10386 @table @code
10387 @item ro
10388 Memory is read only.
10389 @item wo
10390 Memory is write only.
10391 @item rw
10392 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10393 @end table
10394
10395 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10396 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10397 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10398 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10399 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10400
10401 @table @code
10402 @item 8
10403 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10404 @item 16
10405 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10406 @item 32
10407 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10408 @item 64
10409 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10410 @end table
10411
10412 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10413 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10414 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10415 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10416 @c
10417 @c @table @code
10418 @c @item hwbreak
10419 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10420 @c @item swbreak (default)
10421 @c @end table
10422
10423 @subsubsection Data Cache
10424 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10425 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10426 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10427 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10428 registers.
10429
10430 @table @code
10431 @item cache
10432 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10433 @item nocache
10434 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10435 @end table
10436
10437 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10438 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10439 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10440 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10441 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10442
10443 @table @code
10444 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10445 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10446 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10447 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10448 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10449 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10450 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10451 The default value is @code{on}.
10452 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10453 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10454 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10455 @end table
10456
10457
10458 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10459 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10460 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10461 @c
10462 @c @table @code
10463 @c @item verify
10464 @c @item noverify (default)
10465 @c @end table
10466
10467 @node Dump/Restore Files
10468 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10469 @cindex dump/restore files
10470 @cindex append data to a file
10471 @cindex dump data to a file
10472 @cindex restore data from a file
10473
10474 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10475 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10476 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10477 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10478 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10479 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10480 files.
10481
10482 @table @code
10483
10484 @kindex dump
10485 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10486 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10487 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10488 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10489
10490 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10491 @table @code
10492 @item binary
10493 Raw binary form.
10494 @item ihex
10495 Intel hex format.
10496 @item srec
10497 Motorola S-record format.
10498 @item tekhex
10499 Tektronix Hex format.
10500 @end table
10501
10502 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10503 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10504 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10505 form.
10506
10507 @kindex append
10508 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10509 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10510 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10511 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10512 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10513
10514 @kindex restore
10515 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10516 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10517 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10518 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10519 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10520
10521 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10522 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10523 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10524 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10525 from that location.
10526
10527 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10528 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10529 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10530 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10531
10532 @end table
10533
10534 @node Core File Generation
10535 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10536 @cindex dump core from inferior
10537
10538 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10539 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10540 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10541 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10542 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10543 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10544 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10545
10546 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10547 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10548 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10549
10550 @table @code
10551 @kindex gcore
10552 @kindex generate-core-file
10553 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10554 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10555 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10556 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10557 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10558 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10559
10560 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10561 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10562 @end table
10563
10564 @node Character Sets
10565 @section Character Sets
10566 @cindex character sets
10567 @cindex charset
10568 @cindex translating between character sets
10569 @cindex host character set
10570 @cindex target character set
10571
10572 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10573 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10574 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10575 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10576 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10577 @dfn{target character set}.
10578
10579 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10580 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10581 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10582 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10583 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10584 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10585 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10586 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10587 character and string literals in expressions.
10588
10589 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10590 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10591 target-charset} command, described below.
10592
10593 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10594 support:
10595
10596 @table @code
10597 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10598 @kindex set target-charset
10599 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10600 list of supported target character sets, type
10601 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10602
10603 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10604 @kindex set host-charset
10605 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10606
10607 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10608 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10609 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10610 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10611 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10612
10613 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10614 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10615 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10616
10617 @item set charset @var{charset}
10618 @kindex set charset
10619 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10620 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10621 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10622 for both host and target.
10623
10624 @item show charset
10625 @kindex show charset
10626 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10627
10628 @item show host-charset
10629 @kindex show host-charset
10630 Show the name of the current host character set.
10631
10632 @item show target-charset
10633 @kindex show target-charset
10634 Show the name of the current target character set.
10635
10636 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10637 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10638 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10639 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10640 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10641 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10642
10643 @item show target-wide-charset
10644 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10645 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10646 @end table
10647
10648 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10649 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10650 @file{charset-test.c}:
10651
10652 @smallexample
10653 #include <stdio.h>
10654
10655 char ascii_hello[]
10656 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10657 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10658 char ibm1047_hello[]
10659 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10660 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10661
10662 main ()
10663 @{
10664 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10665 @}
10666 @end smallexample
10667
10668 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10669 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10670 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10671
10672 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10673
10674 @smallexample
10675 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10676 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10677 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10678 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10679 @dots{}
10680 (@value{GDBP})
10681 @end smallexample
10682
10683 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10684 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10685 strings:
10686
10687 @smallexample
10688 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10689 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10690 (@value{GDBP})
10691 @end smallexample
10692
10693 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10694 initial character set:
10695 @smallexample
10696 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10697 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10698 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10699 (@value{GDBP})
10700 @end smallexample
10701
10702 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10703 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10704 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10705 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10706 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10707
10708 @smallexample
10709 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10710 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10711 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10712 $2 = 72 'H'
10713 (@value{GDBP})
10714 @end smallexample
10715
10716 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10717 literals you use in expressions:
10718
10719 @smallexample
10720 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10721 $3 = 43 '+'
10722 (@value{GDBP})
10723 @end smallexample
10724
10725 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10726 character.
10727
10728 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10729 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10730 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10731
10732 @smallexample
10733 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10734 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10735 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10736 $5 = 200 '\310'
10737 (@value{GDBP})
10738 @end smallexample
10739
10740 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10741 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10742
10743 @smallexample
10744 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10745 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10746 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10747 @end smallexample
10748
10749 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10750 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10751 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10752 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10753 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10754
10755 @smallexample
10756 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10757 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10758 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10759 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10760 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10761 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10762 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10763 $7 = 72 '\110'
10764 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10765 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10766 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10767 $9 = 200 'H'
10768 (@value{GDBP})
10769 @end smallexample
10770
10771 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10772 string literals you use in expressions:
10773
10774 @smallexample
10775 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10776 $10 = 78 '+'
10777 (@value{GDBP})
10778 @end smallexample
10779
10780 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10781 character.
10782
10783 @node Caching Remote Data
10784 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10785 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10786
10787 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10788 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10789 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10790 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10791 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10792 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10793 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10794 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10795 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10796 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10797 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10798 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10799 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10800 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10801 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10802
10803 @table @code
10804 @kindex set remotecache
10805 @item set remotecache on
10806 @itemx set remotecache off
10807 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10808 with old scripts.
10809
10810 @kindex show remotecache
10811 @item show remotecache
10812 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10813
10814 @kindex set stack-cache
10815 @item set stack-cache on
10816 @itemx set stack-cache off
10817 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10818 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10819
10820 @kindex show stack-cache
10821 @item show stack-cache
10822 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10823
10824 @kindex info dcache
10825 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10826 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10827 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10828 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10829 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10830 operation.
10831
10832 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10833 printed in hex.
10834
10835 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10836 @cindex dcache size
10837 @kindex set dcache size
10838 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10839
10840 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10841 @cindex dcache line-size
10842 @kindex set dcache line-size
10843 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10844 Must be a power of 2.
10845
10846 @item show dcache size
10847 @kindex show dcache size
10848 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10849
10850 @item show dcache line-size
10851 @kindex show dcache line-size
10852 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10853
10854 @end table
10855
10856 @node Searching Memory
10857 @section Search Memory
10858 @cindex searching memory
10859
10860 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10861 @code{find} command.
10862
10863 @table @code
10864 @kindex find
10865 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10866 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10867 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10868 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10869 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10870 @end table
10871
10872 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10873 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10874
10875 @table @r
10876 @item @var{s}, search query size
10877 The size of each search query value.
10878
10879 @table @code
10880 @item b
10881 bytes
10882 @item h
10883 halfwords (two bytes)
10884 @item w
10885 words (four bytes)
10886 @item g
10887 giant words (eight bytes)
10888 @end table
10889
10890 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10891 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10892 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10893
10894 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10895 value's type in the current language.
10896 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10897 pattern as a mixture of types.
10898 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10899 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10900 which is typically four bytes.
10901
10902 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10903 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10904 @end table
10905
10906 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10907 (@code{"}).
10908 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10909 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10910
10911 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10912 number of matches found.
10913
10914 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10915 @samp{$_}.
10916 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10917
10918 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10919
10920 @smallexample
10921 void
10922 hello ()
10923 @{
10924 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10925 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10926 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10927 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10928 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10929 @}
10930 @end smallexample
10931
10932 @noindent
10933 you get during debugging:
10934
10935 @smallexample
10936 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10937 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10938 1 pattern found
10939 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10940 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10941 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10942 2 patterns found
10943 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10944 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10945 1 pattern found
10946 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10947 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10948 1 pattern found
10949 (gdb) print $numfound
10950 $1 = 1
10951 (gdb) print $_
10952 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10953 @end smallexample
10954
10955 @node Optimized Code
10956 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10957 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10958 @cindex debugging optimized code
10959
10960 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10961 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10962 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10963 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10964 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10965 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10966 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10967
10968 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10969 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10970 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10971 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10972
10973 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10974 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10975 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10976 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10977 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10978 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10979
10980 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10981 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10982 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10983 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10984 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10985
10986 @menu
10987 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10988 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10989 @end menu
10990
10991 @node Inline Functions
10992 @section Inline Functions
10993 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10994
10995 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10996 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10997 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10998 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10999 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11000 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11001 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11002 @code{info frame} command.
11003
11004 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11005 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11006 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11007 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11008 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11009 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11010 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11011 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11012 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11013 local variables in the caller.
11014
11015 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11016 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11017 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11018 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11019 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11020 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11021 instructions are executed.
11022
11023 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11024 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11025 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11026 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11027
11028 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11029 function calls are the same as normal calls:
11030
11031 @itemize @bullet
11032 @item
11033 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11034 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11035 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11036 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11037 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11038 or inside the inlined function instead.
11039
11040 @item
11041 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11042 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11043 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11044 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11045
11046 @end itemize
11047
11048 @node Tail Call Frames
11049 @section Tail Call Frames
11050 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
11051
11052 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11053 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11054 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11055 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11056 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11057
11058 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11059 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11060 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11061 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11062 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11063 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11064 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11065
11066 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11067 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11068 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11069 this information.
11070
11071 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11072 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11073
11074 @smallexample
11075 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
11076 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11077 (gdb) info frame
11078 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11079 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11080 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11081 source language c++.
11082 Arglist at unknown address.
11083 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11084 @end smallexample
11085
11086 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11087 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11088 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11089 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11090 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11091 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11092
11093 @table @code
11094 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
11095 @item set debug entry-values
11096 @kindex set debug entry-values
11097 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11098 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11099 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11100 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11101 result.
11102
11103 @item show debug entry-values
11104 @kindex show debug entry-values
11105 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11106 values at function entry and tail calls.
11107 @end table
11108
11109 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11110 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11111 reference by variable @code{x}):
11112
11113 @smallexample
11114 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11115 void (*x) (void) = c;
11116 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11117 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11118 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11119
11120 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11121 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11122 a () at t.c:3
11123 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11124 (gdb) bt
11125 #0 a () at t.c:3
11126 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11127 @end smallexample
11128
11129 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11130
11131 @smallexample
11132 int i;
11133 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11134 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11135 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11136 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11137 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11138 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11139 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11140 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11141
11142 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11143 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11144 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11145 (gdb) bt
11146 #0 f () at t.c:2
11147 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11148 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11149 @end smallexample
11150
11151 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11152 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11153
11154 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11155 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11156 @set ARROW @click{}
11157 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11158 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11159 @end ifset
11160 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11161 @set ARROW ->
11162 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11163 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11164 @end ifclear
11165
11166 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11167 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11168 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11169
11170 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11171 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11172 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11173 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11174 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11175 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11176
11177 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11178 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11179 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11180 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11181 omitted.
11182
11183 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11184 entry may fail:
11185
11186 @smallexample
11187 int v;
11188 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11189 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11190 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11191 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11192 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11193 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11194
11195 (gdb) bt
11196 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11197 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11198 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11199 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11200 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11201 @end smallexample
11202
11203 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11204 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11205 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11206 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11207 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11208
11209 @node Macros
11210 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11211
11212 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11213 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11214 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11215 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11216 where it was defined.
11217
11218 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11219 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11220 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11221 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11222
11223 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11224 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11225 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11226 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11227 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11228 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11229 see @ref{List}.
11230
11231 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11232 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11233 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11234
11235 @table @code
11236
11237 @kindex macro expand
11238 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11239 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11240 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11241 @item macro expand @var{expression}
11242 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11243 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11244 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11245 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11246 it can be any string of tokens.
11247
11248 @kindex macro exp1
11249 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11250 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11251 @cindex expand macro once
11252 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11253 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11254 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11255 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11256 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11257 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11258 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11259 can be any string of tokens.
11260
11261 @kindex info macro
11262 @cindex macro definition, showing
11263 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
11264 @cindex macros, from debug info
11265 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11266 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11267 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11268 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11269 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11270 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11271
11272 @kindex info macros
11273 @item info macros @var{linespec}
11274 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11275 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11276 command-line where those definitions were established.
11277
11278 @kindex macro define
11279 @cindex user-defined macros
11280 @cindex defining macros interactively
11281 @cindex macros, user-defined
11282 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11283 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11284 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11285 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11286 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11287 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11288 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11289 @var{arglist}.
11290
11291 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11292 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11293 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11294 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11295 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11296
11297 @kindex macro undef
11298 @item macro undef @var{macro}
11299 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11300 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11301 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11302 in the program being debugged.
11303
11304 @kindex macro list
11305 @item macro list
11306 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11307 @end table
11308
11309 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
11310 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11311 show our source files:
11312
11313 @smallexample
11314 $ cat sample.c
11315 #include <stdio.h>
11316 #include "sample.h"
11317
11318 #define M 42
11319 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11320
11321 main ()
11322 @{
11323 #define N 28
11324 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11325 #undef N
11326 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11327 #define N 1729
11328 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11329 @}
11330 $ cat sample.h
11331 #define Q <
11332 $
11333 @end smallexample
11334
11335 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11336 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11337 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11338 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11339 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11340 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11341 information.
11342
11343 @smallexample
11344 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11345 $
11346 @end smallexample
11347
11348 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11349
11350 @smallexample
11351 $ gdb -nw sample
11352 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11353 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11354 GDB is free software, @dots{}
11355 (@value{GDBP})
11356 @end smallexample
11357
11358 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11359 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11360 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11361
11362 @smallexample
11363 (@value{GDBP}) list main
11364 3
11365 4 #define M 42
11366 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11367 6
11368 7 main ()
11369 8 @{
11370 9 #define N 28
11371 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11372 11 #undef N
11373 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11374 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11375 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11376 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11377 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11378 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11379 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11380 #define Q <
11381 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11382 expands to: (42 + 1)
11383 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11384 expands to: once (M + 1)
11385 (@value{GDBP})
11386 @end smallexample
11387
11388 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11389 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11390 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11391 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11392
11393 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11394 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11395
11396 @smallexample
11397 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11398 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11399 (@value{GDBP}) run
11400 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11401
11402 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11403 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11404 (@value{GDBP})
11405 @end smallexample
11406
11407 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11408
11409 @smallexample
11410 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11411 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11412 #define N 28
11413 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11414 expands to: 28 < 42
11415 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11416 $1 = 1
11417 (@value{GDBP})
11418 @end smallexample
11419
11420 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11421 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11422 thereof) in force at each point:
11423
11424 @smallexample
11425 (@value{GDBP}) next
11426 Hello, world!
11427 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11428 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11429 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11430 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11431 (@value{GDBP}) next
11432 We're so creative.
11433 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11434 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11435 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11436 #define N 1729
11437 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11438 expands to: 1729 < 42
11439 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11440 $2 = 0
11441 (@value{GDBP})
11442 @end smallexample
11443
11444 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11445 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11446 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11447 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11448
11449 @smallexample
11450 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11451 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11452 -D__STDC__=1
11453 (@value{GDBP})
11454 @end smallexample
11455
11456
11457 @node Tracepoints
11458 @chapter Tracepoints
11459 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11460 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11461
11462 @cindex tracepoints
11463 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11464 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11465 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11466 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11467 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11468 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11469 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11470
11471 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11472 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11473 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11474 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11475 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11476 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11477 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11478 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11479 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11480 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11481 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11482
11483 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11484 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11485 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11486 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11487 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11488 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11489 Packets}.
11490
11491 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11492 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11493 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11494
11495 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11496
11497 @menu
11498 * Set Tracepoints::
11499 * Analyze Collected Data::
11500 * Tracepoint Variables::
11501 * Trace Files::
11502 @end menu
11503
11504 @node Set Tracepoints
11505 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11506
11507 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11508 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11509 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11510 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11511 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11512 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11513 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11514
11515 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11516 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11517 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11518 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11519 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11520 tracepoint was hit.
11521
11522 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11523 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11524 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11525 either.
11526
11527 @cindex fast tracepoints
11528 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11529 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11530 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11531
11532 @cindex static tracepoints
11533 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11534 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11535 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11536 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11537 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11538 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11539 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11540 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11541 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11542 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11543 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11544 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11545 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11546 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11547 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11548 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11549 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11550 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11551 static tracepoint marker.
11552
11553 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11554 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11555
11556 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11557 conditions and actions.
11558
11559 @menu
11560 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11561 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11562 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11563 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11564 * Trace State Variables::
11565 * Tracepoint Actions::
11566 * Listing Tracepoints::
11567 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11568 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11569 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11570 @end menu
11571
11572 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11573 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11574
11575 @table @code
11576 @cindex set tracepoint
11577 @kindex trace
11578 @item trace @var{location}
11579 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11580 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11581 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11582 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11583 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11584 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11585 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11586 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11587 in tracing}).
11588 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11589 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11590 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11591 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11592 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11593 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11594 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11595 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11596 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11597 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11598 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11599 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11600
11601 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11602
11603 @smallexample
11604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11605
11606 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11607
11608 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11609
11610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11611
11612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11613 @end smallexample
11614
11615 @noindent
11616 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11617
11618 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11619 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11620 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11621 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11622 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11623 information on tracepoint conditions.
11624
11625 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11626 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11627 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11628 @kindex ftrace
11629 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11630 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11631 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11632 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11633 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11634 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11635 message.
11636
11637 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11638 @code{trace}.
11639
11640 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11641 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11642 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11643 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11644 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11645 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11646 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11647 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11648
11649 @example
11650 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11651 @end example
11652
11653 @noindent
11654 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11655 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11656
11657 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11658 @cindex set static tracepoint
11659 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11660 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11661 @kindex strace
11662 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11663 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11664 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11665 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11666 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11667
11668 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11669 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11670 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11671 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11672 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11673 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11674 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11675 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11676 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11677 tracing engine:
11678
11679 @smallexample
11680 main ()
11681 @{
11682 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11683 @}
11684 @end smallexample
11685
11686 @noindent
11687 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11688 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11689
11690 @smallexample
11691 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11692 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11693 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11694 Data: "str %s"
11695 [etc...]
11696 @end smallexample
11697
11698 @noindent
11699 so you may probe the marker above with:
11700
11701 @smallexample
11702 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11703 @end smallexample
11704
11705 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11706 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11707 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11708 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11709 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11710 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11711 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11712 the @samp{Data:} field.
11713
11714 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11715 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11716 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11717
11718 @vindex $tpnum
11719 @cindex last tracepoint number
11720 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11721 @cindex tracepoint number
11722 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11723 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11724
11725 @kindex delete tracepoint
11726 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11727 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11728 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11729 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11730 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11731
11732 Examples:
11733
11734 @smallexample
11735 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11736
11737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11738 @end smallexample
11739
11740 @noindent
11741 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11742 @end table
11743
11744 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11745 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11746
11747 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11748
11749 @table @code
11750 @kindex disable tracepoint
11751 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11752 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11753 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11754 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11755 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11756 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11757 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11758 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11759 next trace experiment.
11760
11761 @kindex enable tracepoint
11762 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11763 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11764 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11765 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11766 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11767 next time a trace experiment is run.
11768 @end table
11769
11770 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11771 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11772
11773 @table @code
11774 @kindex passcount
11775 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11776 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11777 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11778 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11779 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11780 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11781 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11782 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11783 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11784 user.
11785
11786 Examples:
11787
11788 @smallexample
11789 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11790 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11791
11792 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11793 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11794 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11795 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11796 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11797 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11798 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11799 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11800 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11801 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11802 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11803 @end smallexample
11804 @end table
11805
11806 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11807 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11808 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11809 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11810
11811 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11812 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11813 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11814 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11815 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11816 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11817 is true.
11818
11819 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11820 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11821 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11822 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11823 just as with breakpoints.
11824
11825 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11826 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11827 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11828 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11829 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11830 accesses, and so forth.
11831
11832 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11833 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11834 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11835 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11836 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11837 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11838 search through.
11839
11840 @smallexample
11841 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11842 @end smallexample
11843
11844 @node Trace State Variables
11845 @subsection Trace State Variables
11846 @cindex trace state variables
11847
11848 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11849 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11850 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11851 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11852 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11853 integers.
11854
11855 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11856 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11857 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11858 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11859
11860 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11861 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11862 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11863 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11864 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11865 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11866 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11867 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11868 variable with the same name.
11869
11870 @table @code
11871
11872 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11873 @kindex tvariable
11874 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11875 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11876 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11877 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11878 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11879 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11880 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11881 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11882 value. The default initial value is 0.
11883
11884 @item info tvariables
11885 @kindex info tvariables
11886 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11887 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11888 currently running.
11889
11890 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11891 @kindex delete tvariable
11892 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11893 are specified.
11894
11895 @end table
11896
11897 @node Tracepoint Actions
11898 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11899
11900 @table @code
11901 @kindex actions
11902 @cindex tracepoint actions
11903 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11904 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11905 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11906 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11907 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11908 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11909 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11910 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11911 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11912 @code{while-stepping}.
11913
11914 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11915 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11916 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11917
11918 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11919 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11920 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11921
11922 @smallexample
11923 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11924
11925 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11926
11927 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11928 @end smallexample
11929
11930 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11931 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11932 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11933 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11934 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11935 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11936 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11937 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11938
11939 @smallexample
11940 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11941 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11942 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11943 > collect bar,baz
11944 > collect $regs
11945 > while-stepping 12
11946 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11947 > end
11948 end
11949 @end smallexample
11950
11951 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11952 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11953 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11954 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11955 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11956 special arguments are supported:
11957
11958 @table @code
11959 @item $regs
11960 Collect all registers.
11961
11962 @item $args
11963 Collect all function arguments.
11964
11965 @item $locals
11966 Collect all local variables.
11967
11968 @item $_ret
11969 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11970 of a backtrace.
11971
11972 @item $_probe_argc
11973 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11974 tracepoint is located.
11975 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11976
11977 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11978 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11979 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11980 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11981
11982 @item $_sdata
11983 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11984 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11985 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11986 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11987 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11988 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11989 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11990 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11991 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11992
11993 @smallexample
11994 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11995 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11996 @end smallexample
11997
11998 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11999 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12000 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12001 @value{GDBN}.
12002 @end table
12003
12004 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12005 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12006 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12007
12008 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12009 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12010 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12011 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12012 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12013 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12014 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12015 @samp{mystr}.
12016
12017 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12018 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12019
12020 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12021 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12022 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12023 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12024 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12025 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12026 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12027 action were used.
12028
12029 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12030 @item while-stepping @var{n}
12031 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12032 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12033 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12034 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
12035
12036 @smallexample
12037 > while-stepping 12
12038 > collect $regs, myglobal
12039 > end
12040 >
12041 @end smallexample
12042
12043 @noindent
12044 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12045 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12046 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12047 @code{stepping}.
12048
12049 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12050 @kindex set default-collect
12051 @cindex default collection action
12052 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12053 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12054 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12055 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12056 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12057 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12058
12059 @item show default-collect
12060 @kindex show default-collect
12061 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12062 tracepoint hit.
12063
12064 @end table
12065
12066 @node Listing Tracepoints
12067 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
12068
12069 @table @code
12070 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12071 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12072 @cindex information about tracepoints
12073 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12074 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12075 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12076 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12077 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12078 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12079
12080 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12081 tracing:
12082
12083 @itemize @bullet
12084 @item
12085 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12086
12087 @item
12088 the state about installed on target of each location
12089 @end itemize
12090
12091 @smallexample
12092 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12093 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
12094 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12095 while-stepping 20
12096 collect globfoo, $regs
12097 end
12098 collect globfoo2
12099 end
12100 pass count 1200
12101 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12102 collect $eip
12103 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12104 installed on target
12105 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12106 installed on target
12107 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
12108 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12109 not installed on target
12110 (@value{GDBP})
12111 @end smallexample
12112
12113 @noindent
12114 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12115 @end table
12116
12117 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12118 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12119
12120 @table @code
12121 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12122 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12123 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
12124 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12125 program.
12126
12127 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12128
12129 @table @emph
12130 @item Count
12131 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12132 stable identifier.
12133 @item ID
12134 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12135 @item Enabled or Disabled
12136 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12137 that are not enabled.
12138 @item Address
12139 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12140 @item What
12141 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12142 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12143 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12144 will be left blank.
12145 @end table
12146
12147 @noindent
12148 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12149
12150 @table @emph
12151 @item Data
12152 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12153 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12154 marker call.
12155 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12156 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12157 @end table
12158
12159 @smallexample
12160 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12161 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12162 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12163 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12164 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12165 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12166 Data: str %s
12167 (@value{GDBP})
12168 @end smallexample
12169 @end table
12170
12171 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12172 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12173
12174 @table @code
12175 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12176 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12177 @cindex collected data discarded
12178 @item tstart
12179 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12180 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12181 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12182 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12183 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12184 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12185 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12186 information, and so forth.
12187
12188 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12189 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12190 @item tstop
12191 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12192 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12193 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12194 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12195 needs to be stopped quickly.
12196
12197 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12198 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12199 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12200
12201 @kindex tstatus
12202 @cindex status of trace data collection
12203 @cindex trace experiment, status of
12204 @item tstatus
12205 This command displays the status of the current trace data
12206 collection.
12207 @end table
12208
12209 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12210
12211 @smallexample
12212 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12213 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12214 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12215 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
12216 > while-stepping 11
12217 > collect $regs
12218 > end
12219 > end
12220 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12221 [time passes @dots{}]
12222 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12223 @end smallexample
12224
12225 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
12226 @cindex disconnected tracing
12227 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12228 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12229 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12230 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12231 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12232 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12233 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12234 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12235
12236 @table @code
12237 @item set disconnected-tracing on
12238 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12239 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
12240 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12241 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12242 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12243 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12244 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12245
12246 @item show disconnected-tracing
12247 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
12248 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12249
12250 @end table
12251
12252 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12253 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12254 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12255 it will continue after reconnection.
12256
12257 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12258 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12259 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12260 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12261 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12262 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12263 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12264 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12265 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12266 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12267
12268 @cindex circular trace buffer
12269 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12270 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12271 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12272 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12273 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12274 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12275 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12276 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12277 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12278 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12279 the next run.
12280
12281 @table @code
12282 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
12283 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12284 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12285 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12286 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12287 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12288 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12289
12290 @item show circular-trace-buffer
12291 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12292 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12293 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12294 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12295 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12296
12297 @end table
12298
12299 @table @code
12300 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12301 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12302 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
12303 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12304 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12305 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12306 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12307 likes. This is also the default.
12308
12309 @item show trace-buffer-size
12310 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
12311 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12312 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12313 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12314 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12315 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12316 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12317 @end table
12318
12319 @table @code
12320 @item set trace-user @var{text}
12321 @kindex set trace-user
12322
12323 @item show trace-user
12324 @kindex show trace-user
12325
12326 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
12327 @kindex set trace-notes
12328 Set the trace run's notes.
12329
12330 @item show trace-notes
12331 @kindex show trace-notes
12332 Show the trace run's notes.
12333
12334 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12335 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
12336 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12337 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12338 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12339
12340 @item show trace-stop-notes
12341 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
12342 Show the trace run's stop notes.
12343
12344 @end table
12345
12346 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
12347 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12348
12349 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
12350 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12351 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12352 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12353 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12354 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12355 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12356 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12357 mentioned here.
12358
12359 @itemize @bullet
12360
12361 @item
12362 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12363 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12364 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12365 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12366 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12367 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12368 cannot be collected either.
12369
12370 @item
12371 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12372 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12373 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12374 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12375 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12376 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12377 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12378 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12379 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12380 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12381
12382 @item
12383 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12384 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12385 in a misleading way.
12386
12387 @item
12388 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12389 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12390 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12391 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12392 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12393 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12394 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12395 by @code{ptr}.
12396
12397 @item
12398 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12399 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12400 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12401 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12402 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12403 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12404 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12405 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12406 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12407 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12408 invalid address.
12409
12410 @item
12411 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12412 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12413 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12414 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12415 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12416 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12417 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12418 it to zero.
12419
12420 @end itemize
12421
12422 @node Analyze Collected Data
12423 @section Using the Collected Data
12424
12425 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12426 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12427 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12428 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12429 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12430 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12431 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12432 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12433 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12434 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12435 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12436 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12437 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12438 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12439 the buffer will fail.
12440
12441 @menu
12442 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12443 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12444 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12445 @end menu
12446
12447 @node tfind
12448 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12449
12450 @kindex tfind
12451 @cindex select trace snapshot
12452 @cindex find trace snapshot
12453 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12454 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12455 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12456 snapshot is selected.
12457
12458 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12459
12460 @table @code
12461 @item tfind start
12462 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12463 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12464
12465 @item tfind none
12466 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12467
12468 @item tfind end
12469 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12470
12471 @item tfind
12472 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12473
12474 @item tfind -
12475 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12476 retracing earlier steps.
12477
12478 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12479 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12480 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12481 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12482 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12483
12484 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12485 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12486 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12487 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12488 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12489
12490 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12491 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12492 addresses (exclusive).
12493
12494 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12495 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12496 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12497
12498 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12499 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12500 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12501 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12502 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12503 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12504 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12505 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12506 @end table
12507
12508 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12509 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12510 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12511 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12512 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12513 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12514 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12515 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12516 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12517 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12518 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12519 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12520 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12521 tracepoint as the current one.
12522
12523 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12524 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12525 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12526 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12527 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12528
12529 @smallexample
12530 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12531 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12532 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12533 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12534 > tfind
12535 > end
12536
12537 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12538 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12539 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12540 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12541 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12542 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12543 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12544 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12545 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12546 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12547 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12548 @end smallexample
12549
12550 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12551 the buffer:
12552
12553 @smallexample
12554 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12555 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12556 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12557 > tfind line
12558 > end
12559
12560 Frame 0, X = 1
12561 Frame 7, X = 2
12562 Frame 13, X = 255
12563 @end smallexample
12564
12565 @node tdump
12566 @subsection @code{tdump}
12567 @kindex tdump
12568 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12569 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12570
12571 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12572 the current trace snapshot.
12573
12574 @smallexample
12575 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12576 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12577 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12578 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12579 > end
12580
12581 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12582
12583 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12584 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12585 at gdb_test.c:444
12586 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12587
12588 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12589 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12590 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12591 d1 0x18 24
12592 d2 0x80 128
12593 d3 0x33 51
12594 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12595 d5 0x22 34
12596 d6 0xe0 224
12597 d7 0x380035 3670069
12598 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12599 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12600 a2 0x100 256
12601 a3 0x322000 3284992
12602 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12603 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12604 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12605 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12606 ps 0x0 0
12607 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12608 fpcontrol 0x0 0
12609 fpstatus 0x0 0
12610 fpiaddr 0x0 0
12611 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12612 p1 = (void *) 0x11
12613 p2 = (void *) 0x22
12614 p3 = (void *) 0x33
12615 p4 = (void *) 0x44
12616 p5 = (void *) 0x55
12617 p6 = (void *) 0x66
12618 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12619
12620 (@value{GDBP})
12621 @end smallexample
12622
12623 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12624 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12625 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12626 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12627
12628 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12629 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12630 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12631 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12632 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12633 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12634 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12635 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12636 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12637 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12638
12639 @node save tracepoints
12640 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12641 @kindex save tracepoints
12642 @kindex save-tracepoints
12643 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12644
12645 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12646 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12647 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12648 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12649 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12650 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12651
12652 @node Tracepoint Variables
12653 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12654 @cindex tracepoint variables
12655 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12656
12657 @table @code
12658 @vindex $trace_frame
12659 @item (int) $trace_frame
12660 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12661 snapshot is selected.
12662
12663 @vindex $tracepoint
12664 @item (int) $tracepoint
12665 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12666
12667 @vindex $trace_line
12668 @item (int) $trace_line
12669 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12670
12671 @vindex $trace_file
12672 @item (char []) $trace_file
12673 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12674
12675 @vindex $trace_func
12676 @item (char []) $trace_func
12677 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12678 @end table
12679
12680 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12681 use @code{output} instead.
12682
12683 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12684 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12685 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12686 which are managed by the target.
12687
12688 @smallexample
12689 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12690
12691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12692 > output $trace_file
12693 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12694 > tfind
12695 > end
12696 @end smallexample
12697
12698 @node Trace Files
12699 @section Using Trace Files
12700 @cindex trace files
12701
12702 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12703 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12704 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12705 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12706 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12707
12708 @table @code
12709
12710 @kindex tsave
12711 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12712 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12713 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12714 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12715 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12716 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12717 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12718 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12719 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12720 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12721 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12722 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12723 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12724 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12725 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12726
12727 @kindex target tfile
12728 @kindex tfile
12729 @kindex target ctf
12730 @kindex ctf
12731 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12732 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12733 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12734 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12735 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12736 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12737 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12738 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12739 the host.
12740
12741 @smallexample
12742 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12743 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12744 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12745 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12746 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12747 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12748 i = 0
12749 a = 0
12750 b = 1 '\001'
12751 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12752 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12753 (@value{GDBP}) p b
12754 $1 = 1
12755 @end smallexample
12756
12757 @end table
12758
12759 @node Overlays
12760 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12761 @cindex overlays
12762
12763 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12764 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12765 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12766 use overlays.
12767
12768 @menu
12769 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12770 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12771 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12772 mapped by asking the inferior.
12773 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12774 @end menu
12775
12776 @node How Overlays Work
12777 @section How Overlays Work
12778 @cindex mapped overlays
12779 @cindex unmapped overlays
12780 @cindex load address, overlay's
12781 @cindex mapped address
12782 @cindex overlay area
12783
12784 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12785 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12786 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12787 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12788 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12789
12790 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12791 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12792 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12793 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12794 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12795 largest overlay as well.
12796
12797 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12798 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12799 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12800 there.
12801
12802 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12803 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12804 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12805
12806 @smallexample
12807 @group
12808 Data Instruction Larger
12809 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12810 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12811 | | | | | |
12812 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12813 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12814 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12815 | and heap | | | | | |
12816 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12817 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12818 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12819 | | | | | |
12820 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12821 address | | | | | |
12822 | overlay | <-' | | |
12823 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12824 | | <---. | | load address
12825 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12826 | | | |
12827 +-----------+ | |
12828 +-----------+
12829 | |
12830 +-----------+
12831
12832 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12833 @end group
12834 @end smallexample
12835
12836 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12837 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12838 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12839 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12840 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12841 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12842 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12843 program and the overlay area.
12844
12845 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12846 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12847 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12848 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12849 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12850 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12851 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12852
12853 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12854 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12855 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12856
12857 @itemize @bullet
12858
12859 @item
12860 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12861 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12862 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12863 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12864
12865 @item
12866 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12867 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12868 your program's performance.
12869
12870 @item
12871 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12872 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12873 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12874 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12875 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12876 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12877 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12878
12879 @item
12880 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12881 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12882 instruction and data spaces.
12883
12884 @end itemize
12885
12886 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12887 improved in many ways:
12888
12889 @itemize @bullet
12890
12891 @item
12892 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12893 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12894 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12895 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12896 area in the usual way.
12897
12898 @item
12899 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12900 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12901
12902 @item
12903 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12904 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12905 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12906 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12907 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12908 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12909 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12910
12911 @end itemize
12912
12913
12914 @node Overlay Commands
12915 @section Overlay Commands
12916
12917 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12918 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12919 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12920 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12921 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12922 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12923
12924 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12925 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12926
12927 @table @code
12928 @item overlay off
12929 @kindex overlay
12930 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12931 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12932 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12933 overlay support is disabled.
12934
12935 @item overlay manual
12936 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12937 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12938 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12939 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12940 commands described below.
12941
12942 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12943 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12944 @cindex map an overlay
12945 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12946 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12947 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12948 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12949 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12950 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12951
12952 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12953 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12954 @cindex unmap an overlay
12955 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12956 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12957 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12958 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12959
12960 @item overlay auto
12961 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12962 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12963 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12964 Overlay Debugging}.
12965
12966 @item overlay load-target
12967 @itemx overlay load
12968 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12969 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12970 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12971 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12972 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12973 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12974
12975 @item overlay list-overlays
12976 @itemx overlay list
12977 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12978 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12979 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12980
12981 @end table
12982
12983 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12984 of the function the address falls in:
12985
12986 @smallexample
12987 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12988 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12989 @end smallexample
12990 @noindent
12991 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12992 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12993 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12994 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12995
12996 @smallexample
12997 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12998 No sections are mapped.
12999 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13000 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13001 @end smallexample
13002 @noindent
13003 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13004 name normally:
13005
13006 @smallexample
13007 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13008 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13009 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13010 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13011 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13012 @end smallexample
13013
13014 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13015 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13016 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13017 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13018 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13019
13020 @itemize @bullet
13021 @item
13022 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
13023 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13024 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13025 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13026 @item
13027 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13028 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13029 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13030 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13031 breakpoints properly.
13032 @end itemize
13033
13034
13035 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13036 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13037 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
13038
13039 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13040 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13041 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13042 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13043 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13044 current state of the overlays.
13045
13046 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13047 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13048
13049 @table @asis
13050
13051 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
13052 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13053
13054 @smallexample
13055 struct
13056 @{
13057 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13058 unsigned long vma;
13059
13060 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13061 unsigned long size;
13062
13063 /* The overlay's load address. */
13064 unsigned long lma;
13065
13066 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13067 zero otherwise. */
13068 unsigned long mapped;
13069 @}
13070 @end smallexample
13071
13072 @item @code{_novlys}:
13073 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13074 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13075
13076 @end table
13077
13078 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13079 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13080 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13081 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13082 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13083 currently mapped.
13084
13085 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13086 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13087 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13088 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13089 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13090 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13091 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13092 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13093 are not being executed.
13094
13095 @node Overlay Sample Program
13096 @section Overlay Sample Program
13097 @cindex overlay example program
13098
13099 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13100 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13101 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13102 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13103 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13104 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13105 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13106
13107 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13108 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13109 suite. The program consists of the following files from
13110 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13111
13112 @table @file
13113 @item overlays.c
13114 The main program file.
13115 @item ovlymgr.c
13116 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13117 @item foo.c
13118 @itemx bar.c
13119 @itemx baz.c
13120 @itemx grbx.c
13121 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13122 @item d10v.ld
13123 @itemx m32r.ld
13124 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13125 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13126 @end table
13127
13128 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13129 cross-compiler like this:
13130
13131 @smallexample
13132 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13133 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13134 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13135 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13136 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13137 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13138 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13139 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13140 @end smallexample
13141
13142 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13143 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13144 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13145
13146
13147 @node Languages
13148 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13149 @cindex languages
13150
13151 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13152 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13153 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13154 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13155 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13156 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13157
13158 @cindex working language
13159 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13160 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13161 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13162 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13163 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13164 language}.
13165
13166 @menu
13167 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13168 * Show:: Displaying the language
13169 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13170 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13171 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13172 @end menu
13173
13174 @node Setting
13175 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13176
13177 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13178 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13179 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13180 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13181 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13182 are printed, etc.
13183
13184 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13185 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13186 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13187 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13188 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13189 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13190 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13191 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13192 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13193 Displaying the Language}.
13194
13195 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13196 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13197 another language. In that case, make the
13198 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13199 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13200 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13201
13202 @menu
13203 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13204 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13205 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13206 @end menu
13207
13208 @node Filenames
13209 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13210
13211 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13212 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13213
13214 @table @file
13215 @item .ada
13216 @itemx .ads
13217 @itemx .adb
13218 @itemx .a
13219 Ada source file.
13220
13221 @item .c
13222 C source file
13223
13224 @item .C
13225 @itemx .cc
13226 @itemx .cp
13227 @itemx .cpp
13228 @itemx .cxx
13229 @itemx .c++
13230 C@t{++} source file
13231
13232 @item .d
13233 D source file
13234
13235 @item .m
13236 Objective-C source file
13237
13238 @item .f
13239 @itemx .F
13240 Fortran source file
13241
13242 @item .mod
13243 Modula-2 source file
13244
13245 @item .s
13246 @itemx .S
13247 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13248 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13249 @end table
13250
13251 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13252 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13253
13254 @node Manually
13255 @subsection Setting the Working Language
13256
13257 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13258 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13259 your program.
13260
13261 @kindex set language
13262 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13263 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13264 a language, such as
13265 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13266 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13267
13268 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13269 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13270 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13271 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13272 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13273 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13274 command such as:
13275
13276 @smallexample
13277 print a = b + c
13278 @end smallexample
13279
13280 @noindent
13281 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13282 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13283 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13284 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13285
13286 @node Automatically
13287 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13288
13289 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13290 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13291 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13292 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13293 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13294 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13295 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13296 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13297 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13298
13299 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13300 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13301 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13302 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13303 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13304
13305 @node Show
13306 @section Displaying the Language
13307
13308 The following commands help you find out which language is the
13309 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13310
13311 @table @code
13312 @item show language
13313 @kindex show language
13314 Display the current working language. This is the
13315 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13316 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13317
13318 @item info frame
13319 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13320 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13321 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13322 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13323 information listed here.
13324
13325 @item info source
13326 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13327 Display the source language of this source file.
13328 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13329 information listed here.
13330 @end table
13331
13332 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13333 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13334 with a language explicitly:
13335
13336 @table @code
13337 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13338 @kindex set extension-language
13339 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13340 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13341
13342 @item info extensions
13343 @kindex info extensions
13344 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13345 @end table
13346
13347 @node Checks
13348 @section Type and Range Checking
13349
13350 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13351 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13352 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13353 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13354 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13355 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13356 errors when your program is running.
13357
13358 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13359 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13360 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13361 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13362
13363 @menu
13364 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13365 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13366 @end menu
13367
13368 @cindex type checking
13369 @cindex checks, type
13370 @node Type Checking
13371 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13372
13373 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13374 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13375 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13376 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13377
13378 @smallexample
13379 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13380
13381 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13382 $1 = 2
13383 @exdent but
13384 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13385 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13386 @end smallexample
13387
13388 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13389 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13390
13391 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13392 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13393 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13394 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13395 expressions like the second example above.
13396
13397 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13398 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13399 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13400 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13401 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13402 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13403
13404 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13405
13406 @kindex set check type
13407 @kindex show check type
13408 @table @code
13409 @item set check type on
13410 @itemx set check type off
13411 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13412 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13413 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13414
13415 @item show check type
13416 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13417 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13418 @end table
13419
13420 @cindex range checking
13421 @cindex checks, range
13422 @node Range Checking
13423 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13424
13425 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13426 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13427 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13428 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13429 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13430
13431 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13432 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13433 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13434 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13435
13436 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13437 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13438 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13439 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13440 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13441 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13442
13443 @smallexample
13444 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13445 @end smallexample
13446
13447 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13448 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13449 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13450
13451 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13452
13453 @kindex set check range
13454 @kindex show check range
13455 @table @code
13456 @item set check range auto
13457 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13458 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13459 each language.
13460
13461 @item set check range on
13462 @itemx set check range off
13463 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13464 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13465 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13466 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13467
13468 @item set check range warn
13469 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13470 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13471 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13472 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13473 systems).
13474
13475 @item show range
13476 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13477 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13478 @end table
13479
13480 @node Supported Languages
13481 @section Supported Languages
13482
13483 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13484 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13485 @c This is false ...
13486 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13487 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13488 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13489 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13490 language.
13491
13492 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13493 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13494 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13495 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13496 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13497 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13498 language reference or tutorial.
13499
13500 @menu
13501 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13502 * D:: D
13503 * Go:: Go
13504 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13505 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13506 * Fortran:: Fortran
13507 * Pascal:: Pascal
13508 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13509 * Ada:: Ada
13510 @end menu
13511
13512 @node C
13513 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13514
13515 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13516 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13517
13518 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13519 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13520 together.
13521
13522 @cindex C@t{++}
13523 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13524 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13525 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13526 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13527 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13528 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13529 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13530
13531 @menu
13532 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13533 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13534 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13535 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13536 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13537 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13538 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13539 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13540 @end menu
13541
13542 @node C Operators
13543 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13544
13545 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13546
13547 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13548 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13549 often defined on groups of types.
13550
13551 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13552
13553 @itemize @bullet
13554
13555 @item
13556 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13557 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13558
13559 @item
13560 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13561 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13562
13563 @item
13564 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13565
13566 @item
13567 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13568
13569 @end itemize
13570
13571 @noindent
13572 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13573 in order of increasing precedence:
13574
13575 @table @code
13576 @item ,
13577 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13578 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13579 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13580
13581 @item =
13582 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13583 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13584
13585 @item @var{op}=
13586 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13587 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13588 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13589 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13590 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13591
13592 @item ?:
13593 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13594 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13595 integral type.
13596
13597 @item ||
13598 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13599
13600 @item &&
13601 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13602
13603 @item |
13604 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13605
13606 @item ^
13607 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13608
13609 @item &
13610 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13611
13612 @item ==@r{, }!=
13613 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13614 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13615
13616 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13617 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13618 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13619 and non-zero for true.
13620
13621 @item <<@r{, }>>
13622 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13623
13624 @item @@
13625 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13626
13627 @item +@r{, }-
13628 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13629 pointer types.
13630
13631 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13632 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13633 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13634 integral types.
13635
13636 @item ++@r{, }--
13637 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13638 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13639 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13640 operation takes place.
13641
13642 @item *
13643 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13644 @code{++}.
13645
13646 @item &
13647 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13648
13649 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13650 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13651 to examine the address
13652 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13653 stored.
13654
13655 @item -
13656 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13657 precedence as @code{++}.
13658
13659 @item !
13660 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13661 @code{++}.
13662
13663 @item ~
13664 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13665 @code{++}.
13666
13667
13668 @item .@r{, }->
13669 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13670 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13671 pointer based on the stored type information.
13672 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13673
13674 @item .*@r{, }->*
13675 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13676
13677 @item []
13678 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13679 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13680
13681 @item ()
13682 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13683
13684 @item ::
13685 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13686 and @code{class} types.
13687
13688 @item ::
13689 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13690 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13691 above.
13692 @end table
13693
13694 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13695 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13696 predefined meaning.
13697
13698 @node C Constants
13699 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13700
13701 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13702
13703 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13704 following ways:
13705
13706 @itemize @bullet
13707 @item
13708 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13709 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13710 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13711 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13712 @code{long} value.
13713
13714 @item
13715 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13716 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13717 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13718 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13719 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13720 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13721 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13722 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13723 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13724 constant.
13725
13726 @item
13727 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13728 integral equivalents.
13729
13730 @item
13731 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13732 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13733 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13734 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13735 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13736 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13737 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13738 @samp{\n} for newline.
13739
13740 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13741 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13742 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13743 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13744
13745 @item
13746 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13747 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13748 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13749 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13750 characters.
13751
13752 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13753 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13754 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13755
13756 @item
13757 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13758 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13759
13760 @item
13761 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13762 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13763 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13764 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13765 @end itemize
13766
13767 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13768 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13769
13770 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13771 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13772
13773 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13774 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13775 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13776 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13777 @quotation
13778 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13779 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13780 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13781 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13782 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13783 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13784 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13785 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13786 @end quotation
13787
13788 @enumerate
13789
13790 @cindex member functions
13791 @item
13792 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13793
13794 @smallexample
13795 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13796 @end smallexample
13797
13798 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13799 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13800 @item
13801 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13802 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13803 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13804 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13805 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13806
13807 @cindex call overloaded functions
13808 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13809 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13810 @item
13811 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13812 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13813 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13814 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13815 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13816 default arguments.
13817
13818 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13819 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13820 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13821 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13822 number of function arguments.
13823
13824 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13825 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13826 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13827
13828 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13829 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13830 @smallexample
13831 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13832 @end smallexample
13833
13834 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13835 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13836
13837 @cindex reference declarations
13838 @item
13839 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13840 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13841 dereferenced.
13842
13843 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13844 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13845 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13846 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13847 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13848
13849 @item
13850 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13851 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13852 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13853 necessary, for example in an expression like
13854 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13855 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13856 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13857
13858 @item
13859 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13860 specification.
13861 @end enumerate
13862
13863 @node C Defaults
13864 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13865
13866 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13867
13868 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13869 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13870 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13871 selects the working language.
13872
13873 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13874 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13875 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13876 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13877 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13878 for further details.
13879
13880 @node C Checks
13881 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13882
13883 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13884
13885 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13886 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13887 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13888 constants to pointers.
13889
13890 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13891 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13892 that is not itself an array.
13893
13894 @node Debugging C
13895 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13896
13897 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13898 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13899 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13900 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13901
13902 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13903 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13904 ,Expressions}.
13905
13906 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13907 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13908
13909 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13910
13911 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13912 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13913
13914 @table @code
13915 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13916 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13917 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13918 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13919 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13920 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13921
13922 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13923 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13924 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13925 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13926 classes.
13927 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13928
13929 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13930 @item catch throw
13931 @itemx catch rethrow
13932 @itemx catch catch
13933 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13934 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13935
13936 @cindex inheritance
13937 @item ptype @var{typename}
13938 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13939 @var{typename}.
13940 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13941
13942 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13943 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13944 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13945 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13946 multiple inheritance is in use.
13947
13948 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13949 @item set print demangle
13950 @itemx show print demangle
13951 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13952 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13953 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13954 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13955 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13956
13957 @item set print object
13958 @itemx show print object
13959 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13960 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13961
13962 @item set print vtbl
13963 @itemx show print vtbl
13964 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13965 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13966 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13967 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13968
13969 @kindex set overload-resolution
13970 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13971 @item set overload-resolution on
13972 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13973 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13974 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13975 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13976 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13977 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13978
13979 @item set overload-resolution off
13980 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13981 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13982 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13983 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13984 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13985 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13986 argument types.
13987
13988 @kindex show overload-resolution
13989 @item show overload-resolution
13990 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13991
13992 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13993 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13994 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13995 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13996 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13997 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13998 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13999 @end table
14000
14001 @node Decimal Floating Point
14002 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14003 @cindex decimal floating point format
14004
14005 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14006 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14007 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14008 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14009
14010 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14011 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14012 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14013 configured target.
14014
14015 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14016 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14017 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14018
14019 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14020 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14021 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14022
14023 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14024 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14025 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14026
14027 @node D
14028 @subsection D
14029
14030 @cindex D
14031 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14032 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14033 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14034
14035 @node Go
14036 @subsection Go
14037
14038 @cindex Go (programming language)
14039 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14040 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14041
14042 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14043
14044 @table @code
14045 @cindex current Go package
14046 @item The current Go package
14047 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14048 specifying global variables and functions.
14049
14050 For example, given the program:
14051
14052 @example
14053 package main
14054 var myglob = "Shall we?"
14055 func main () @{
14056 // ...
14057 @}
14058 @end example
14059
14060 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14061
14062 @example
14063 (gdb) p myglob
14064 (gdb) p main.myglob
14065 @end example
14066
14067 @cindex builtin Go types
14068 @item Builtin Go types
14069 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14070 as a string.
14071
14072 @cindex builtin Go functions
14073 @item Builtin Go functions
14074 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14075 function and handles it internally.
14076
14077 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14078 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
14079 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14080 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14081 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14082 @end table
14083
14084 @node Objective-C
14085 @subsection Objective-C
14086
14087 @cindex Objective-C
14088 This section provides information about some commands and command
14089 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14090 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14091 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14092
14093 @menu
14094 * Method Names in Commands::
14095 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
14096 @end menu
14097
14098 @node Method Names in Commands
14099 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14100
14101 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14102 names as line specifications:
14103
14104 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14105 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14106 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14107 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14108 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14109 @itemize
14110 @item @code{clear}
14111 @item @code{break}
14112 @item @code{info line}
14113 @item @code{jump}
14114 @item @code{list}
14115 @end itemize
14116
14117 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14118
14119 @smallexample
14120 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14121 @end smallexample
14122
14123 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14124 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14125 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14126 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14127 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14128 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14129 debugged, enter:
14130
14131 @smallexample
14132 break -[Fruit create]
14133 @end smallexample
14134
14135 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14136 enter:
14137
14138 @smallexample
14139 list +[NSText initialize]
14140 @end smallexample
14141
14142 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14143 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14144 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14145 is also possible to specify just a method name:
14146
14147 @smallexample
14148 break create
14149 @end smallexample
14150
14151 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14152 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14153 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14154 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14155 none apply.
14156
14157 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14158 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14159
14160 @smallexample
14161 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14162 @end smallexample
14163
14164 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14165 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14166 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14167 @kindex print-object
14168 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14169
14170 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14171
14172 @smallexample
14173 print -[@var{object} hash]
14174 @end smallexample
14175
14176 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14177 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14178 @noindent
14179 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14180 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14181 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14182 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14183 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14184 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14185
14186 @node OpenCL C
14187 @subsection OpenCL C
14188
14189 @cindex OpenCL C
14190 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14191
14192 @menu
14193 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
14194 * OpenCL C Expressions::
14195 * OpenCL C Operators::
14196 @end menu
14197
14198 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
14199 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14200
14201 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14202 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14203 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14204 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14205 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14206
14207 @node OpenCL C Expressions
14208 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14209
14210 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14211 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14212 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14213 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14214
14215 @node OpenCL C Operators
14216 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14217
14218 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
14219 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14220 vector data types.
14221
14222 @node Fortran
14223 @subsection Fortran
14224 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14225
14226 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14227 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14228
14229 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14230 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14231 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14232 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14233 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14234 underscore.
14235
14236 @menu
14237 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14238 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14239 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14240 @end menu
14241
14242 @node Fortran Operators
14243 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14244
14245 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14246
14247 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14248 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14249 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14250
14251 @table @code
14252 @item **
14253 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14254 of the second one.
14255
14256 @item :
14257 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14258 represent a section of array.
14259
14260 @item %
14261 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14262 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14263 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14264 union type.
14265 @end table
14266
14267 @node Fortran Defaults
14268 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14269
14270 @cindex Fortran Defaults
14271
14272 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14273 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14274 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14275 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14276
14277 @node Special Fortran Commands
14278 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14279
14280 @cindex Special Fortran commands
14281
14282 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14283 such as displaying common blocks.
14284
14285 @table @code
14286 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14287 @kindex info common
14288 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14289 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14290 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14291 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14292 printed.
14293 @end table
14294
14295 @node Pascal
14296 @subsection Pascal
14297
14298 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14299 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14300 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14301 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14302 syntax.
14303
14304 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14305 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14306 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14307
14308 @node Modula-2
14309 @subsection Modula-2
14310
14311 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14312
14313 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14314 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14315 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14316 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14317 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14318 table.
14319
14320 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
14321 @menu
14322 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14323 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14324 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14325 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14326 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14327 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14328 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14329 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14330 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14331 @end menu
14332
14333 @node M2 Operators
14334 @subsubsection Operators
14335 @cindex Modula-2 operators
14336
14337 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14338 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14339 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14340 following definitions hold:
14341
14342 @itemize @bullet
14343
14344 @item
14345 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14346 their subranges.
14347
14348 @item
14349 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14350
14351 @item
14352 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14353
14354 @item
14355 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14356 @var{type}}.
14357
14358 @item
14359 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14360
14361 @item
14362 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14363
14364 @item
14365 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14366 @end itemize
14367
14368 @noindent
14369 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14370 increasing precedence:
14371
14372 @table @code
14373 @item ,
14374 Function argument or array index separator.
14375
14376 @item :=
14377 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14378 @var{value}.
14379
14380 @item <@r{, }>
14381 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14382 types.
14383
14384 @item <=@r{, }>=
14385 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14386 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14387 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14388
14389 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14390 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14391 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14392 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14393 comment character.
14394
14395 @item IN
14396 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14397 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14398
14399 @item OR
14400 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14401
14402 @item AND@r{, }&
14403 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14404
14405 @item @@
14406 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14407
14408 @item +@r{, }-
14409 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14410 and difference on set types.
14411
14412 @item *
14413 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14414 on set types.
14415
14416 @item /
14417 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14418 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14419
14420 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
14421 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14422 precedence as @code{*}.
14423
14424 @item -
14425 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14426
14427 @item ^
14428 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14429
14430 @item NOT
14431 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14432 @code{^}.
14433
14434 @item .
14435 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14436 precedence as @code{^}.
14437
14438 @item []
14439 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14440
14441 @item ()
14442 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14443 as @code{^}.
14444
14445 @item ::@r{, }.
14446 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14447 @end table
14448
14449 @quotation
14450 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14451 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14452 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14453 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14454 @end quotation
14455
14456
14457 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14458 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14459 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14460
14461 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14462 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14463
14464 @table @var
14465
14466 @item a
14467 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14468
14469 @item c
14470 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14471
14472 @item i
14473 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14474
14475 @item m
14476 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14477 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14478 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14479
14480 @item n
14481 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14482
14483 @item r
14484 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14485
14486 @item t
14487 represents a type.
14488
14489 @item v
14490 represents a variable.
14491
14492 @item x
14493 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14494 explanation of the function for details.
14495 @end table
14496
14497 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14498
14499 @table @code
14500 @item ABS(@var{n})
14501 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14502
14503 @item CAP(@var{c})
14504 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14505 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14506
14507 @item CHR(@var{i})
14508 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14509
14510 @item DEC(@var{v})
14511 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14512
14513 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14514 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14515 new value.
14516
14517 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14518 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14519 set.
14520
14521 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14522 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14523
14524 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14525 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14526
14527 @item INC(@var{v})
14528 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14529
14530 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14531 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14532 new value.
14533
14534 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14535 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14536 there. Returns the new set.
14537
14538 @item MAX(@var{t})
14539 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14540
14541 @item MIN(@var{t})
14542 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14543
14544 @item ODD(@var{i})
14545 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14546
14547 @item ORD(@var{x})
14548 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14549 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14550 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14551 integral, character and enumerated types.
14552
14553 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14554 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14555
14556 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14557 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14558
14559 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14560 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14561
14562 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14563 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14564 @end table
14565
14566 @quotation
14567 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14568 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14569 an error.
14570 @end quotation
14571
14572 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14573 @node M2 Constants
14574 @subsubsection Constants
14575
14576 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14577 ways:
14578
14579 @itemize @bullet
14580
14581 @item
14582 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14583 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14584 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14585 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14586
14587 @item
14588 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14589 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14590 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14591 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14592 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14593 digits.
14594
14595 @item
14596 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14597 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14598 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14599 followed by a @samp{C}.
14600
14601 @item
14602 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14603 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14604 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14605 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14606 sequences.
14607
14608 @item
14609 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14610
14611 @item
14612 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14613 @code{FALSE}.
14614
14615 @item
14616 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14617
14618 @item
14619 Set constants are not yet supported.
14620 @end itemize
14621
14622 @node M2 Types
14623 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14624 @cindex Modula-2 types
14625
14626 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14627 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14628 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14629 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14630 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14631 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14632
14633 The first example contains the following section of code:
14634
14635 @smallexample
14636 VAR
14637 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14638 r: [20..40] ;
14639 @end smallexample
14640
14641 @noindent
14642 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14643 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14644
14645 @smallexample
14646 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14647 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14648 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14649 SET OF CHAR
14650 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14651 21
14652 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14653 [20..40]
14654 @end smallexample
14655
14656 @noindent
14657 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14658
14659 @smallexample
14660 VAR
14661 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14662 @end smallexample
14663
14664 @noindent
14665 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14666
14667 @smallexample
14668 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14669 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14670 @end smallexample
14671
14672 @noindent
14673 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14674 expressions using the debugger.
14675
14676 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14677 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14678
14679 @smallexample
14680 VAR
14681 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14682 @end smallexample
14683
14684 @smallexample
14685 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14686 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14687 @end smallexample
14688
14689 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14690 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14691 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14692 above.
14693
14694 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14695
14696 @smallexample
14697 TYPE
14698 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14699 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14700 VAR
14701 s: t ;
14702 BEGIN
14703 s := blue ;
14704 @end smallexample
14705
14706 @noindent
14707 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14708 and value of a variable.
14709
14710 @smallexample
14711 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14712 $1 = blue
14713 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14714 type = [blue..yellow]
14715 @end smallexample
14716
14717 @noindent
14718 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14719 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14720 their @code{C} counterparts.
14721
14722 @smallexample
14723 VAR
14724 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14725 BEGIN
14726 s[1] := 1 ;
14727 @end smallexample
14728
14729 @smallexample
14730 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14731 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14732 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14733 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14734 @end smallexample
14735
14736 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14737 pointer types as shown in this example:
14738
14739 @smallexample
14740 VAR
14741 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14742 BEGIN
14743 NEW(s) ;
14744 s^[1] := 1 ;
14745 @end smallexample
14746
14747 @noindent
14748 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14749
14750 @smallexample
14751 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14752 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14753 @end smallexample
14754
14755 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14756 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14757 types:
14758
14759 @smallexample
14760 TYPE
14761 foo = RECORD
14762 f1: CARDINAL ;
14763 f2: CHAR ;
14764 f3: myarray ;
14765 END ;
14766
14767 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14768 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14769 VAR
14770 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14771 @end smallexample
14772
14773 @noindent
14774 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14775 below.
14776
14777 @smallexample
14778 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14779 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14780 f1 : CARDINAL;
14781 f2 : CHAR;
14782 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14783 END
14784 @end smallexample
14785
14786 @node M2 Defaults
14787 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14788 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14789
14790 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14791 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14792 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14793 selected the working language.
14794
14795 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14796 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14797 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14798 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14799
14800 @node Deviations
14801 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14802 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14803
14804 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14805 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14806
14807 @itemize @bullet
14808 @item
14809 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14810 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14811 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14812 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14813 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14814 returned a pointer.)
14815
14816 @item
14817 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14818 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14819 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14820 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14821
14822 @item
14823 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14824 argument.
14825
14826 @item
14827 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14828 @end itemize
14829
14830 @node M2 Checks
14831 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14832 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14833
14834 @quotation
14835 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14836 range checking.
14837 @end quotation
14838 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14839
14840 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14841
14842 @itemize @bullet
14843 @item
14844 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14845 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14846
14847 @item
14848 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14849 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14850 @end itemize
14851
14852 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14853 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14854
14855 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14856 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14857
14858 @node M2 Scope
14859 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14860 @cindex scope
14861 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14862 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14863 @ifinfo
14864 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14865 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14866 @end ifinfo
14867 @ifnotinfo
14868 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14869 @end ifnotinfo
14870
14871 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14872 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14873 similar syntax:
14874
14875 @smallexample
14876
14877 @var{module} . @var{id}
14878 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14879 @end smallexample
14880
14881 @noindent
14882 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14883 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14884 identifier within your program, except another module.
14885
14886 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14887 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14888 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14889 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14890
14891 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14892 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14893 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14894 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14895 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14896 @var{module}.
14897
14898 @node GDB/M2
14899 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14900
14901 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14902 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14903 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14904 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14905 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14906 analogue in Modula-2.
14907
14908 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14909 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14910 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14911 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14912 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14913 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14914
14915 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14916 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14917 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14918
14919 @node Ada
14920 @subsection Ada
14921 @cindex Ada
14922
14923 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14924 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14925 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14926 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14927 to be difficult.
14928
14929
14930 @cindex expressions in Ada
14931 @menu
14932 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14933 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14934 in @value{GDBN}.
14935 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14936 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14937 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14938 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14939 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14940 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14941 Profile
14942 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14943 @end menu
14944
14945 @node Ada Mode Intro
14946 @subsubsection Introduction
14947 @cindex Ada mode, general
14948
14949 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14950 syntax, with some extensions.
14951 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14952
14953 @itemize @bullet
14954 @item
14955 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14956 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14957 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14958 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14959
14960 @item
14961 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14962 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14963
14964 @item
14965 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14966 @end itemize
14967
14968 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14969 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14970 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14971 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14972 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14973
14974 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14975 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14976 was translated from an Ada source file.
14977
14978 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14979 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14980 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14981 middle (to allow based literals).
14982
14983 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14984 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14985 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14986 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14987 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14988 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14989
14990 @node Omissions from Ada
14991 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14992 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14993
14994 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14995
14996 @itemize @bullet
14997 @item
14998 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14999
15000 @itemize @minus
15001 @item
15002 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15003 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15004
15005 @item
15006 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15007
15008 @item
15009 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15010
15011 @item
15012 @t{'Tag}.
15013
15014 @item
15015 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15016 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15017
15018 @item
15019 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15020 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15021
15022 @item
15023 @t{'Address}.
15024 @end itemize
15025
15026 @item
15027 The names in
15028 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15029 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15030 not currently available.
15031
15032 @item
15033 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15034 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15035 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15036 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15037 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15038 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15039 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15040 indeterminate values.
15041
15042 @item
15043 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15044 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15045 are not implemented.
15046
15047 @item
15048 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15049 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15050 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
15051 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15052 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15053
15054 @smallexample
15055 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15056 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15057 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15058 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15059 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15060 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15061 @end smallexample
15062
15063 Changing a
15064 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15065 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15066 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15067 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15068 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15069 declared to have a type such as:
15070
15071 @smallexample
15072 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15073 Id : Integer;
15074 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15075 end record;
15076 @end smallexample
15077
15078 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15079 assignments:
15080
15081 @smallexample
15082 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15083 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15084 @end smallexample
15085
15086 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15087 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15088 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15089 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15090 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15091 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15092 redundant component associations, although which component values are
15093 assigned in such cases is not defined.
15094
15095 @item
15096 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15097
15098 @item
15099 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15100 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15101 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15102 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15103 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15104 the proper resolution.
15105
15106 @item
15107 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15108
15109 @item
15110 Entry calls are not implemented.
15111
15112 @item
15113 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15114 formats are not supported.
15115
15116 @item
15117 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15118
15119 @item
15120 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15121 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15122 context.
15123 Should your program
15124 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15125 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15126 @end itemize
15127
15128 @node Additions to Ada
15129 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
15130 @cindex Ada, deviations from
15131
15132 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15133 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15134
15135 @itemize @bullet
15136 @item
15137 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15138 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15139 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15140 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15141 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15142 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15143 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15144 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15145
15146 @item
15147 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15148 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15149 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15150
15151 @item
15152 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15153 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15154
15155 @item
15156 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15157 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15158 @end itemize
15159
15160 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15161 additions specific to Ada:
15162
15163 @itemize @bullet
15164 @item
15165 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15166 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15167
15168 @smallexample
15169 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15170 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15171 @end smallexample
15172
15173 @item
15174 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15175 the value of its right-hand operand.
15176 This allows, for example,
15177 complex conditional breaks:
15178
15179 @smallexample
15180 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15181 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15182 @end smallexample
15183
15184 @item
15185 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15186 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15187 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15188 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15189 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15190 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15191 in strings. For example,
15192 @smallexample
15193 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15194 @end smallexample
15195 @noindent
15196 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15197 after each period.
15198
15199 @item
15200 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15201 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15202 to write
15203
15204 @smallexample
15205 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15206 @end smallexample
15207
15208 @item
15209 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15210 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15211 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15212 of 3 might print as
15213
15214 @smallexample
15215 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
15216 @end smallexample
15217
15218 @noindent
15219 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15220 clause.
15221
15222 @item
15223 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15224 multi-character subsequence of
15225 their names (an exact match gets preference).
15226 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15227 in place of @t{a'length}.
15228
15229 @item
15230 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15231 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15232 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15233 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15234 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15235 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15236 For example,
15237 @smallexample
15238 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15239 @end smallexample
15240
15241 @item
15242 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15243 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15244 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15245 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15246 object.
15247
15248 @end itemize
15249
15250 @node Stopping Before Main Program
15251 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15252
15253 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15254 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15255 before reaching the main procedure.
15256 As defined in the Ada Reference
15257 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15258 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15259 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15260 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15261
15262 @node Ada Tasks
15263 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15264 @cindex Ada, tasking
15265
15266 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15267 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15268
15269 @table @code
15270 @kindex info tasks
15271 @item info tasks
15272 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15273
15274
15275 @smallexample
15276 @iftex
15277 @leftskip=0.5cm
15278 @end iftex
15279 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15280 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15281 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15282 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15283 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15284 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15285
15286 @end smallexample
15287
15288 @noindent
15289 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15290 task currently being inspected.
15291
15292 @table @asis
15293 @item ID
15294 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15295
15296 @item TID
15297 The Ada task ID.
15298
15299 @item P-ID
15300 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15301
15302 @item Pri
15303 The base priority of the task.
15304
15305 @item State
15306 Current state of the task.
15307
15308 @table @code
15309 @item Unactivated
15310 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15311 executing.
15312
15313 @item Runnable
15314 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15315 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15316
15317 @item Terminated
15318 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15319 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15320 terminated themselves.
15321
15322 @item Child Activation Wait
15323 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15324
15325 @item Accept Statement
15326 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15327
15328 @item Waiting on entry call
15329 The task is waiting on an entry call.
15330
15331 @item Async Select Wait
15332 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15333 select statement.
15334
15335 @item Delay Sleep
15336 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15337 alternative open.
15338
15339 @item Child Termination Wait
15340 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15341 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15342 waiting on a terminate Phase.
15343
15344 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
15345 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15346 finish terminating.
15347
15348 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15349 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15350 @end table
15351
15352 @item Name
15353 Name of the task in the program.
15354
15355 @end table
15356
15357 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
15358 @item info task @var{taskno}
15359 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15360 the following example:
15361 @smallexample
15362 @iftex
15363 @leftskip=0.5cm
15364 @end iftex
15365 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15366 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15367 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15368 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15369 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15370 Ada Task: 0x807c468
15371 Name: task_1
15372 Thread: 0x807f378
15373 Parent: 1 (main_task)
15374 Base Priority: 15
15375 State: Runnable
15376 @end smallexample
15377
15378 @item task
15379 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15380 @cindex current Ada task ID
15381 This command prints the ID of the current task.
15382
15383 @smallexample
15384 @iftex
15385 @leftskip=0.5cm
15386 @end iftex
15387 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15388 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15389 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15390 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15391 (@value{GDBP}) task
15392 [Current task is 2]
15393 @end smallexample
15394
15395 @item task @var{taskno}
15396 @cindex Ada task switching
15397 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15398 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15399 from the current task to the given task.
15400
15401 @smallexample
15402 @iftex
15403 @leftskip=0.5cm
15404 @end iftex
15405 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15406 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15407 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15408 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15409 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15410 [Switching to task 1]
15411 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15412 (@value{GDBP}) bt
15413 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15414 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15415 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15416 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15417 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15418 @end smallexample
15419
15420 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15421 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15422 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15423 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15424 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15425 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15426 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15427 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15428 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15429
15430 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15431 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15432 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15433 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15434 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15435
15436 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15437 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15438 program.
15439
15440 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15441 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15442 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15443
15444 For example,
15445
15446 @smallexample
15447 @iftex
15448 @leftskip=0.5cm
15449 @end iftex
15450 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15451 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15452 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15453 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15454 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15455 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15456 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15457 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15458 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15459 Continuing.
15460 task # 1 running
15461 task # 2 running
15462
15463 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15464 15 flush;
15465 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15466 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15467 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15468 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15469 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15470 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15471 @end smallexample
15472 @end table
15473
15474 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15475 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15476 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15477
15478 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15479 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15480 the platform being used.
15481 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15482 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15483 as usual.
15484
15485 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15486 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15487 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15488 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15489 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15490 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15491
15492 @node Ravenscar Profile
15493 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15494 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15495
15496 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15497 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15498 requirements.
15499
15500 @table @code
15501 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15502 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15503 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15504 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15505 Profile. This is the default.
15506
15507 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15508 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15509 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15510 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15511 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15512 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15513 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15514
15515 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15516 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15517 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15518 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15519
15520 @end table
15521
15522 @node Ada Glitches
15523 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15524 @cindex Ada, problems
15525
15526 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15527 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15528 @value{GDBN},
15529 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15530 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15531
15532 @itemize @bullet
15533 @item
15534 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15535 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15536
15537 @item
15538 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15539 argument lists are treated as positional).
15540
15541 @item
15542 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15543
15544 @item
15545 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15546 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15547 the host machine.
15548
15549 @item
15550 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15551 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15552 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15553 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15554 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15555 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15556 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15557 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15558 you can usually resolve the confusion
15559 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15560 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15561 @end itemize
15562
15563 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15564 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15565 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15566 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15567 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15568 enabled.
15569
15570 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15571 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15572 @table @code
15573
15574 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15575 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15576 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15577 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15578 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15579 This is the default.
15580
15581 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15582 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15583 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15584 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15585 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15586 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15587 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15588
15589 @end table
15590
15591 @node Unsupported Languages
15592 @section Unsupported Languages
15593
15594 @cindex unsupported languages
15595 @cindex minimal language
15596 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15597 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15598 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15599 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15600 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15601 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15602
15603 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15604 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15605 language.
15606
15607 @node Symbols
15608 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15609
15610 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15611 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15612 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15613 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15614 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15615 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15616 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15617
15618 @cindex symbol names
15619 @cindex names of symbols
15620 @cindex quoting names
15621 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15622 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15623 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15624 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15625 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15626 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15627 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15628 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15629
15630 @smallexample
15631 p 'foo.c'::x
15632 @end smallexample
15633
15634 @noindent
15635 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15636
15637 @table @code
15638 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15639 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15640 @kindex set case-sensitive
15641 @item set case-sensitive on
15642 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15643 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15644 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15645 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15646 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15647 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15648 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15649 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15650 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15651 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15652 case-insensitive matches.
15653
15654 @kindex show case-sensitive
15655 @item show case-sensitive
15656 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15657 lookups.
15658
15659 @kindex set print type methods
15660 @item set print type methods
15661 @itemx set print type methods on
15662 @itemx set print type methods off
15663 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15664 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15665 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15666 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15667 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15668 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15669
15670 @kindex show print type methods
15671 @item show print type methods
15672 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15673 classes.
15674
15675 @kindex set print type typedefs
15676 @item set print type typedefs
15677 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15678 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15679
15680 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15681 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15682 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15683 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15684 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15685 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15686 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15687 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15688 types.
15689
15690 @kindex show print type typedefs
15691 @item show print type typedefs
15692 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15693 printing classes.
15694
15695 @kindex info address
15696 @cindex address of a symbol
15697 @item info address @var{symbol}
15698 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15699 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15700 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15701 is always stored.
15702
15703 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15704 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15705 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15706
15707 @kindex info symbol
15708 @cindex symbol from address
15709 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15710 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15711 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15712 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15713 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15714
15715 @smallexample
15716 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15717 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15718 @end smallexample
15719
15720 @noindent
15721 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15722 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15723
15724 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15725 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15726
15727 @smallexample
15728 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15729 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15730 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15731 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15732 @end smallexample
15733
15734 @kindex whatis
15735 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15736 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15737 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15738 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15739
15740 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15741 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15742 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15743
15744 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15745 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15746 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15747 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15748 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15749 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15750 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15751 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15752 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15753
15754 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15755 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15756 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15757 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15758 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15759 unroll it.
15760
15761 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15762 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15763 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15764
15765 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15766 Available flags are:
15767
15768 @table @code
15769 @item r
15770 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15771 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15772 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15773
15774 @item m
15775 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15776
15777 @item M
15778 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15779 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15780
15781 @item t
15782 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15783 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15784 names are substituted when printing other types.
15785
15786 @item T
15787 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15788 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15789 @end table
15790
15791 @kindex ptype
15792 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15793 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15794 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15795 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15796
15797 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15798 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15799 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15800 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15801 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15802 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15803 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15804 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15805
15806 For example, for this variable declaration:
15807
15808 @smallexample
15809 typedef double real_t;
15810 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15811 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15812 complex_t var;
15813 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15814 @end smallexample
15815
15816 @noindent
15817 the two commands give this output:
15818
15819 @smallexample
15820 @group
15821 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15822 type = complex_t
15823 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15824 type = struct complex @{
15825 real_t real;
15826 double imag;
15827 @}
15828 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15829 type = struct complex
15830 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15831 type = struct complex
15832 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15833 type = struct complex @{
15834 real_t real;
15835 double imag;
15836 @}
15837 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15838 type = real_t *
15839 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15840 type = double *
15841 @end group
15842 @end smallexample
15843
15844 @noindent
15845 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15846 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15847
15848 @cindex incomplete type
15849 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15850 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15851 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15852 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15853 given these declarations:
15854
15855 @smallexample
15856 struct foo;
15857 struct foo *fooptr;
15858 @end smallexample
15859
15860 @noindent
15861 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15862
15863 @smallexample
15864 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15865 $1 = <incomplete type>
15866 @end smallexample
15867
15868 @noindent
15869 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15870 completely specified.
15871
15872 @kindex info types
15873 @item info types @var{regexp}
15874 @itemx info types
15875 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15876 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15877 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15878 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15879 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15880 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15881 name is @code{value}.
15882
15883 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15884 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15885 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15886
15887 @kindex info type-printers
15888 @item info type-printers
15889 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15890 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15891 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15892 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15893 type printers.
15894
15895 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15896
15897 @kindex enable type-printer
15898 @kindex disable type-printer
15899 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15900 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15901 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15902
15903 @kindex info scope
15904 @cindex local variables
15905 @item info scope @var{location}
15906 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15907 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15908 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15909 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15910 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15911
15912 @smallexample
15913 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15914 Scope for command_line_handler:
15915 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15916 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15917 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15918 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15919 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15920 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15921 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15922 @end smallexample
15923
15924 @noindent
15925 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15926 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15927 collect}.
15928
15929 @kindex info source
15930 @item info source
15931 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15932 the function containing the current point of execution:
15933 @itemize @bullet
15934 @item
15935 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15936 @item
15937 the directory it was compiled in,
15938 @item
15939 its length, in lines,
15940 @item
15941 which programming language it is written in,
15942 @item
15943 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15944 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15945 @item
15946 whether the debugging information includes information about
15947 preprocessor macros.
15948 @end itemize
15949
15950
15951 @kindex info sources
15952 @item info sources
15953 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15954 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15955 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15956
15957 @kindex info functions
15958 @item info functions
15959 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15960
15961 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15962 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15963 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15964 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15965 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15966 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15967 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15968 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15969
15970 @kindex info variables
15971 @item info variables
15972 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15973 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15974
15975 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15976 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15977 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15978 @var{regexp}.
15979
15980 @kindex info classes
15981 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15982 @item info classes
15983 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15984 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15985 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15986 expression.
15987
15988 @kindex info selectors
15989 @item info selectors
15990 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15991 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15992 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15993 expression.
15994
15995 @ignore
15996 This was never implemented.
15997 @kindex info methods
15998 @item info methods
15999 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16000 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16001 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16002 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16003 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16004 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16005 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16006 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16007 @end ignore
16008
16009 @cindex opaque data types
16010 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16011 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
16012 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16013 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16014 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16015 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16016 another source file. The default is on.
16017
16018 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16019 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16020
16021 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
16022 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16023 is printed as follows:
16024 @smallexample
16025 @{<no data fields>@}
16026 @end smallexample
16027
16028 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16029 @item show opaque-type-resolution
16030 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16031
16032 @kindex maint print symbols
16033 @cindex symbol dump
16034 @kindex maint print psymbols
16035 @cindex partial symbol dump
16036 @kindex maint print msymbols
16037 @cindex minimal symbol dump
16038 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16039 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16040 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16041 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16042 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16043 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16044 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16045 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16046 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16047 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16048 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16049 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16050 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16051 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16052 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16053 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16054 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16055
16056 @kindex maint info symtabs
16057 @kindex maint info psymtabs
16058 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16059 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16060 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16061 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16062 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16063 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16064
16065 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16066 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16067 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16068 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16069 structure in more detail. For example:
16070
16071 @smallexample
16072 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16073 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16074 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16075 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16076 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16077 readin no
16078 fullname (null)
16079 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16080 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16081 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16082 dependencies (none)
16083 @}
16084 @}
16085 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16086 (@value{GDBP})
16087 @end smallexample
16088 @noindent
16089 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16090 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16091 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16092 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16093 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16094
16095 @smallexample
16096 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16097 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16098 line 1574.
16099 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16100 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16101 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16102 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16103 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16104 dirname (null)
16105 fullname (null)
16106 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16107 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16108 debugformat DWARF 2
16109 @}
16110 @}
16111 (@value{GDBP})
16112 @end smallexample
16113 @end table
16114
16115
16116 @node Altering
16117 @chapter Altering Execution
16118
16119 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16120 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16121 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16122 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16123 program.
16124
16125 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16126 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16127 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16128
16129 @menu
16130 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16131 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16132 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16133 * Returning:: Returning from a function
16134 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16135 * Patching:: Patching your program
16136 @end menu
16137
16138 @node Assignment
16139 @section Assignment to Variables
16140
16141 @cindex assignment
16142 @cindex setting variables
16143 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16144 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16145
16146 @smallexample
16147 print x=4
16148 @end smallexample
16149
16150 @noindent
16151 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16152 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16153 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16154 information on operators in supported languages.
16155
16156 @kindex set variable
16157 @cindex variables, setting
16158 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16159 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16160 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16161 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16162 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16163
16164 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16165 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16166 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16167 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16168 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16169 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16170 command @code{set width}:
16171
16172 @smallexample
16173 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16174 type = double
16175 (@value{GDBP}) p width
16176 $4 = 13
16177 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16178 Invalid syntax in expression.
16179 @end smallexample
16180
16181 @noindent
16182 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16183 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16184
16185 @smallexample
16186 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16187 @end smallexample
16188
16189 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16190 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16191 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16192 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16193 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16194 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16195
16196 @smallexample
16197 @group
16198 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16199 type = double
16200 (@value{GDBP}) p g
16201 $1 = 1
16202 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16203 (@value{GDBP}) p g
16204 $2 = 1
16205 (@value{GDBP}) r
16206 The program being debugged has been started already.
16207 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16208 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16209 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16210 Invalid bfd target.
16211 (@value{GDBP}) show g
16212 The current BFD target is "=4".
16213 @end group
16214 @end smallexample
16215
16216 @noindent
16217 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16218 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16219 @code{g}, use
16220
16221 @smallexample
16222 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16223 @end smallexample
16224
16225 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16226 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16227 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16228 same length or shorter.
16229 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16230 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16231
16232 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16233 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16234 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16235 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16236 and representation in memory), and
16237
16238 @smallexample
16239 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16240 @end smallexample
16241
16242 @noindent
16243 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16244
16245 @node Jumping
16246 @section Continuing at a Different Address
16247
16248 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16249 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16250 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16251
16252 @table @code
16253 @kindex jump
16254 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16255 @item jump @var{linespec}
16256 @itemx j @var{linespec}
16257 @itemx jump @var{location}
16258 @itemx j @var{location}
16259 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16260 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16261 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16262 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16263 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16264 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16265
16266 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16267 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16268 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16269 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16270 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16271 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16272 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16273 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16274 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16275 @end table
16276
16277 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16278 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16279 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16280 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16281 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16282 example,
16283
16284 @smallexample
16285 set $pc = 0x485
16286 @end smallexample
16287
16288 @noindent
16289 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16290 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16291 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16292
16293 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16294 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16295 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16296 detail.
16297
16298 @c @group
16299 @node Signaling
16300 @section Giving your Program a Signal
16301 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
16302
16303 @table @code
16304 @kindex signal
16305 @item signal @var{signal}
16306 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16307 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16308 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16309 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16310
16311 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16312 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16313 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16314 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16315 signal.
16316
16317 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16318 after executing the command.
16319 @end table
16320 @c @end group
16321
16322 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16323 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16324 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16325 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16326 passes the signal directly to your program.
16327
16328
16329 @node Returning
16330 @section Returning from a Function
16331
16332 @table @code
16333 @cindex returning from a function
16334 @kindex return
16335 @item return
16336 @itemx return @var{expression}
16337 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16338 command. If you give an
16339 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16340 value.
16341 @end table
16342
16343 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16344 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16345 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16346 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16347
16348 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16349 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16350 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16351 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16352 of functions.
16353
16354 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16355 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16356 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16357 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16358 selected stack frame returns naturally.
16359
16360 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16361 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16362 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16363 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16364 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16365 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16366 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16367 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16368 assignment into the right register(s).
16369
16370 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16371 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16372 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16373 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16374 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16375 into a @code{long long int}:
16376
16377 @smallexample
16378 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
16379 29 return 31;
16380 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16381 Make func return now? (y or n) y
16382 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
16383 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16384 (@value{GDBP})
16385 @end smallexample
16386
16387 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16388 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16389 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16390 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16391 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16392 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16393 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16394 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16395
16396 @smallexample
16397 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16398 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16399 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16400 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16401 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16402 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16403 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16404 (@value{GDBP})
16405 @end smallexample
16406
16407 @node Calling
16408 @section Calling Program Functions
16409
16410 @table @code
16411 @cindex calling functions
16412 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16413 @item print @var{expr}
16414 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16415 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16416 debugged.
16417
16418 @kindex call
16419 @item call @var{expr}
16420 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16421 returned values.
16422
16423 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16424 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16425 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16426 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16427 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16428 value history.
16429 @end table
16430
16431 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16432 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16433 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16434 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16435
16436 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16437 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16438 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16439 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16440 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16441 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16442 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16443 in that case is controlled by the
16444 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16445
16446 @table @code
16447 @item set unwindonsignal
16448 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16449 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16450 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16451 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16452 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16453 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16454 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16455 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16456 received.
16457
16458 @item show unwindonsignal
16459 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16460 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16461 @value{GDBN}.
16462
16463 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16464 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16465 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16466 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16467 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16468 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16469 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16470 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16471 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16472 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16473
16474 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16475 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16476 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16477 @value{GDBN}.
16478
16479 @end table
16480
16481 @cindex weak alias functions
16482 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16483 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16484 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16485 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16486 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16487 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16488 function instead.
16489
16490 @node Patching
16491 @section Patching Programs
16492
16493 @cindex patching binaries
16494 @cindex writing into executables
16495 @cindex writing into corefiles
16496
16497 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16498 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16499 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16500 patching your program's binary.
16501
16502 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16503 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16504 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16505 repairs.
16506
16507 @table @code
16508 @kindex set write
16509 @item set write on
16510 @itemx set write off
16511 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16512 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16513 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16514
16515 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16516 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16517 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16518
16519 @item show write
16520 @kindex show write
16521 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16522 as well as reading.
16523 @end table
16524
16525 @node GDB Files
16526 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16527
16528 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16529 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16530 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16531 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16532
16533 @menu
16534 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16535 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16536 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16537 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16538 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16539 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16540 @end menu
16541
16542 @node Files
16543 @section Commands to Specify Files
16544
16545 @cindex symbol table
16546 @cindex core dump file
16547
16548 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16549 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16550 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16551 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16552
16553 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16554 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16555 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16556 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16557 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16558 new files are useful.
16559
16560 @table @code
16561 @cindex executable file
16562 @kindex file
16563 @item file @var{filename}
16564 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16565 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16566 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16567 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16568 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16569 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16570 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16571 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16572
16573 @cindex unlinked object files
16574 @cindex patching object files
16575 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16576 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16577 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16578 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16579 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16580 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16581 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16582 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16583
16584 @item file
16585 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16586 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16587
16588 @kindex exec-file
16589 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16590 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16591 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16592 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16593 discard information on the executable file.
16594
16595 @kindex symbol-file
16596 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16597 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16598 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16599 table and program to run from the same file.
16600
16601 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16602 program's symbol table.
16603
16604 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16605 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16606 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16607 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16608 @value{GDBN}.
16609
16610 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16611 executing it once.
16612
16613 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16614 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16615 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16616 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16617 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16618 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16619 optimized code.
16620
16621 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16622 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16623 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16624 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16625 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16626
16627 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16628 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16629 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16630 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16631 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16632 Warnings and Messages}.)
16633
16634 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16635 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16636 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16637 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16638 in stabs format.
16639
16640 @kindex readnow
16641 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16642 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16643 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16644 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16645 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16646 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16647 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16648 entire symbol table available.
16649
16650 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16651 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16652 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16653 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16654 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16655 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16656 @c files.
16657
16658 @kindex core-file
16659 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16660 @itemx core
16661 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16662 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16663 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16664 executable file itself for other parts.
16665
16666 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16667 to be used.
16668
16669 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16670 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16671 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16672 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16673 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16674
16675 @kindex add-symbol-file
16676 @cindex dynamic linking
16677 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16678 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16679 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16680 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16681 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16682 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16683 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16684 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16685 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16686 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16687 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16688 @var{address} as an expression.
16689
16690 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16691 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16692 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16693 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16694 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16695
16696 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16697 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16698 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16699 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16700 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16701 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16702 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16703 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16704 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16705
16706 @itemize @bullet
16707 @item
16708 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16709 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16710 @item
16711 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16712 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16713 @item
16714 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16715 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16716 @end itemize
16717
16718 @noindent
16719 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16720 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16721 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16722 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16723 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16724 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16725 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16726 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16727 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16728 way.
16729
16730 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16731
16732 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16733 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16734 @cindex load symbols from memory
16735 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16736 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16737 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16738 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16739 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16740 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16741 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16742 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16743 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16744
16745 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16746 @kindex assf
16747 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16748 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16749 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16750 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16751 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16752 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16753 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16754 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16755 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16756 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16757
16758 @kindex section
16759 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16760 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16761 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16762 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16763 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16764 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16765 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16766 their addresses.
16767
16768 @kindex info files
16769 @kindex info target
16770 @item info files
16771 @itemx info target
16772 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16773 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16774 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16775 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16776 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16777 current ones.
16778
16779 @kindex maint info sections
16780 @item maint info sections
16781 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16782 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16783 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16784 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16785 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16786 may be arbitrarily combined):
16787
16788 @table @code
16789 @item ALLOBJ
16790 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16791 @item @var{sections}
16792 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16793 @item @var{section-flags}
16794 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16795 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16796 @table @code
16797 @item ALLOC
16798 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16799 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16800 @item LOAD
16801 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16802 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16803 @item RELOC
16804 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16805 @item READONLY
16806 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16807 @item CODE
16808 Section contains executable code only.
16809 @item DATA
16810 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16811 @item ROM
16812 Section will reside in ROM.
16813 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16814 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16815 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16816 Section is not empty.
16817 @item NEVER_LOAD
16818 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16819 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16820 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16821 COFF shared library information.
16822 @item IS_COMMON
16823 Section contains common symbols.
16824 @end table
16825 @end table
16826 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16827 @cindex read-only sections
16828 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16829 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16830 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16831 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16832 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16833 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16834 enhancement to debugging performance.
16835
16836 The default is off.
16837
16838 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16839 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16840 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16841 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16842
16843 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16844 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16845 @end table
16846
16847 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16848 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16849 name and remembers it that way.
16850
16851 @cindex shared libraries
16852 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16853 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16854 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16855
16856 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16857 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16858
16859 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16860 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16861 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16862 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16863 debugging a core file).
16864
16865 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16866 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16867
16868 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16869 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16870 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16871
16872 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16873 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16874 particularly large or there are many of them.
16875
16876 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16877 commands:
16878
16879 @table @code
16880 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16881 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16882 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16883 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16884 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16885 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16886 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16887 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16888
16889 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16890 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16891 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16892 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16893 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16894 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16895 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16896 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16897 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16898
16899 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16900 @item show auto-solib-add
16901 Display the current autoloading mode.
16902 @end table
16903
16904 @cindex load shared library
16905 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16906 command:
16907
16908 @table @code
16909 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16910 @kindex info share
16911 @item info share @var{regex}
16912 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16913 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16914 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16915 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16916
16917 @kindex sharedlibrary
16918 @kindex share
16919 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16920 @itemx share @var{regex}
16921 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16922 Unix regular expression.
16923 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16924 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16925 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16926 loaded.
16927
16928 @item nosharedlibrary
16929 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16930 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16931 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16932 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16933 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16934 discarded.
16935 @end table
16936
16937 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16938 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16939 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16940 Catchpoints}).
16941
16942 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16943 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16944 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16945 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16946
16947 @table @code
16948 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16949 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16950 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16951 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16952 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16953 shared library.
16954
16955 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16956 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16957 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16958 library events happen.
16959 @end table
16960
16961 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16962 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16963 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16964 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16965 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16966 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16967 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16968 not.
16969
16970 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16971 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16972 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16973 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16974 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16975
16976 @table @code
16977 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16978 @cindex system root, alternate
16979 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16980 @kindex set sysroot
16981 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16982 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16983 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16984 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16985 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16986 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16987 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16988 under @var{path}.
16989
16990 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16991 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16992 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16993 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16994 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16995 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16996 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16997 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16998 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16999
17000 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17001 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17002 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17003 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17004 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17005
17006 @smallexample
17007 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17008 @end smallexample
17009
17010 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17011 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17012 system:
17013
17014 @smallexample
17015 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17016 @end smallexample
17017
17018 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17019 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17020 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17021 colons:
17022
17023 @smallexample
17024 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17025 @end smallexample
17026
17027 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17028 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17029 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17030 @samp{z}):
17031
17032 @smallexample
17033 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17034 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17035 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17036 @end smallexample
17037
17038 @noindent
17039 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17040 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17041 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17042
17043 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17044 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17045
17046 @smallexample
17047 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17048 @end smallexample
17049
17050 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17051 if you don't want or need to.
17052
17053 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17054 sysroot}.
17055
17056 @cindex default system root
17057 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17058 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17059 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17060 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17061 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17062 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17063 location.
17064
17065 @kindex show sysroot
17066 @item show sysroot
17067 Display the current shared library prefix.
17068
17069 @kindex set solib-search-path
17070 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17071 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17072 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17073 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17074 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17075 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17076 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17077 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17078 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17079 of shared library symbols.
17080
17081 @kindex show solib-search-path
17082 @item show solib-search-path
17083 Display the current shared library search path.
17084
17085 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17086 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17087 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
17088 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17089 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17090
17091 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17092 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17093 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17094 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17095 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17096 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17097 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17098 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17099 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17100 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17101 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17102 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17103 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17104 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17105 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17106 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17107 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17108 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17109 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17110 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17111 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17112 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17113
17114 @table @code
17115 @item unix
17116 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17117 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17118 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17119 the forward slash.
17120
17121 @item dos-based
17122 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17123 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17124 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17125 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17126 considered directory separators.
17127
17128 @item auto
17129 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17130 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17131 This is the default.
17132 @end table
17133 @end table
17134
17135 @cindex file name canonicalization
17136 @cindex base name differences
17137 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17138 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17139 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17140 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17141 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17142 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17143 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17144 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17145 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17146 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17147 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17148 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17149 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17150 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17151 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17152
17153 @table @code
17154 @item set basenames-may-differ
17155 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
17156 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17157
17158 @item show basenames-may-differ
17159 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
17160 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17161 @end table
17162
17163 @node Separate Debug Files
17164 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17165 @cindex separate debugging information files
17166 @cindex debugging information in separate files
17167 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17168 @cindex debugging information directory, global
17169 @cindex global debugging information directories
17170 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17171 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17172
17173 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17174 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17175 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17176 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17177 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17178 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17179 install only when they need to debug a problem.
17180
17181 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17182 file:
17183
17184 @itemize @bullet
17185 @item
17186 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17187 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17188 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17189 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17190 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17191 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17192 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17193 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17194
17195 @item
17196 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17197 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17198 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17199 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17200 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17201 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17202 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17203 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17204 below.
17205 @end itemize
17206
17207 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17208 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17209
17210 @itemize @bullet
17211 @item
17212 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17213 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17214 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17215 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17216 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17217
17218 @item
17219 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17220 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17221 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17222 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17223 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17224 hex characters, not 10.)
17225 @end itemize
17226
17227 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17228 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17229 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17230 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17231 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17232 debug information files, in the indicated order:
17233
17234 @itemize @minus
17235 @item
17236 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17237 @item
17238 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17239 @item
17240 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17241 @item
17242 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17243 @end itemize
17244
17245 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
17246 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17247 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17248 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17249 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
17250
17251 @table @code
17252
17253 @kindex set debug-file-directory
17254 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17255 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17256 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17257 concatenating them by a path separator.
17258
17259 @kindex show debug-file-directory
17260 @item show debug-file-directory
17261 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17262 information files.
17263
17264 @end table
17265
17266 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17267 @cindex debug link sections
17268 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17269 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17270
17271 @itemize
17272 @item
17273 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17274 a zero byte,
17275 @item
17276 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17277 boundary within the section, and
17278 @item
17279 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17280 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17281 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17282 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17283 @end itemize
17284
17285 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17286 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17287 described above.
17288
17289 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17290 @cindex build ID sections
17291 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17292 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17293 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17294 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17295 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17296 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17297 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17298 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17299 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17300
17301 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17302 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17303 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17304 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17305 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17306 in an ordinary executable.
17307
17308 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17309 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17310 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17311 following commands:
17312
17313 @smallexample
17314 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17315 @kbd{strip -g foo}
17316 @end smallexample
17317
17318 @noindent
17319 These commands remove the debugging
17320 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17321 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17322 two files:
17323
17324 @itemize @bullet
17325 @item
17326 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17327 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17328
17329 @smallexample
17330 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17331 @end smallexample
17332
17333 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17334 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17335 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17336 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17337
17338 @item
17339 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17340 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17341 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17342 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17343 @end itemize
17344
17345 @noindent
17346
17347 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
17348 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17349 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17350
17351 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17352 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17353 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17354 @c different ways!
17355 @ifhtml
17356 @display
17357 @html
17358 <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>
17359 + <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
17360 @end html
17361 @end display
17362 @end ifhtml
17363 @ifnothtml
17364 @display
17365 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17366 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17367 @end display
17368 @end ifnothtml
17369
17370 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17371 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17372 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17373 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17374 CRC.
17375
17376 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17377 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17378 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17379 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17380 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17381 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17382
17383 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17384 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17385 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17386 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17387 @code{0xffffffff}.
17388
17389 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17390 @smallexample
17391 unsigned long
17392 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17393 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17394 @{
17395 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17396 @{
17397 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17398 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17399 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17400 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17401 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17402 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17403 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17404 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17405 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17406 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17407 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17408 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17409 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17410 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17411 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17412 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17413 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17414 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17415 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17416 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17417 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17418 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17419 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17420 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17421 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17422 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17423 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17424 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17425 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17426 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17427 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17428 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17429 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17430 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17431 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17432 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17433 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17434 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17435 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17436 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17437 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17438 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17439 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17440 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17441 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17442 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17443 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17444 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17445 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17446 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17447 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17448 0x2d02ef8d
17449 @};
17450 unsigned char *end;
17451
17452 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17453 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17454 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17455 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17456 @}
17457 @end smallexample
17458
17459 @noindent
17460 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17461
17462 @node MiniDebugInfo
17463 @section Debugging information in a special section
17464 @cindex separate debug sections
17465 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17466
17467 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17468 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17469 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17470 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17471
17472 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17473 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17474 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17475 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17476 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17477 debugging information might be included in the section.
17478
17479 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17480 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17481 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17482
17483 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17484 standard utilities:
17485
17486 @smallexample
17487 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17488 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17489 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17490 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17491
17492 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17493 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17494 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17495 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17496 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17497 | sort > funcsyms
17498
17499 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17500 # table.
17501 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17502
17503 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17504 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17505
17506 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17507 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17508 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17509 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17510
17511 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17512 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17513
17514 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17515 # original binary.
17516 xz mini_debuginfo
17517 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17518 @end smallexample
17519
17520 @node Index Files
17521 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17522 @cindex index files
17523 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17524
17525 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17526 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17527 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17528 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17529 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17530 startup.
17531
17532 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17533 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17534 using @command{objcopy}.
17535
17536 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17537
17538 @table @code
17539 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17540 @kindex save gdb-index
17541 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17542 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17543 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17544 @var{directory}.
17545 @end table
17546
17547 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17548 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17549
17550 @smallexample
17551 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17552 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17553 @end smallexample
17554
17555 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17556 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17557 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17558 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17559 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17560 The default is @code{off}.
17561 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17562 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17563
17564 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17565 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17566
17567 @smallexample
17568 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17569 @end smallexample
17570
17571 Instead you must do, for example,
17572
17573 @smallexample
17574 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17575 @end smallexample
17576
17577 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17578 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17579 currently work for programs using Ada.
17580
17581 @node Symbol Errors
17582 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17583
17584 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17585 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17586 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17587 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17588 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17589 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17590 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17591 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17592 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17593 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17594 Messages}).
17595
17596 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17597
17598 @table @code
17599 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17600
17601 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17602 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17603 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17604 in its outer scope blocks.
17605
17606 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17607 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17608 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17609 function.
17610
17611 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17612
17613 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17614 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17615 do so.
17616
17617 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17618 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17619 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17620 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17621 Messages}.)
17622
17623 @item bad block start address patched
17624
17625 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17626 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17627 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17628
17629 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17630 starting on the previous source line.
17631
17632 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17633
17634 @cindex foo
17635 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17636 larger than the size of the string table.
17637
17638 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17639 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17640 with this name.
17641
17642 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17643
17644 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17645 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17646 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17647
17648 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17649 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17650 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17651 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17652 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17653 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17654
17655 @item stub type has NULL name
17656
17657 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17658
17659 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17660 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17661 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17662 it.
17663
17664 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17665
17666 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17667
17668 @end table
17669
17670 @node Data Files
17671 @section GDB Data Files
17672
17673 @cindex prefix for data files
17674 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17675 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17676
17677 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17678 is currently using.
17679
17680 @table @code
17681 @kindex set data-directory
17682 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17683 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17684 to @var{directory}.
17685
17686 @kindex show data-directory
17687 @item show data-directory
17688 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17689 @end table
17690
17691 @cindex default data directory
17692 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17693 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17694 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17695 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17696 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17697 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17698 location.
17699
17700 The data directory may also be specified with the
17701 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17702 @xref{Mode Options}.
17703
17704 @node Targets
17705 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17706
17707 @cindex debugging target
17708 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17709
17710 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17711 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17712 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17713 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17714 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17715 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17716 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17717 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17718
17719 @cindex target architecture
17720 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17721 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17722 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17723 command.
17724
17725 @table @code
17726 @kindex set architecture
17727 @kindex show architecture
17728 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17729 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17730 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17731 supported architectures.
17732
17733 @item show architecture
17734 Show the current target architecture.
17735
17736 @item set processor
17737 @itemx processor
17738 @kindex set processor
17739 @kindex show processor
17740 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17741 and @code{show architecture}.
17742 @end table
17743
17744 @menu
17745 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17746 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17747 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17748 @end menu
17749
17750 @node Active Targets
17751 @section Active Targets
17752
17753 @cindex stacking targets
17754 @cindex active targets
17755 @cindex multiple targets
17756
17757 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17758 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17759 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17760 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17761 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17762 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17763 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17764 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17765 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17766
17767 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17768 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17769 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17770 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17771
17772 @node Target Commands
17773 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17774
17775 @table @code
17776 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17777 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17778 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17779 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17780 protocol of the target machine.
17781
17782 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17783 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17784 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17785
17786 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17787 after executing the command.
17788
17789 @kindex help target
17790 @item help target
17791 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17792 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17793 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17794
17795 @item help target @var{name}
17796 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17797 select it.
17798
17799 @kindex set gnutarget
17800 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17801 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17802 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17803 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17804 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17805 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17806
17807 @quotation
17808 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17809 you must know the actual BFD name.
17810 @end quotation
17811
17812 @noindent
17813 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17814
17815 @kindex show gnutarget
17816 @item show gnutarget
17817 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17818 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17819 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17820 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17821 @end table
17822
17823 @cindex common targets
17824 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17825 configuration):
17826
17827 @table @code
17828 @kindex target
17829 @item target exec @var{program}
17830 @cindex executable file target
17831 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17832 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17833
17834 @item target core @var{filename}
17835 @cindex core dump file target
17836 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17837 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17838
17839 @item target remote @var{medium}
17840 @cindex remote target
17841 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17842 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17843 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17844
17845 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17846 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17847
17848 @smallexample
17849 target remote /dev/ttya
17850 @end smallexample
17851
17852 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17853 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17854 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17855 clobbered by the download.
17856
17857 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17858 @cindex built-in simulator target
17859 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17860 In general,
17861 @smallexample
17862 target sim
17863 load
17864 run
17865 @end smallexample
17866 @noindent
17867 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17868 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17869 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17870 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17871 Processors}.
17872
17873 @end table
17874
17875 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17876 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17877
17878 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17879 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17880 various aspects of this process.
17881
17882 @table @code
17883
17884 @item set hash
17885 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17886 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17887 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17888 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17889 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17890 monitor.
17891
17892 @item show hash
17893 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17894 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17895
17896 @item set debug monitor
17897 @kindex set debug monitor
17898 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17899 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17900 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17901
17902 @item show debug monitor
17903 @kindex show debug monitor
17904 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17905 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17906 @end table
17907
17908 @table @code
17909
17910 @kindex load @var{filename}
17911 @item load @var{filename}
17912 @anchor{load}
17913 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17914 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17915 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17916 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17917 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17918 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17919
17920 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17921 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17922 target is @dots{}}''
17923
17924 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17925 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17926 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17927 specifies a fixed address.
17928 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17929
17930 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17931 load programs into flash memory.
17932
17933 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17934 @end table
17935
17936 @node Byte Order
17937 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17938
17939 @cindex choosing target byte order
17940 @cindex target byte order
17941
17942 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17943 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17944 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17945 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17946 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17947 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17948
17949 @table @code
17950 @kindex set endian
17951 @item set endian big
17952 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17953
17954 @item set endian little
17955 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17956
17957 @item set endian auto
17958 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17959 executable.
17960
17961 @item show endian
17962 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17963
17964 @end table
17965
17966 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17967 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17968 target system.
17969
17970
17971 @node Remote Debugging
17972 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17973 @cindex remote debugging
17974
17975 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17976 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17977 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17978 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17979 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17980
17981 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17982 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17983 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17984 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17985 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17986 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17987
17988 Other remote targets may be available in your
17989 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17990
17991 @menu
17992 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17993 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17994 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17995 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17996 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17997 @end menu
17998
17999 @node Connecting
18000 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
18001
18002 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18003 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18004 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18005 program as the first argument.
18006
18007 @cindex @code{target remote}
18008 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18009 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18010 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18011 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18012 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18013 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18014
18015 @table @code
18016
18017 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
18018 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18019 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18020 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18021
18022 @smallexample
18023 target remote /dev/ttyb
18024 @end smallexample
18025
18026 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18027 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18028 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18029 @code{target} command.
18030
18031 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18032 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18033 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18034 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18035 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18036 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18037 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18038 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18039 target.
18040
18041 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18042 @code{manyfarms}:
18043
18044 @smallexample
18045 target remote manyfarms:2828
18046 @end smallexample
18047
18048 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18049 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18050 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18051 port 1234 on your local machine:
18052
18053 @smallexample
18054 target remote :1234
18055 @end smallexample
18056 @noindent
18057
18058 Note that the colon is still required here.
18059
18060 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18061 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18062 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18063 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18064
18065 @smallexample
18066 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18067 @end smallexample
18068
18069 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18070 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18071 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18072 cause havoc with your debugging session.
18073
18074 @item target remote | @var{command}
18075 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18076 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18077 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18078 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18079 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18080 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18081 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18082 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18083
18084 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18085 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18086 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18087
18088 @end table
18089
18090 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18091 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18092 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18093 need to use @kbd{run}.
18094
18095 @cindex interrupting remote programs
18096 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
18097 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18098 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18099 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18100 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18101 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18102
18103 @smallexample
18104 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18105 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18106 @end smallexample
18107
18108 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18109 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18110 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18111 goes back to waiting.
18112
18113 @table @code
18114 @kindex detach (remote)
18115 @item detach
18116 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18117 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18118 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18119 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18120 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18121
18122 @kindex disconnect
18123 @item disconnect
18124 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18125 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18126 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18127 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18128 another target.
18129
18130 @cindex send command to remote monitor
18131 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18132 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
18133 @kindex monitor
18134 @item monitor @var{cmd}
18135 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18136 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18137 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18138 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18139 and implement.
18140 @end table
18141
18142 @node File Transfer
18143 @section Sending files to a remote system
18144 @cindex remote target, file transfer
18145 @cindex file transfer
18146 @cindex sending files to remote systems
18147
18148 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18149 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18150 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18151 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18152 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18153 the only way to upload or download files.
18154
18155 Not all remote targets support these commands.
18156
18157 @table @code
18158 @kindex remote put
18159 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18160 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18161 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18162
18163 @kindex remote get
18164 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18165 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18166 on the host system.
18167
18168 @kindex remote delete
18169 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18170 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18171
18172 @end table
18173
18174 @node Server
18175 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18176
18177 @kindex gdbserver
18178 @cindex remote connection without stubs
18179 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18180 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18181 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18182
18183 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18184 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18185 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18186 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18187 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18188 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18189 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18190 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18191 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18192 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18193 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18194 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18195 choice for debugging.
18196
18197 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18198 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18199 protocol.
18200
18201 @quotation
18202 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18203 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18204 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18205 target system with the same privileges as the user running
18206 @code{gdbserver}.
18207 @end quotation
18208
18209 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18210 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18211 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18212
18213 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18214 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18215 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18216 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18217 system does all the symbol handling.
18218
18219 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18220 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18221 syntax is:
18222
18223 @smallexample
18224 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18225 @end smallexample
18226
18227 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18228 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18229 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18230 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18231 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18232 @file{/dev/com1}:
18233
18234 @smallexample
18235 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18236 @end smallexample
18237
18238 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18239 with it.
18240
18241 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18242
18243 @smallexample
18244 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18245 @end smallexample
18246
18247 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18248 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18249 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18250 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18251 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18252 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18253 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18254 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18255 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18256 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18257 @code{target remote} command.
18258
18259 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18260 with ssh:
18261
18262 @smallexample
18263 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18264 @end smallexample
18265
18266 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18267 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18268 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18269 You could elide it if you want to.
18270
18271 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18272 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18273 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18274 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18275
18276 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18277 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18278 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18279
18280 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18281 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18282
18283 @smallexample
18284 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18285 @end smallexample
18286
18287 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18288 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18289
18290 @pindex pidof
18291 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18292 @code{pidof} utility:
18293
18294 @smallexample
18295 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18296 @end smallexample
18297
18298 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18299 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18300 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18301
18302 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18303 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18304 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18305
18306 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18307 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18308 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18309 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18310
18311 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18312 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18313 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18314 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18315 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18316 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18317 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18318 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18319 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18320
18321 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18322 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18323 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18324 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18325 the program you want to debug.
18326
18327 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18328 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18329 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18330 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18331 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18332 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18333
18334 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18335
18336 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18337
18338 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18339 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18340 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18341 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18342 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18343 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18344 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18345 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18346
18347 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18348 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18349 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18350
18351 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18352 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18353 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18354 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18355 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18356 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18357 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18358 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18359 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18360 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18361 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18362 instance closes its port after the first connection.
18363
18364 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18365
18366 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18367 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18368 status information about the debugging process.
18369 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18370 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18371 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18372 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18373
18374 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18375 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18376 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18377 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18378 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18379
18380 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18381 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18382 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18383 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18384
18385 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18386 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18387 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18388 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18389
18390 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18391 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18392 environment:
18393
18394 @smallexample
18395 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18396 @end smallexample
18397
18398 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18399
18400 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18401
18402 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18403 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18404 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18405 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18406
18407 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18408 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18409 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18410 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18411 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18412 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18413 programs.
18414
18415 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18416 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18417 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18418 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18419 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18420 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18421 already on the target.
18422
18423 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18424 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18425 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18426
18427 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18428 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18429 Here are the available commands.
18430
18431 @table @code
18432 @item monitor help
18433 List the available monitor commands.
18434
18435 @item monitor set debug 0
18436 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18437 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18438
18439 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18440 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18441 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18442 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18443
18444 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18445 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18446 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18447 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18448 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18449 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18450
18451 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18452 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18453
18454 @item monitor exit
18455 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18456 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18457 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18458 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18459 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18460
18461 @end table
18462
18463 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18464 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18465
18466 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18467 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18468
18469 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18470 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18471 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18472 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18473 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18474 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18475 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18476 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18477 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18478 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18479 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18480 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18481
18482 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18483
18484 @table @code
18485 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18486
18487 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18488 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18489 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18490
18491 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18492
18493 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18494 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18495 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18496 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18497 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18498 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18499
18500 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18501
18502 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18503 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18504 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18505 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18506 command for that. For example:
18507
18508 @smallexample
18509 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18510 @end smallexample
18511
18512 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18513 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18514 @end table
18515
18516 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18517 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18518 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18519 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18520 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18521 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18522 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18523 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18524 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18525 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18526
18527 @smallexample
18528 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18529 @end smallexample
18530
18531 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18532
18533 @smallexample
18534 $ gdb myprogram
18535 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18536 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18537 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18538 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18539 @end smallexample
18540
18541 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18542 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18543 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18544 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18545 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18546 tracing.
18547
18548 @node Remote Configuration
18549 @section Remote Configuration
18550
18551 @kindex set remote
18552 @kindex show remote
18553 This section documents the configuration options available when
18554 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18555 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18556 system-call-allowed}.
18557
18558 @table @code
18559 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18560 @cindex address size for remote targets
18561 @cindex bits in remote address
18562 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18563 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18564 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18565 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18566
18567 @item show remoteaddresssize
18568 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18569
18570 @item set serial baud @var{n}
18571 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18572 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18573 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18574 remote targets.
18575
18576 @item show serial baud
18577 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18578
18579 @item set remotebreak
18580 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18581 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18582 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18583 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18584 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18585 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18586 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18587 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18588
18589 @item show remotebreak
18590 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18591 interrupt the remote program.
18592
18593 @item set remoteflow on
18594 @itemx set remoteflow off
18595 @kindex set remoteflow
18596 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18597 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18598
18599 @item show remoteflow
18600 @kindex show remoteflow
18601 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18602
18603 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18604 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18605 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18606 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18607 @code{ascii}.
18608
18609 @item show remotelogbase
18610 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18611 protocol.
18612
18613 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18614 @cindex record serial communications on file
18615 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18616 default is not to record at all.
18617
18618 @item show remotelogfile.
18619 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18620 serial communications.
18621
18622 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18623 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18624 @cindex remote timeout
18625 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18626 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18627
18628 @item show remotetimeout
18629 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18630 responses.
18631
18632 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18633 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18634 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18635 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18636 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18637 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18638 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18639 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18640
18641 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18642 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18643 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18644 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18645 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18646 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18647 as unlimited.
18648
18649 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18650 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18651 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18652
18653 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18654 @itemx show remote exec-file
18655 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18656 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18657 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18658 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18659 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18660 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18661
18662 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18663 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18664 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18665 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18666 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18667 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18668 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18669 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18670 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18671 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18672
18673 @item show interrupt-sequence
18674 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18675 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18676 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18677 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18678
18679 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18680 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18681 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18682 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18683 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18684 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18685
18686 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18687 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18688 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18689
18690 @kindex set tcp
18691 @kindex show tcp
18692 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18693 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18694 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18695 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18696 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18697 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18698 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18699 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18700 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18701
18702 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18703 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18704
18705 @item show tcp auto-retry
18706 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18707
18708 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18709 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18710 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18711 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18712 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18713 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18714 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18715 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18716 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18717 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18718 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18719
18720 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18721 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18722 @end table
18723
18724 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18725 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18726 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18727 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18728 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18729 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18730 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18731 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18732 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18733
18734 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18735 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18736 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18737 @value{GDBN} developers.
18738
18739 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18740 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18741 are:
18742
18743 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18744 @item Command Name
18745 @tab Remote Packet
18746 @tab Related Features
18747
18748 @item @code{fetch-register}
18749 @tab @code{p}
18750 @tab @code{info registers}
18751
18752 @item @code{set-register}
18753 @tab @code{P}
18754 @tab @code{set}
18755
18756 @item @code{binary-download}
18757 @tab @code{X}
18758 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18759
18760 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18761 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18762 @tab @code{info auxv}
18763
18764 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18765 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18766 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18767
18768 @item @code{attach}
18769 @tab @code{vAttach}
18770 @tab @code{attach}
18771
18772 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18773 @tab @code{vCont}
18774 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18775
18776 @item @code{run}
18777 @tab @code{vRun}
18778 @tab @code{run}
18779
18780 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18781 @tab @code{Z0}
18782 @tab @code{break}
18783
18784 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18785 @tab @code{Z1}
18786 @tab @code{hbreak}
18787
18788 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18789 @tab @code{Z2}
18790 @tab @code{watch}
18791
18792 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18793 @tab @code{Z3}
18794 @tab @code{rwatch}
18795
18796 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18797 @tab @code{Z4}
18798 @tab @code{awatch}
18799
18800 @item @code{target-features}
18801 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18802 @tab @code{set architecture}
18803
18804 @item @code{library-info}
18805 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18806 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18807
18808 @item @code{memory-map}
18809 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18810 @tab @code{info mem}
18811
18812 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18813 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18814 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18815
18816 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18817 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18818 @tab @code{info spu}
18819
18820 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18821 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18822 @tab @code{info spu}
18823
18824 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18825 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18826 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18827
18828 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18829 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18830 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18831
18832 @item @code{threads}
18833 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18834 @tab @code{info threads}
18835
18836 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18837 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18838 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18839
18840 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18841 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18842 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18843
18844 @item @code{search-memory}
18845 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18846 @tab @code{find}
18847
18848 @item @code{supported-packets}
18849 @tab @code{qSupported}
18850 @tab Remote communications parameters
18851
18852 @item @code{pass-signals}
18853 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18854 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18855
18856 @item @code{program-signals}
18857 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18858 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18859
18860 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18861 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18862 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18863
18864 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18865 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18866 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18867
18868 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18869 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18870 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18871
18872 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18873 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18874 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18875
18876 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18877 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18878 @tab @code{remote delete}
18879
18880 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18881 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18882 @tab Host I/O
18883
18884 @item @code{noack-packet}
18885 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18886 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18887
18888 @item @code{osdata}
18889 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18890 @tab @code{info os}
18891
18892 @item @code{query-attached}
18893 @tab @code{qAttached}
18894 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18895
18896 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18897 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18898 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18899
18900 @item @code{trace-status}
18901 @tab @code{qTStatus}
18902 @tab @code{tstatus}
18903
18904 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18905 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18906 @tab Traceframe info
18907
18908 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18909 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18910 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18911
18912 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18913 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18914 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18915
18916 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18917 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18918 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18919 @end multitable
18920
18921 @node Remote Stub
18922 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18923
18924 @cindex debugging stub, example
18925 @cindex remote stub, example
18926 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18927 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18928 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18929 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18930 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18931 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18932 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18933 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18934
18935 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18936 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18937 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18938 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18939 program, you need:
18940
18941 @enumerate
18942 @item
18943 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18944 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18945 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18946
18947 @item
18948 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18949 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18950
18951 @item
18952 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18953 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18954 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18955 documentation.
18956 @end enumerate
18957
18958 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18959 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18960 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18961
18962 @table @emph
18963 @item On the host,
18964 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18965 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18966 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18967
18968 @item On the target,
18969 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18970 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18971 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18972
18973 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18974 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18975 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18976 @end table
18977
18978 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18979 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18980 @sc{sparc} boards.
18981
18982 @cindex remote serial stub list
18983 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18984
18985 @table @code
18986
18987 @item i386-stub.c
18988 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18989 @cindex Intel
18990 @cindex i386
18991 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18992
18993 @item m68k-stub.c
18994 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18995 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18996 @cindex m680x0
18997 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18998
18999 @item sh-stub.c
19000 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19001 @cindex Renesas
19002 @cindex SH
19003 For Renesas SH architectures.
19004
19005 @item sparc-stub.c
19006 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19007 @cindex Sparc
19008 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19009
19010 @item sparcl-stub.c
19011 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19012 @cindex Fujitsu
19013 @cindex SparcLite
19014 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19015
19016 @end table
19017
19018 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19019 recently added stubs.
19020
19021 @menu
19022 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19023 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19024 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19025 @end menu
19026
19027 @node Stub Contents
19028 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19029
19030 @cindex remote serial stub
19031 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19032 subroutines:
19033
19034 @table @code
19035 @item set_debug_traps
19036 @findex set_debug_traps
19037 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19038 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19039 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19040 program's startup code.
19041
19042 @item handle_exception
19043 @findex handle_exception
19044 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19045 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19046 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19047 run when a trap is triggered.
19048
19049 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19050 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19051 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19052 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19053 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19054 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19055 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19056 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19057 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19058 machine.
19059
19060 @item breakpoint
19061 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19062 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19063 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19064 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19065 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19066 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19067 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19068 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19069 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19070 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19071 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
19072
19073 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19074 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19075 start of your debugging session.
19076 @end table
19077
19078 @node Bootstrapping
19079 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19080
19081 @cindex remote stub, support routines
19082 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19083 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19084 debugging target machine.
19085
19086 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19087 serial port.
19088
19089 @table @code
19090 @item int getDebugChar()
19091 @findex getDebugChar
19092 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19093 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19094 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19095
19096 @item void putDebugChar(int)
19097 @findex putDebugChar
19098 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19099 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19100 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19101 @end table
19102
19103 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
19104 @cindex interrupting remote targets
19105 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19106 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19107 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19108 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19109 remote system to stop.
19110
19111 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19112 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19113 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19114 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19115
19116 Other routines you need to supply are:
19117
19118 @table @code
19119 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19120 @findex exceptionHandler
19121 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19122 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19123 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19124 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19125 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19126 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
19127 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19128 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19129 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19130 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19131 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19132 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19133 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19134
19135 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19136 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19137 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19138 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19139 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19140
19141 @item void flush_i_cache()
19142 @findex flush_i_cache
19143 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19144 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19145 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19146
19147 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19148 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19149 @end table
19150
19151 @noindent
19152 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19153
19154 @table @code
19155 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19156 @findex memset
19157 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19158 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19159 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19160 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19161 @end table
19162
19163 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19164 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19165 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19166 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19167
19168
19169 @node Debug Session
19170 @subsection Putting it All Together
19171
19172 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
19173 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19174 steps.
19175
19176 @enumerate
19177 @item
19178 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19179 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19180 @display
19181 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19182 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19183 @end display
19184
19185 @item
19186 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19187 procedure is called:
19188
19189 @smallexample
19190 set_debug_traps();
19191 breakpoint();
19192 @end smallexample
19193
19194 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19195 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19196 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19197 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19198 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19199 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19200 progress.
19201
19202 @item
19203 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19204 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19205
19206 @smallexample
19207 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19208 @end smallexample
19209
19210 @noindent
19211 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19212 function in your program, that function is called when
19213 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19214 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19215 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19216
19217 @item
19218 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19219 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19220
19221 @item
19222 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19223 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19224
19225 @item
19226 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19227 @c document that. FIXME.
19228 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19229 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19230
19231 @item
19232 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19233 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19234
19235 @end enumerate
19236
19237 @node Configurations
19238 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19239
19240 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19241 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19242 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19243
19244 There are three major categories of configurations: native
19245 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19246 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19247 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19248 are quite different from each other.
19249
19250 @menu
19251 * Native::
19252 * Embedded OS::
19253 * Embedded Processors::
19254 * Architectures::
19255 @end menu
19256
19257 @node Native
19258 @section Native
19259
19260 This section describes details specific to particular native
19261 configurations.
19262
19263 @menu
19264 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
19265 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19266 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19267 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19268 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19269 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19270 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19271 @end menu
19272
19273 @node HP-UX
19274 @subsection HP-UX
19275
19276 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19277 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19278 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19279
19280
19281 @node BSD libkvm Interface
19282 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19283
19284 @cindex libkvm
19285 @cindex kernel memory image
19286 @cindex kernel crash dump
19287
19288 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19289 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19290 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19291 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19292 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19293 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19294 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19295 @code{kvm} target:
19296
19297 @smallexample
19298 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19299 @end smallexample
19300
19301 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19302 argument:
19303
19304 @smallexample
19305 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19306 @end smallexample
19307
19308 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19309 available:
19310
19311 @table @code
19312 @kindex kvm
19313 @item kvm pcb
19314 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19315
19316 @item kvm proc
19317 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19318 modern FreeBSD systems.
19319 @end table
19320
19321 @node SVR4 Process Information
19322 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
19323 @cindex /proc
19324 @cindex examine process image
19325 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19326
19327 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19328 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19329 process using file-system subroutines.
19330
19331 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19332 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19333 information about the process running your program, or about any
19334 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19335 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19336 not HP-UX, for example.
19337
19338 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19339 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19340
19341 @table @code
19342 @kindex info proc
19343 @cindex process ID
19344 @item info proc
19345 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19346 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19347 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19348 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19349 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19350 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19351 executable file's absolute file name.
19352
19353 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19354 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19355 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19356 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19357 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19358 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19359
19360 @item info proc cmdline
19361 @cindex info proc cmdline
19362 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19363 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19364
19365 @item info proc cwd
19366 @cindex info proc cwd
19367 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19368 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19369
19370 @item info proc exe
19371 @cindex info proc exe
19372 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19373 to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19374
19375 @item info proc mappings
19376 @cindex memory address space mappings
19377 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19378 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19379 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19380 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19381 memory access rights to that range.
19382
19383 @item info proc stat
19384 @itemx info proc status
19385 @cindex process detailed status information
19386 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19387 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19388 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19389 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19390 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19391 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19392 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19393
19394 @item info proc all
19395 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19396 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19397
19398 @ignore
19399 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19400 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19401 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19402 @kindex info proc times
19403 @item info proc times
19404 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19405 its children.
19406
19407 @kindex info proc id
19408 @item info proc id
19409 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19410 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19411 @end ignore
19412
19413 @item set procfs-trace
19414 @kindex set procfs-trace
19415 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19416 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19417
19418 @item show procfs-trace
19419 @kindex show procfs-trace
19420 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19421
19422 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19423 @kindex set procfs-file
19424 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19425 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19426 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19427 standard output.
19428
19429 @item show procfs-file
19430 @kindex show procfs-file
19431 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19432
19433 @item proc-trace-entry
19434 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19435 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19436 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19437 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19438 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19439 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19440 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19441 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19442 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19443
19444 @item info pidlist
19445 @kindex info pidlist
19446 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19447 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19448 processes and all the threads within each process.
19449
19450 @item info meminfo
19451 @kindex info meminfo
19452 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19453 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19454 @end table
19455
19456 @node DJGPP Native
19457 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19458 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19459 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19460 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19461
19462 @cindex DPMI
19463 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19464 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19465 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19466 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19467
19468 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19469 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19470 subsection describes those commands.
19471
19472 @table @code
19473 @kindex info dos
19474 @item info dos
19475 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19476 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19477
19478 @kindex sysinfo
19479 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19480 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19481 @item info dos sysinfo
19482 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19483 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19484 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19485
19486 @cindex GDT
19487 @cindex LDT
19488 @cindex IDT
19489 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19490 @cindex descriptor tables display
19491 @item info dos gdt
19492 @itemx info dos ldt
19493 @itemx info dos idt
19494 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19495 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19496 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19497 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19498 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19499 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19500 rights.
19501
19502 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19503 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19504 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19505 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19506 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19507
19508 @cindex garbled pointers
19509 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19510 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19511 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19512 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19513 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19514 debugged program's data segment:
19515
19516 @smallexample
19517 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19518 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19519 @end smallexample
19520
19521 @noindent
19522 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19523 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19524
19525 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19526 @item info dos pde
19527 @itemx info dos pte
19528 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19529 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19530 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19531 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19532 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19533 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19534 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19535 that is currently in use.
19536
19537 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19538 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19539 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19540 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19541 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19542 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19543 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19544
19545 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19546 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19547 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19548 controller.
19549
19550 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19551
19552 @cindex physical address from linear address
19553 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19554 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19555 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19556 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19557 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19558 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19559 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19560
19561 @smallexample
19562 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19563 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19564 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19565 @end smallexample
19566
19567 @noindent
19568 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19569 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19570 attributes of that page.
19571
19572 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19573 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19574 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19575 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19576 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19577 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19578
19579 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19580 transfer buffer:
19581
19582 @smallexample
19583 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19584 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19585 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19586 @end smallexample
19587
19588 @noindent
19589 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19590 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19591 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19592 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19593 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19594
19595 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19596 @end table
19597
19598 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19599 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19600 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19601 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19602
19603 @table @code
19604 @kindex set com1base
19605 @kindex set com1irq
19606 @kindex set com2base
19607 @kindex set com2irq
19608 @kindex set com3base
19609 @kindex set com3irq
19610 @kindex set com4base
19611 @kindex set com4irq
19612 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19613 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19614 port.
19615
19616 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19617 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19618 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19619
19620 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19621 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19622 other 3 COM ports.
19623
19624 @kindex show com1base
19625 @kindex show com1irq
19626 @kindex show com2base
19627 @kindex show com2irq
19628 @kindex show com3base
19629 @kindex show com3irq
19630 @kindex show com4base
19631 @kindex show com4irq
19632 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19633 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19634 lines used by the COM ports.
19635
19636 @item info serial
19637 @kindex info serial
19638 @cindex DOS serial port status
19639 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19640 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19641 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19642 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19643 @end table
19644
19645
19646 @node Cygwin Native
19647 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19648 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19649 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19650 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19651
19652 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19653 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19654
19655 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19656 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19657 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19658 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19659 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19660 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19661 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19662 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
19663
19664 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19665 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19666 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19667
19668 @table @code
19669 @kindex info w32
19670 @item info w32
19671 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19672 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19673
19674 @item info w32 selector
19675 This command displays information returned by
19676 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19677 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19678 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19679 Without argument, this command displays information
19680 about the six segment registers.
19681
19682 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19683 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19684 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19685 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19686
19687 @kindex info dll
19688 @item info dll
19689 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19690
19691 @kindex dll-symbols
19692 @item dll-symbols
19693 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19694 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19695
19696 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19697 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19698 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19699 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19700 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19701 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19702 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19703 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19704 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19705 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19706 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19707
19708 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19709 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19710 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19711 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19712
19713 @kindex set new-console
19714 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19715 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19716 be started in a new console on next start.
19717 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19718 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19719
19720 @kindex show new-console
19721 @item show new-console
19722 Displays whether a new console is used
19723 when the debuggee is started.
19724
19725 @kindex set new-group
19726 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19727 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19728 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19729 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19730 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
19731
19732 @kindex show new-group
19733 @item show new-group
19734 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19735
19736 @kindex set debugevents
19737 @item set debugevents
19738 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19739 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19740 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19741 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19742 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19743
19744 @kindex set debugexec
19745 @item set debugexec
19746 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19747 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19748
19749 @kindex set debugexceptions
19750 @item set debugexceptions
19751 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19752 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19753
19754 @kindex set debugmemory
19755 @item set debugmemory
19756 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19757 and writes by the debugger.
19758
19759 @kindex set shell
19760 @item set shell
19761 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19762 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19763
19764 @kindex show shell
19765 @item show shell
19766 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19767
19768 @end table
19769
19770 @menu
19771 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19772 @end menu
19773
19774 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19775 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19776 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19777 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19778
19779 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19780 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19781 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19782 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19783 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19784 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19785 ``minimal symbols''.
19786
19787 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19788 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19789 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19790 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19791 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19792 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19793 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19794 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19795 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19796 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19797
19798 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19799
19800 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19801 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19802 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19803 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19804 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19805 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19806 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19807 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19808 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19809
19810 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19811 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19812 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19813 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19814 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19815 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19816
19817 @smallexample
19818 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19819 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19820
19821 Non-debugging symbols:
19822 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19823 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19824 @end smallexample
19825
19826 @smallexample
19827 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19828 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19829
19830 Non-debugging symbols:
19831 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19832 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19833 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19834 [etc...]
19835 @end smallexample
19836
19837 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19838
19839 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19840 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19841 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19842 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19843 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19844 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19845 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19846
19847 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19848 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19849 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19850 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19851 problem:
19852
19853 @smallexample
19854 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19855 $1 = 268572168
19856 @end smallexample
19857
19858 @smallexample
19859 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19860 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19861 @end smallexample
19862
19863 And two possible solutions:
19864
19865 @smallexample
19866 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19867 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19868 @end smallexample
19869
19870 @smallexample
19871 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19872 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19873 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19874 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19875 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19876 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19877 @end smallexample
19878
19879 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19880 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19881 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19882 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19883 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19884
19885 @smallexample
19886 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19887 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19888 @end smallexample
19889
19890 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19891 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19892 safe.
19893
19894 @node Hurd Native
19895 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19896 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19897
19898 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19899 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19900
19901 @table @code
19902 @item set signals
19903 @itemx set sigs
19904 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19905 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19906 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19907 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19908 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19909 @code{signals}.
19910
19911 @item show signals
19912 @itemx show sigs
19913 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19914 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19915 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19916
19917 @item set signal-thread
19918 @itemx set sigthread
19919 @kindex set signal-thread
19920 @kindex set sigthread
19921 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19922 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19923 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19924 signal-thread}.
19925
19926 @item show signal-thread
19927 @itemx show sigthread
19928 @kindex show signal-thread
19929 @kindex show sigthread
19930 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19931 delivered a signal.
19932
19933 @item set stopped
19934 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19935 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19936 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19937 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19938
19939 @item show stopped
19940 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19941 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19942 stopped.
19943
19944 @item set exceptions
19945 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19946 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19947 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19948 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19949 trapping on.
19950
19951 @item show exceptions
19952 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19953 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19954
19955 @item set task pause
19956 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19957 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19958 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19959 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19960 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19961 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19962 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19963 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19964 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19965
19966 @item show task pause
19967 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19968 Show the current state of task suspension.
19969
19970 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19971 @cindex task suspend count
19972 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19973 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19974 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19975
19976 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19977 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19978
19979 @item set task exception-port
19980 @itemx set task excp
19981 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19982 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19983 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19984 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19985
19986 @item set noninvasive
19987 @cindex noninvasive task options
19988 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19989 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19990 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19991 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19992
19993 @item info send-rights
19994 @itemx info receive-rights
19995 @itemx info port-rights
19996 @itemx info port-sets
19997 @itemx info dead-names
19998 @itemx info ports
19999 @itemx info psets
20000 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20001 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20002 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20003 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20004 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20005 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20006 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20007 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20008 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20009
20010 @item set thread pause
20011 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20012 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20013 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20014 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20015 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20016 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20017 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20018 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20019 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20020 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20021 only the current thread.
20022
20023 @item show thread pause
20024 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20025 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20026
20027 @item set thread run
20028 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20029
20030 @item show thread run
20031 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20032
20033 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
20034 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20035 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20036 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20037 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20038 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20039 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20040
20041 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
20042 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20043 detaching.
20044
20045 @item set thread exception-port
20046 @itemx set thread excp
20047 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20048 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20049 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20050
20051 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20052 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20053 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20054 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20055
20056 @item set thread default
20057 @itemx show thread default
20058 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20059 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20060 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20061 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20062 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20063 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20064 the non-default commands.
20065 @end table
20066
20067 @node Darwin
20068 @subsection Darwin
20069 @cindex Darwin
20070
20071 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20072
20073 @table @code
20074 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
20075 @kindex set debug darwin
20076 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20077 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20078
20079 @item show debug darwin
20080 @kindex show debug darwin
20081 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20082
20083 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20084 @kindex set debug mach-o
20085 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20086 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20087 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20088 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20089 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20090 usage.
20091
20092 @item show debug mach-o
20093 @kindex show debug mach-o
20094 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20095
20096 @item set mach-exceptions on
20097 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
20098 @kindex set mach-exceptions
20099 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20100 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20101 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20102 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20103
20104 @item show mach-exceptions
20105 @kindex show mach-exceptions
20106 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20107 @end table
20108
20109
20110 @node Embedded OS
20111 @section Embedded Operating Systems
20112
20113 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20114 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20115 architectures.
20116
20117 @menu
20118 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20119 @end menu
20120
20121 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20122 various real-time operating systems.
20123
20124 @node VxWorks
20125 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20126
20127 @cindex VxWorks
20128
20129 @table @code
20130
20131 @kindex target vxworks
20132 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
20133 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
20134 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
20135
20136 @end table
20137
20138 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
20139 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
20140
20141 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
20142 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
20143 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20144 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
20145 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
20146 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
20147 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
20148
20149 @table @code
20150 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
20151 @kindex vxworks-timeout
20152 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
20153 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20154 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
20155 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
20156 of a thin network line.
20157 @end table
20158
20159 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20160 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20161 procedures.
20162
20163 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
20164 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20165 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20166 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20167 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20168 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20169 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20170 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20171 manual.
20172 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20173
20174 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20175 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20176 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20177 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20178
20179 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20180
20181 @smallexample
20182 (vxgdb)
20183 @end smallexample
20184
20185 @menu
20186 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20187 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20188 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20189 @end menu
20190
20191 @node VxWorks Connection
20192 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20193
20194 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20195 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20196
20197 @smallexample
20198 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20199 @end smallexample
20200
20201 @need 750
20202 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20203
20204 @smallexample
20205 Attaching remote machine across net...
20206 Connected to tt.
20207 @end smallexample
20208
20209 @need 1000
20210 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20211 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20212 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20213 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20214 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20215
20216 @smallexample
20217 prog.o: No such file or directory.
20218 @end smallexample
20219
20220 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20221 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20222 command again.
20223
20224 @node VxWorks Download
20225 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
20226
20227 @cindex download to VxWorks
20228 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20229 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20230 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20231 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20232 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20233 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20234 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20235 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20236 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20237 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20238 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20239 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20240 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20241 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20242 program, type this on VxWorks:
20243
20244 @smallexample
20245 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20246 @end smallexample
20247
20248 @noindent
20249 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20250
20251 @smallexample
20252 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20253 (vxgdb) load prog.o
20254 @end smallexample
20255
20256 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20257
20258 @smallexample
20259 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20260 @end smallexample
20261
20262 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20263 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20264 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20265 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20266 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20267 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20268 table.)
20269
20270 @node VxWorks Attach
20271 @subsubsection Running Tasks
20272
20273 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
20274 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20275 follows:
20276
20277 @smallexample
20278 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20279 @end smallexample
20280
20281 @noindent
20282 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20283 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20284 the time of attachment.
20285
20286 @node Embedded Processors
20287 @section Embedded Processors
20288
20289 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20290 configurations.
20291
20292 @cindex send command to simulator
20293 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20294 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20295
20296 @table @code
20297 @item sim @var{command}
20298 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
20299 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20300 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20301 acceptable commands.
20302 @end table
20303
20304
20305 @menu
20306 * ARM:: ARM RDI
20307 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20308 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
20309 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20310 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20311 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20312 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
20313 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20314 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20315 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20316 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
20317 * CRIS:: CRIS
20318 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20319 @end menu
20320
20321 @node ARM
20322 @subsection ARM
20323 @cindex ARM RDI
20324
20325 @table @code
20326 @kindex target rdi
20327 @item target rdi @var{dev}
20328 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20329 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20330 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20331
20332 @kindex target rdp
20333 @item target rdp @var{dev}
20334 ARM Demon monitor.
20335
20336 @end table
20337
20338 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20339
20340 @table @code
20341 @item set arm disassembler
20342 @kindex set arm
20343 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20344 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20345
20346 @item show arm disassembler
20347 @kindex show arm
20348 Show the current disassembly style.
20349
20350 @item set arm apcs32
20351 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20352 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20353
20354 @item show arm apcs32
20355 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20356
20357 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20358 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20359 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20360
20361 @table @code
20362 @item auto
20363 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20364 @item softfpa
20365 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20366 processors.
20367 @item fpa
20368 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20369 @item softvfp
20370 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20371 @item vfp
20372 VFP co-processor.
20373 @end table
20374
20375 @item show arm fpu
20376 Show the current type of the FPU.
20377
20378 @item set arm abi
20379 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20380
20381 @item show arm abi
20382 Show the currently used ABI.
20383
20384 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20385 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20386 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20387 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20388 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20389 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20390 register).
20391
20392 @item show arm fallback-mode
20393 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20394
20395 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20396 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20397 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20398 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20399 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20400
20401 @item show arm force-mode
20402 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20403
20404 @item set debug arm
20405 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20406 target support subsystem.
20407
20408 @item show debug arm
20409 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20410 @end table
20411
20412 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20413 using the RDI interface:
20414
20415 @table @code
20416 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20417 @kindex rdilogfile
20418 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20419 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20420 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20421 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20422 @file{rdi.log}.
20423
20424 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20425 @kindex rdilogenable
20426 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20427 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20428 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20429 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20430 are logged to a file.
20431
20432 @item set rdiromatzero
20433 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20434 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20435 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20436 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20437 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20438 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20439
20440 @item show rdiromatzero
20441 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20442 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20443
20444 @item set rdiheartbeat
20445 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20446 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20447 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20448 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20449 well as the Angel monitor.
20450
20451 @item show rdiheartbeat
20452 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20453 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20454 @end table
20455
20456 @table @code
20457 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20458 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20459
20460 @table @code
20461 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20462 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20463 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20464 The default value is @code{all}.
20465
20466 @table @code
20467 @item none
20468 @item demon
20469 @item angel
20470 @item redboot
20471 @item all
20472 @end table
20473 @end table
20474 @end table
20475
20476 @node M32R/D
20477 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20478
20479 @table @code
20480 @kindex target m32r
20481 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20482 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20483
20484 @kindex target m32rsdi
20485 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20486 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20487 @end table
20488
20489 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20490
20491 @table @code
20492 @item set download-path @var{path}
20493 @kindex set download-path
20494 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20495 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20496
20497 @item show download-path
20498 @kindex show download-path
20499 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20500
20501 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20502 @kindex set board-address
20503 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20504 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20505
20506 @item show board-address
20507 @kindex show board-address
20508 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20509
20510 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20511 @kindex set server-address
20512 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20513 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20514 host machine.
20515
20516 @item show server-address
20517 @kindex show server-address
20518 Display the IP address of the download server.
20519
20520 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20521 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20522 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20523 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20524 executable file is uploaded.
20525
20526 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20527 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20528 Test the @code{upload} command.
20529 @end table
20530
20531 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20532
20533 @table @code
20534 @item sdireset
20535 @kindex sdireset
20536 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20537 This command resets the SDI connection.
20538
20539 @item sdistatus
20540 @kindex sdistatus
20541 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20542
20543 @item debug_chaos
20544 @kindex debug_chaos
20545 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20546 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20547
20548 @item use_debug_dma
20549 @kindex use_debug_dma
20550 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20551
20552 @item use_mon_code
20553 @kindex use_mon_code
20554 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20555
20556 @item use_ib_break
20557 @kindex use_ib_break
20558 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20559
20560 @item use_dbt_break
20561 @kindex use_dbt_break
20562 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20563 @end table
20564
20565 @node M68K
20566 @subsection M68k
20567
20568 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20569 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20570
20571 @table @code
20572
20573 @kindex target dbug
20574 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20575 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20576
20577 @end table
20578
20579 @node MicroBlaze
20580 @subsection MicroBlaze
20581 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20582 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20583
20584 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20585 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20586 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20587 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20588 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20589 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20590 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20591 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20592 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20593 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20594 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20595
20596 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20597
20598 @table @code
20599 @item target remote :1234
20600 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20601 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20602
20603 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20604 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20605 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20606
20607 @item load
20608 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20609
20610 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20611 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20612
20613 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20614 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20615 @end table
20616
20617 @node MIPS Embedded
20618 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20619
20620 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20621 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20622 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20623 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20624
20625 @need 1000
20626 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20627
20628 @table @code
20629 @item target mips @var{port}
20630 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20631 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20632 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20633 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20634 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20635 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20636 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20637
20638 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20639 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20640 debugger:
20641
20642 @smallexample
20643 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20644 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20645 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20646 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20647 (@value{GDBP}) run
20648 @end smallexample
20649
20650 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20651 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20652 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20653 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20654 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20655
20656 @item target pmon @var{port}
20657 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20658 PMON ROM monitor.
20659
20660 @item target ddb @var{port}
20661 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20662 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20663
20664 @item target lsi @var{port}
20665 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20666 LSI variant of PMON.
20667
20668 @kindex target r3900
20669 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20670 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20671
20672 @kindex target array
20673 @item target array @var{dev}
20674 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20675
20676 @end table
20677
20678
20679 @noindent
20680 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20681
20682 @table @code
20683 @item set mipsfpu double
20684 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20685 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20686 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20687 @itemx show mipsfpu
20688 @kindex set mipsfpu
20689 @kindex show mipsfpu
20690 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20691 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20692 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20693 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20694 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20695 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20696 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20697 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20698 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20699 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20700 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20701 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20702 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20703
20704 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20705 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20706 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20707
20708 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20709 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20710
20711 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20712 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20713 @itemx show timeout
20714 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20715 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20716 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20717 @kindex set timeout
20718 @kindex show timeout
20719 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20720 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20721 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20722 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20723 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20724 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20725 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20726 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20727 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20728 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20729
20730 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20731 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20732 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20733 to run before stopping.
20734
20735 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20736 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20737 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20738 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20739 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20740 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20741
20742 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20743 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20744 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20745 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20746
20747 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20748 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20749 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20750 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20751 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20752 @table @asis
20753 @item pmon target
20754 @samp{PMON}
20755 @item ddb target
20756 @samp{NEC010}
20757 @item lsi target
20758 @samp{PMON>}
20759 @end table
20760
20761 @item show monitor-prompt
20762 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20763 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20764 remote monitor.
20765
20766 @item set monitor-warnings
20767 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20768 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20769 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20770 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20771 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20772
20773 @item show monitor-warnings
20774 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20775 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20776
20777 @item pmon @var{command}
20778 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20779 @cindex send PMON command
20780 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20781 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20782 @end table
20783
20784 @node PowerPC Embedded
20785 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20786
20787 @cindex DVC register
20788 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20789 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20790
20791 @smallexample
20792 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20793 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20794 @end smallexample
20795
20796 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20797 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20798 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20799 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20800 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20801 or newer.
20802
20803 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20804 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20805 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20806 watching variables of scalar types.
20807
20808 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20809 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20810
20811 @smallexample
20812 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20813 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20814 @end smallexample
20815
20816 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20817 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20818
20819 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20820 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20821 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20822 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20823 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20824 use the @code{break-range} command.
20825
20826 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20827
20828 @table @code
20829 @kindex break-range
20830 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20831 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20832 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20833 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20834 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20835 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20836 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20837 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20838 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20839
20840 @kindex set powerpc
20841 @item set powerpc soft-float
20842 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20843 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20844 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20845 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20846
20847 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20848 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20849 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20850 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20851 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20852 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20853 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20854 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20855
20856 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20857 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20858 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20859 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20860 address of its first byte.
20861
20862 @kindex target dink32
20863 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20864 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20865
20866 @kindex target ppcbug
20867 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20868 @kindex target ppcbug1
20869 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20870 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20871
20872 @kindex target sds
20873 @item target sds @var{dev}
20874 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20875 @end table
20876
20877 @cindex SDS protocol
20878 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20879 by @value{GDBN}:
20880
20881 @table @code
20882 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20883 @kindex set sdstimeout
20884 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20885 default is 2 seconds.
20886
20887 @item show sdstimeout
20888 @kindex show sdstimeout
20889 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20890
20891 @item sds @var{command}
20892 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20893 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20894 @end table
20895
20896
20897 @node PA
20898 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20899
20900 @table @code
20901
20902 @kindex target op50n
20903 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20904 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20905
20906 @kindex target w89k
20907 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20908 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20909
20910 @end table
20911
20912 @node Sparclet
20913 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20914
20915 @cindex Sparclet
20916
20917 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20918 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20919 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20920 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20921 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20922
20923 @table @code
20924 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20925 @kindex remotetimeout
20926 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20927 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20928 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20929 @end table
20930
20931 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20932 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20933 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20934 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20935 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20936
20937 @smallexample
20938 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20939 @end smallexample
20940
20941 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20942
20943 @smallexample
20944 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20945 @end smallexample
20946
20947 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20948 Once you have set
20949 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20950 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20951 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20952
20953 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20954
20955 @smallexample
20956 (gdbslet)
20957 @end smallexample
20958
20959 @menu
20960 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20961 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20962 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20963 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20964 @end menu
20965
20966 @node Sparclet File
20967 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20968
20969 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20970
20971 @smallexample
20972 (gdbslet) file prog
20973 @end smallexample
20974
20975 @need 1000
20976 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20977 @value{GDBN} locates
20978 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20979 path.
20980 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20981 files will be searched as well.
20982 @value{GDBN} locates
20983 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20984 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20985 If it fails
20986 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20987
20988 @smallexample
20989 prog: No such file or directory.
20990 @end smallexample
20991
20992 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20993 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20994 @code{target} command again.
20995
20996 @node Sparclet Connection
20997 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20998
20999 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21000 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21001
21002 @smallexample
21003 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21004 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21005 main () at ../prog.c:3
21006 @end smallexample
21007
21008 @need 750
21009 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21010
21011 @smallexample
21012 Connected to ttya.
21013 @end smallexample
21014
21015 @node Sparclet Download
21016 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
21017
21018 @cindex download to Sparclet
21019 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21020 you can use the @value{GDBN}
21021 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21022 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21023 command.
21024 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21025 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21026 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21027 of each of the file's sections.
21028 For instance, if the program
21029 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21030 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21031
21032 @smallexample
21033 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21034 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21035 @end smallexample
21036
21037 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21038 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21039 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21040
21041 @node Sparclet Execution
21042 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
21043
21044 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21045 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21046 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21047 manual for the list of commands.
21048
21049 @smallexample
21050 (gdbslet) b main
21051 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21052 (gdbslet) run
21053 Starting program: prog
21054 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
21055 3 char *symarg = 0;
21056 (gdbslet) step
21057 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
21058 (gdbslet)
21059 @end smallexample
21060
21061 @node Sparclite
21062 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21063
21064 @table @code
21065
21066 @kindex target sparclite
21067 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
21068 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21069 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21070 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21071 remote protocol.
21072
21073 @end table
21074
21075 @node Z8000
21076 @subsection Zilog Z8000
21077
21078 @cindex Z8000
21079 @cindex simulator, Z8000
21080 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21081
21082 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21083 a Z8000 simulator.
21084
21085 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21086 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21087 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21088 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21089
21090 @table @code
21091 @item target sim @var{args}
21092 @kindex sim
21093 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21094 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21095 options, specify them via @var{args}.
21096 @end table
21097
21098 @noindent
21099 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21100 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21101 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21102 to run your program, and so on.
21103
21104 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21105 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21106 additional items of information as specially named registers:
21107
21108 @table @code
21109
21110 @item cycles
21111 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21112
21113 @item insts
21114 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21115
21116 @item time
21117 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21118
21119 @end table
21120
21121 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21122 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21123 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21124 simulated clock ticks.
21125
21126 @node AVR
21127 @subsection Atmel AVR
21128 @cindex AVR
21129
21130 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21131 following AVR-specific commands:
21132
21133 @table @code
21134 @item info io_registers
21135 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21136 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21137 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21138 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21139 @end table
21140
21141 @node CRIS
21142 @subsection CRIS
21143 @cindex CRIS
21144
21145 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21146 following CRIS-specific commands:
21147
21148 @table @code
21149 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
21150 @cindex CRIS version
21151 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21152 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21153 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21154
21155 @item show cris-version
21156 Show the current CRIS version.
21157
21158 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21159 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21160 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21161 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21162 @code{R59}.
21163
21164 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21165 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21166
21167 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21168 @cindex CRIS mode
21169 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21170 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21171 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21172
21173 @item show cris-mode
21174 Show the current CRIS mode.
21175 @end table
21176
21177 @node Super-H
21178 @subsection Renesas Super-H
21179 @cindex Super-H
21180
21181 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21182 commands:
21183
21184 @table @code
21185 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21186 @kindex set sh calling-convention
21187 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21188 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21189 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21190 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21191 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21192 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21193 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21194 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21195 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21196 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21197
21198 @item show sh calling-convention
21199 @kindex show sh calling-convention
21200 Show the current calling convention setting.
21201
21202 @end table
21203
21204
21205 @node Architectures
21206 @section Architectures
21207
21208 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21209 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21210
21211 @menu
21212 * AArch64::
21213 * i386::
21214 * Alpha::
21215 * MIPS::
21216 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21217 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21218 * PowerPC::
21219 * Nios II::
21220 @end menu
21221
21222 @node AArch64
21223 @subsection AArch64
21224 @cindex AArch64 support
21225
21226 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21227 following special commands:
21228
21229 @table @code
21230 @item set debug aarch64
21231 @kindex set debug aarch64
21232 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21233 messages are to be displayed.
21234
21235 @item show debug aarch64
21236 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21237
21238 @end table
21239
21240 @node i386
21241 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21242
21243 @table @code
21244 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21245 @kindex set struct-convention
21246 @cindex struct return convention
21247 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
21248 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21249 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21250 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21251 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21252 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21253 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21254 be returned in a register.
21255
21256 @item show struct-convention
21257 @kindex show struct-convention
21258 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21259 from functions.
21260 @end table
21261
21262 @node Alpha
21263 @subsection Alpha
21264
21265 See the following section.
21266
21267 @node MIPS
21268 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21269
21270 @cindex stack on Alpha
21271 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21272 @cindex Alpha stack
21273 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21274 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21275 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21276 find the beginning of a function.
21277
21278 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21279 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21280 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21281 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21282 commands:
21283
21284 @table @code
21285 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21286 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21287 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21288 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21289 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21290 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21291 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21292 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21293
21294 @item show heuristic-fence-post
21295 Display the current limit.
21296 @end table
21297
21298 @noindent
21299 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21300 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21301
21302 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21303 programs:
21304
21305 @table @code
21306 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
21307 @kindex set mips abi
21308 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21309 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21310 values of @var{arg} are:
21311
21312 @table @samp
21313 @item auto
21314 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21315 default).
21316 @item o32
21317 @item o64
21318 @item n32
21319 @item n64
21320 @item eabi32
21321 @item eabi64
21322 @end table
21323
21324 @item show mips abi
21325 @kindex show mips abi
21326 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21327
21328 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
21329 @kindex set mips compression
21330 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21331 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21332 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21333 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21334 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21335 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21336 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21337 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21338 provided by the executable.
21339
21340 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21341 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21342 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21343 identified as such.
21344
21345 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21346 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21347 implicitly from an executable.
21348
21349 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21350 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21351 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21352 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21353 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21354
21355 @item show mips compression
21356 @kindex show mips compression
21357 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21358 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21359
21360 @item set mipsfpu
21361 @itemx show mipsfpu
21362 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21363
21364 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21365 @kindex set mips mask-address
21366 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21367 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21368 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21369 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21370 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21371
21372 @item show mips mask-address
21373 @kindex show mips mask-address
21374 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21375 not.
21376
21377 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21378 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21379 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21380 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21381 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21382 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21383
21384 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21385 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21386 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21387
21388 @item set debug mips
21389 @kindex set debug mips
21390 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21391 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21392
21393 @item show debug mips
21394 @kindex show debug mips
21395 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21396 @end table
21397
21398
21399 @node HPPA
21400 @subsection HPPA
21401 @cindex HPPA support
21402
21403 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21404 following special commands:
21405
21406 @table @code
21407 @item set debug hppa
21408 @kindex set debug hppa
21409 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21410 messages are to be displayed.
21411
21412 @item show debug hppa
21413 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21414
21415 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21416 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21417 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21418 given @var{address}.
21419
21420 @end table
21421
21422
21423 @node SPU
21424 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21425 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21426 @cindex SPU
21427
21428 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21429 it provides the following special commands:
21430
21431 @table @code
21432 @item info spu event
21433 @kindex info spu
21434 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21435 and pending event status.
21436
21437 @item info spu signal
21438 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21439 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21440 notification channels.
21441
21442 @item info spu mailbox
21443 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21444 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21445 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21446
21447 @item info spu dma
21448 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21449 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21450 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21451
21452 @item info spu proxydma
21453 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21454 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21455 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21456
21457 @end table
21458
21459 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21460 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21461 special commands:
21462
21463 @table @code
21464 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21465 @kindex set spu
21466 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21467 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21468 function. The default is @code{off}.
21469
21470 @item show spu stop-on-load
21471 @kindex show spu
21472 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21473
21474 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21475 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21476 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21477 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21478 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21479 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21480
21481 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21482 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21483
21484 @end table
21485
21486 @node PowerPC
21487 @subsection PowerPC
21488 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21489
21490 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21491 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21492 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21493 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21494 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21495
21496 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21497 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21498 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21499
21500 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21501 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21502
21503 @node Nios II
21504 @subsection Nios II
21505 @cindex Nios II architecture
21506
21507 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21508 it provides the following special commands:
21509
21510 @table @code
21511
21512 @item set debug nios2
21513 @kindex set debug nios2
21514 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21515 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21516
21517 @item show debug nios2
21518 @kindex show debug nios2
21519 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21520 @end table
21521
21522 @node Controlling GDB
21523 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21524
21525 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21526 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21527 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21528 described here.
21529
21530 @menu
21531 * Prompt:: Prompt
21532 * Editing:: Command editing
21533 * Command History:: Command history
21534 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21535 * Numbers:: Numbers
21536 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21537 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21538 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21539 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21540 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21541 @end menu
21542
21543 @node Prompt
21544 @section Prompt
21545
21546 @cindex prompt
21547
21548 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21549 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21550 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21551 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21552 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21553 which one you are talking to.
21554
21555 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21556 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21557 or a prompt that does not.
21558
21559 @table @code
21560 @kindex set prompt
21561 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21562 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21563
21564 @kindex show prompt
21565 @item show prompt
21566 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21567 @end table
21568
21569 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21570 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21571 are:
21572
21573 @table @code
21574 @kindex set extended-prompt
21575 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21576 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21577 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21578 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21579 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21580 is displayed.
21581
21582 For example:
21583
21584 @smallexample
21585 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21586 @end smallexample
21587
21588 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21589 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21590
21591 @kindex show extended-prompt
21592 @item show extended-prompt
21593 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21594 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21595 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21596 @end table
21597
21598 @node Editing
21599 @section Command Editing
21600 @cindex readline
21601 @cindex command line editing
21602
21603 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21604 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21605 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21606 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21607 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21608 debugging sessions.
21609
21610 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21611 command @code{set}.
21612
21613 @table @code
21614 @kindex set editing
21615 @cindex editing
21616 @item set editing
21617 @itemx set editing on
21618 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21619
21620 @item set editing off
21621 Disable command line editing.
21622
21623 @kindex show editing
21624 @item show editing
21625 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21626 @end table
21627
21628 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21629 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21630 @end ifset
21631 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21632 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21633 @end ifclear
21634 for more details about the Readline
21635 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21636 encouraged to read that chapter.
21637
21638 @node Command History
21639 @section Command History
21640 @cindex command history
21641
21642 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21643 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21644 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21645 history facility.
21646
21647 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21648 package, to provide the history facility.
21649 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21650 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21651 @end ifset
21652 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21653 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21654 @end ifclear
21655 for the detailed description of the History library.
21656
21657 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21658 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21659 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21660 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21661 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21662 pressed on a line by itself.
21663
21664 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21665 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21666 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21667 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21668
21669 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21670 history.
21671
21672 @table @code
21673 @cindex history substitution
21674 @cindex history file
21675 @kindex set history filename
21676 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21677 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21678 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21679 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21680 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21681 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21682 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21683 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21684 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21685 is not set.
21686
21687 @cindex save command history
21688 @kindex set history save
21689 @item set history save
21690 @itemx set history save on
21691 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21692 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21693
21694 @item set history save off
21695 Stop recording command history in a file.
21696
21697 @cindex history size
21698 @kindex set history size
21699 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21700 @item set history size @var{size}
21701 @itemx set history size unlimited
21702 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21703 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21704 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21705 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21706 history list is unlimited.
21707 @end table
21708
21709 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21710 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21711 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21712 @end ifset
21713 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21714 @xref{Event Designators},
21715 @end ifclear
21716 for more details.
21717
21718 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21719 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21720 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21721 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21722 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21723 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21724 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21725 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21726
21727 The commands to control history expansion are:
21728
21729 @table @code
21730 @item set history expansion on
21731 @itemx set history expansion
21732 @kindex set history expansion
21733 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21734
21735 @item set history expansion off
21736 Disable history expansion.
21737
21738 @c @group
21739 @kindex show history
21740 @item show history
21741 @itemx show history filename
21742 @itemx show history save
21743 @itemx show history size
21744 @itemx show history expansion
21745 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21746 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21747 @c @end group
21748 @end table
21749
21750 @table @code
21751 @kindex show commands
21752 @cindex show last commands
21753 @cindex display command history
21754 @item show commands
21755 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21756
21757 @item show commands @var{n}
21758 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21759
21760 @item show commands +
21761 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21762 @end table
21763
21764 @node Screen Size
21765 @section Screen Size
21766 @cindex size of screen
21767 @cindex pauses in output
21768
21769 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21770 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21771 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21772 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21773 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21774 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21775 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21776 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21777
21778 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21779 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21780 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21781 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21782 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21783 width} commands:
21784
21785 @table @code
21786 @kindex set height
21787 @kindex set width
21788 @kindex show width
21789 @kindex show height
21790 @item set height @var{lpp}
21791 @itemx set height unlimited
21792 @itemx show height
21793 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21794 @itemx set width unlimited
21795 @itemx show width
21796 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21797 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21798 commands display the current settings.
21799
21800 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21801 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21802 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21803 buffer.
21804
21805 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21806 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21807
21808 @item set pagination on
21809 @itemx set pagination off
21810 @kindex set pagination
21811 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21812 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21813 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21814 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21815
21816 @item show pagination
21817 @kindex show pagination
21818 Show the current pagination mode.
21819 @end table
21820
21821 @node Numbers
21822 @section Numbers
21823 @cindex number representation
21824 @cindex entering numbers
21825
21826 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21827 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21828 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21829 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21830 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21831 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21832 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21833 both input and output with the commands described below.
21834
21835 @table @code
21836 @kindex set input-radix
21837 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21838 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21839 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21840 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21841 example, any of
21842
21843 @smallexample
21844 set input-radix 012
21845 set input-radix 10.
21846 set input-radix 0xa
21847 @end smallexample
21848
21849 @noindent
21850 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21851 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21852 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21853 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21854 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21855 change the radix.
21856
21857 @kindex set output-radix
21858 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21859 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21860 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21861 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21862
21863 @kindex show input-radix
21864 @item show input-radix
21865 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21866
21867 @kindex show output-radix
21868 @item show output-radix
21869 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21870
21871 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21872 @itemx show radix
21873 @kindex set radix
21874 @kindex show radix
21875 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21876 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21877 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21878 default value of 10.
21879
21880 @end table
21881
21882 @node ABI
21883 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21884
21885 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21886 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21887 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21888 current ABI.
21889
21890 @cindex OS ABI
21891 @kindex set osabi
21892 @kindex show osabi
21893 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21894
21895 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21896 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21897 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21898 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21899 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21900 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21901 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21902 platform provides.
21903
21904 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21905 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21906 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21907 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21908
21909 @table @code
21910 @item show osabi
21911 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21912
21913 @item set osabi
21914 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21915
21916 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21917 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21918 @end table
21919
21920 @cindex float promotion
21921
21922 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21923 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21924 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21925 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21926 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21927 @code{double} and then passed.
21928
21929 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21930 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21931 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21932
21933 @table @code
21934 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21935 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21936 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21937 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21938 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21939
21940 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21941 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21942 functions.
21943
21944 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21945 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21946 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21947 @end table
21948
21949 @kindex set cp-abi
21950 @kindex show cp-abi
21951 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21952 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21953 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21954 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21955 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21956 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21957 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21958 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21959 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21960 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21961 ``auto''.
21962
21963 @table @code
21964 @item show cp-abi
21965 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21966
21967 @item set cp-abi
21968 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21969
21970 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21971 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21972 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21973 @end table
21974
21975 @node Auto-loading
21976 @section Automatically loading associated files
21977 @cindex auto-loading
21978
21979 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21980 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21981 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21982 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21983 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21984 sources).
21985
21986 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21987 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21988 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21989
21990 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21991 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21992
21993 @table @code
21994 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21995 @kindex set auto-load off
21996 @item set auto-load off
21997 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21998 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21999 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22000 @smallexample
22001 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22002 @end smallexample
22003
22004 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22005 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22006 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22007 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22008 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22009 @code{set auto-load no}.
22010
22011 @anchor{show auto-load}
22012 @kindex show auto-load
22013 @item show auto-load
22014 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22015 or disabled.
22016
22017 @smallexample
22018 (gdb) show auto-load
22019 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22020 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22021 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22022 is on.
22023 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22024 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22025 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22026 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22027 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22028 @end smallexample
22029
22030 @anchor{info auto-load}
22031 @kindex info auto-load
22032 @item info auto-load
22033 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22034 not.
22035
22036 @smallexample
22037 (gdb) info auto-load
22038 gdb-scripts:
22039 Loaded Script
22040 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22041 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22042 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22043 loaded.
22044 python-scripts:
22045 Loaded Script
22046 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22047 @end smallexample
22048 @end table
22049
22050 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
22051
22052 @itemize @bullet
22053 @item
22054 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22055 @item
22056 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22057 @item
22058 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
22059 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22060 @item
22061 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
22062 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22063 @item
22064 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22065 @end itemize
22066
22067 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22068
22069 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22070 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22071 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22072 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
22073 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22074 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
22075 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22076 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22077 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22078 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22079 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22080 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22081 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22082 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22083 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22084 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22085 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22086 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22087 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22088 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22089 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22090 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22091 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22092 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22093 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22094 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22095 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22096 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22097 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22098 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22099 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
22100 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22101 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22102 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22103 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22104 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22105 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22106 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22107 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22108 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22109 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22110 @end multitable
22111
22112 @menu
22113 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22114 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22115 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
22116 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22117 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22118 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
22119 @end menu
22120
22121 @node Init File in the Current Directory
22122 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22123 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22124
22125 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22126 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22127 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22128
22129 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22130 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22131
22132 @table @code
22133 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22134 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22135 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22136 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22137 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22138
22139 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22140 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22141 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22142 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22143 current directory is enabled or disabled.
22144
22145 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22146 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22147 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22148 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22149 current directory have been auto-loaded.
22150 @end table
22151
22152 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
22153 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22154 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22155
22156 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22157
22158 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22159 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22160
22161 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22162 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22163 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22164 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22165 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22166 library.
22167
22168 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22169 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22170
22171 @table @code
22172 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22173 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22174 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22175 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22176
22177 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22178 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22179 @item show auto-load libthread-db
22180 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22181 enabled or disabled.
22182
22183 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22184 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22185 @item info auto-load libthread-db
22186 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22187 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22188 @end table
22189
22190 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22191 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22192 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22193
22194 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22195 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22196 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22197
22198 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22199 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22200
22201 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22202 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22203
22204 @table @code
22205 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22206 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22207 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22208 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22209
22210 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22211 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22212 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22213 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22214 disabled.
22215
22216 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22217 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22218 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22219 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22220 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22221 auto-loaded.
22222 @end table
22223
22224 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22225 matching names are printed.
22226
22227 @node Auto-loading safe path
22228 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22229 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
22230
22231 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22232 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22233 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22234 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22235 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22236
22237 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22238 get loaded:
22239
22240 @smallexample
22241 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
22242 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22243 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22244 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22245 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22246 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22247 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22248 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22249 @end smallexample
22250
22251 @noindent
22252 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22253 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22254
22255 @smallexample
22256 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22257 @end smallexample
22258
22259 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22260
22261 @table @code
22262 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22263 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
22264 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22265 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22266 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22267 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22268 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22269 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22270 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22271 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22272
22273 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22274 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22275 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22276
22277 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22278 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
22279 @item show auto-load safe-path
22280 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22281 scripts.
22282
22283 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22284 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22285 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
22286 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22287 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22288 host platform path separator in use.
22289 @end table
22290
22291 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22292 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22293 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22294 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22295 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22296
22297 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22298 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22299 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22300 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22301 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22302 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22303 init file in the current directory
22304 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22305
22306 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22307 example, you could use one of the following ways:
22308
22309 @table @asis
22310 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22311 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22312 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22313 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22314
22315 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22316 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22317 @value{GDBN} session.
22318
22319 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22320 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22321 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22322 from trusted sources.
22323
22324 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22325 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22326 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22327 trusted sources.
22328 @end table
22329
22330 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22331 also suppresses any such warning messages:
22332
22333 @table @asis
22334 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22335 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22336
22337 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22338 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22339 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22340 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22341 @end table
22342
22343 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22344 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22345 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22346 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22347 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22348 recommended to be entered.
22349
22350 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
22351 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22352 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22353
22354 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22355 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22356 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22357 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22358 be printed.
22359
22360 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22361 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22362 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22363
22364 @smallexample
22365 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
22366 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22367 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22368 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22369 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22370 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22371 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22372 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22373 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22374 @end smallexample
22375
22376 @table @code
22377 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
22378 @kindex set debug auto-load
22379 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22380 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22381
22382 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
22383 @kindex show debug auto-load
22384 @item show debug auto-load
22385 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22386 on or off.
22387 @end table
22388
22389 @node Messages/Warnings
22390 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22391
22392 @cindex verbose operation
22393 @cindex optional warnings
22394 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22395 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22396 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22397 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22398
22399 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22400 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22401 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22402
22403 @table @code
22404 @kindex set verbose
22405 @item set verbose on
22406 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22407
22408 @item set verbose off
22409 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22410
22411 @kindex show verbose
22412 @item show verbose
22413 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22414 @end table
22415
22416 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22417 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22418 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22419 Symbol Files}).
22420
22421 @table @code
22422
22423 @kindex set complaints
22424 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22425 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22426 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22427 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22428 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22429
22430 @kindex show complaints
22431 @item show complaints
22432 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22433
22434 @end table
22435
22436 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22437 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22438 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22439 you try to run a program which is already running:
22440
22441 @smallexample
22442 (@value{GDBP}) run
22443 The program being debugged has been started already.
22444 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22445 @end smallexample
22446
22447 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22448 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22449
22450 @table @code
22451
22452 @kindex set confirm
22453 @cindex flinching
22454 @cindex confirmation
22455 @cindex stupid questions
22456 @item set confirm off
22457 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22458 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22459 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22460
22461 @item set confirm on
22462 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22463
22464 @kindex show confirm
22465 @item show confirm
22466 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22467
22468 @end table
22469
22470 @cindex command tracing
22471 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22472 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22473 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22474 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22475
22476 @table @code
22477 @kindex set trace-commands
22478 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22479 @item set trace-commands on
22480 Enable command tracing.
22481 @item set trace-commands off
22482 Disable command tracing.
22483 @item show trace-commands
22484 Display the current state of command tracing.
22485 @end table
22486
22487 @node Debugging Output
22488 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22489 @cindex optional debugging messages
22490
22491 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22492 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22493 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22494 section documents those commands.
22495
22496 @table @code
22497 @kindex set exec-done-display
22498 @item set exec-done-display
22499 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22500 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22501 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22502 @kindex show exec-done-display
22503 @item show exec-done-display
22504 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22505 notification.
22506 @kindex set debug
22507 @cindex ARM AArch64
22508 @item set debug aarch64
22509 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22510 The default is off.
22511 @kindex show debug
22512 @item show debug aarch64
22513 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22514 ARM AArch64.
22515 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22516 @cindex architecture debugging info
22517 @item set debug arch
22518 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22519 @item show debug arch
22520 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22521 @item set debug aix-solib
22522 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
22523 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22524 support module. The default is off.
22525 @item show debug aix-thread
22526 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22527 @item set debug aix-thread
22528 @cindex AIX threads
22529 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22530 module.
22531 @item show debug aix-thread
22532 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22533 @item set debug check-physname
22534 @cindex physname
22535 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22536 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22537 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22538 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22539 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22540 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22541 @item show debug check-physname
22542 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22543 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22544 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22545 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22546 exported symbols. The default is off.
22547 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22548 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22549 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22550 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22551 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22552 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22553 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22554 A value of zero turns off the display.
22555 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22556 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22557 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22558 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22559 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22560 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22561 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22562 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22563 @item set debug displaced
22564 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22565 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22566 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22567 @item show debug displaced
22568 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22569 related to displaced stepping.
22570 @item set debug event
22571 @cindex event debugging info
22572 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22573 default is off.
22574 @item show debug event
22575 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22576 info.
22577 @item set debug expression
22578 @cindex expression debugging info
22579 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22580 expression parsing. The default is off.
22581 @item show debug expression
22582 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22583 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22584 @item set debug frame
22585 @cindex frame debugging info
22586 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22587 default is off.
22588 @item show debug frame
22589 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22590 info.
22591 @item set debug gnu-nat
22592 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22593 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22594 @item show debug gnu-nat
22595 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22596 @item set debug infrun
22597 @cindex inferior debugging info
22598 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22599 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22600 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22601 @item show debug infrun
22602 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22603 @item set debug jit
22604 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22605 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22606 @item show debug jit
22607 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22608 @item set debug lin-lwp
22609 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22610 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22611 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22612 @item show debug lin-lwp
22613 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22614 @item set debug mach-o
22615 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22616 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22617 processing. The default is off.
22618 @item show debug mach-o
22619 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22620 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22621 @item set debug notification
22622 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22623 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22624 The default is off.
22625 @item show debug notification
22626 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22627 @item set debug observer
22628 @cindex observer debugging info
22629 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22630 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22631 @item show debug observer
22632 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22633 @item set debug overload
22634 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22635 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22636 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22637 is off.
22638 @item show debug overload
22639 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22640 debugging info.
22641 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22642 @cindex debug expression parser
22643 @item set debug parser
22644 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22645 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22646 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22647 details. The default is off.
22648 @item show debug parser
22649 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22650 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22651 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22652 @cindex debug remote protocol
22653 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22654 @cindex display remote packets
22655 @item set debug remote
22656 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22657 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22658 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22659 @item show debug remote
22660 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22661 @item set debug serial
22662 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22663 default is off.
22664 @item show debug serial
22665 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22666 info.
22667 @item set debug solib-frv
22668 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22669 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22670 @item show debug solib-frv
22671 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22672 messages.
22673 @item set debug symfile
22674 @cindex symbol file functions
22675 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
22676 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
22677 @item show debug symfile
22678 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
22679 @item set debug symtab-create
22680 @cindex symbol table creation
22681 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22682 The default is off.
22683 @item show debug symtab-create
22684 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22685 @item set debug target
22686 @cindex target debugging info
22687 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22688 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22689 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22690 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22691 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22692 @item show debug target
22693 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22694 info.
22695 @item set debug timestamp
22696 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22697 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22698 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22699 message.
22700 @item show debug timestamp
22701 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22702 debugging info.
22703 @item set debugvarobj
22704 @cindex variable object debugging info
22705 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22706 info. The default is off.
22707 @item show debugvarobj
22708 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22709 debugging info.
22710 @item set debug xml
22711 @cindex XML parser debugging
22712 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22713 @item show debug xml
22714 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22715 @end table
22716
22717 @node Other Misc Settings
22718 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22719 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22720
22721 @table @code
22722 @kindex set interactive-mode
22723 @item set interactive-mode
22724 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22725 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22726 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22727 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22728 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22729 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22730 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22731 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22732
22733 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22734 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22735 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22736 inside a cygwin window.
22737
22738 @kindex show interactive-mode
22739 @item show interactive-mode
22740 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22741 @end table
22742
22743 @node Extending GDB
22744 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22745 @cindex extending GDB
22746
22747 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22748 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22749 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22750 existing commands.
22751
22752 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22753 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22754 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22755 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22756 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22757 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22758
22759 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22760 setting:
22761
22762 @table @code
22763 @kindex set script-extension
22764 @kindex show script-extension
22765 @item set script-extension off
22766 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22767
22768 @item set script-extension soft
22769 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22770 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22771 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22772 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22773
22774 @item set script-extension strict
22775 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22776 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22777 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22778
22779 @item show script-extension
22780 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22781
22782 @end table
22783
22784 @menu
22785 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22786 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22787 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22788 @end menu
22789
22790 @node Sequences
22791 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22792
22793 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22794 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22795 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22796 files.
22797
22798 @menu
22799 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22800 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22801 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22802 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22803 @end menu
22804
22805 @node Define
22806 @subsection User-defined Commands
22807
22808 @cindex user-defined command
22809 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22810 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22811 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22812 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22813 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22814 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22815
22816 @smallexample
22817 define adder
22818 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22819 end
22820 @end smallexample
22821
22822 @noindent
22823 To execute the command use:
22824
22825 @smallexample
22826 adder 1 2 3
22827 @end smallexample
22828
22829 @noindent
22830 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22831 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22832 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22833 functions calls.
22834
22835 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22836 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22837 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22838 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22839
22840 @smallexample
22841 define adder
22842 if $argc == 2
22843 print $arg0 + $arg1
22844 end
22845 if $argc == 3
22846 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22847 end
22848 end
22849 @end smallexample
22850
22851 @table @code
22852
22853 @kindex define
22854 @item define @var{commandname}
22855 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22856 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22857 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22858 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22859 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22860 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22861
22862 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22863 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22864 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22865
22866 @kindex document
22867 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22868 @item document @var{commandname}
22869 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22870 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22871 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22872 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22873 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22874 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22875
22876 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22877 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22878 does not change the documentation.
22879
22880 @kindex dont-repeat
22881 @cindex don't repeat command
22882 @item dont-repeat
22883 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22884 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22885 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22886
22887 @kindex help user-defined
22888 @item help user-defined
22889 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22890 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22891 included (if any).
22892
22893 @kindex show user
22894 @item show user
22895 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22896 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22897 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22898 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22899 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22900
22901 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22902 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22903 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22904 @item show max-user-call-depth
22905 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22906 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22907 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22908 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22909 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22910 @end table
22911
22912 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22913 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22914
22915 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22916 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22917 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22918
22919 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22920 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22921 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22922 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22923
22924 @node Hooks
22925 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22926 @cindex command hooks
22927 @cindex hooks, for commands
22928 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22929
22930 @kindex hook
22931 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22932 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22933 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22934 before that command.
22935
22936 @cindex hooks, post-command
22937 @kindex hookpost
22938 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22939 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22940 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22941 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22942 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22943
22944 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22945 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22946
22947 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22948 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22949
22950 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22951 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22952 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22953 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22954 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22955
22956 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22957 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22958 you could define:
22959
22960 @smallexample
22961 define hook-stop
22962 handle SIGALRM nopass
22963 end
22964
22965 define hook-run
22966 handle SIGALRM pass
22967 end
22968
22969 define hook-continue
22970 handle SIGALRM pass
22971 end
22972 @end smallexample
22973
22974 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22975 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22976 you could define:
22977
22978 @smallexample
22979 define hook-echo
22980 echo <<<---
22981 end
22982
22983 define hookpost-echo
22984 echo --->>>\n
22985 end
22986
22987 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22988 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22989 (@value{GDBP})
22990
22991 @end smallexample
22992
22993 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22994 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22995 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22996 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22997 @c or not?
22998 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22999 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23000 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23001
23002 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23003 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23004 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23005
23006 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23007 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23008
23009 @node Command Files
23010 @subsection Command Files
23011
23012 @cindex command files
23013 @cindex scripting commands
23014 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23015 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23016 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23017 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23018 terminal.
23019
23020 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23021 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23022 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23023 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23024 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23025
23026 @table @code
23027 @kindex source
23028 @cindex execute commands from a file
23029 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23030 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23031 @end table
23032
23033 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23034 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23035 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23036 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23037 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23038
23039 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23040 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23041 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23042 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23043 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23044 is not relevant to scripts.
23045
23046 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23047 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23048 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23049 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23050 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23051 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23052 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23053 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23054 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23055 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23056 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23057 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23058 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23059 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23060
23061 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23062 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23063 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23064
23065 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23066 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23067 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23068 when called from command files.
23069
23070 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23071 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23072 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23073 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23074 the next command.
23075
23076 @smallexample
23077 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23078 @end smallexample
23079
23080 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23081 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23082 would be directed to @file{log}.
23083
23084 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23085 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23086 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23087 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23088 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23089 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23090 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23091 conditionally, etc.
23092
23093 @table @code
23094 @kindex if
23095 @kindex else
23096 @item if
23097 @itemx else
23098 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23099 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23100 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23101 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23102 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23103 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23104 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23105
23106 @kindex while
23107 @item while
23108 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23109 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23110 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23111 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23112 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23113 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23114
23115 @kindex loop_break
23116 @item loop_break
23117 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23118 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23119 line.
23120
23121 @kindex loop_continue
23122 @item loop_continue
23123 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23124 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23125 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23126 the controlling expression.
23127
23128 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23129 @item end
23130 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23131 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23132 @end table
23133
23134
23135 @node Output
23136 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23137
23138 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23139 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23140 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23141 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23142 want.
23143
23144 @table @code
23145 @kindex echo
23146 @item echo @var{text}
23147 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23148 @c because it is not in ANSI.
23149 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23150 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23151 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23152 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23153 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23154 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23155 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23156 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23157 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23158
23159 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23160 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23161
23162 @smallexample
23163 echo This is some text\n\
23164 which is continued\n\
23165 onto several lines.\n
23166 @end smallexample
23167
23168 produces the same output as
23169
23170 @smallexample
23171 echo This is some text\n
23172 echo which is continued\n
23173 echo onto several lines.\n
23174 @end smallexample
23175
23176 @kindex output
23177 @item output @var{expression}
23178 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23179 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23180 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23181 on expressions.
23182
23183 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23184 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23185 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23186 Formats}, for more information.
23187
23188 @kindex printf
23189 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23190 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23191 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23192 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23193 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23194 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23195 executing the code below:
23196
23197 @smallexample
23198 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23199 @end smallexample
23200
23201 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23202 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23203 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23204 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23205 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23206 printed.
23207
23208 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23209
23210 @smallexample
23211 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23212 @end smallexample
23213
23214 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23215 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23216 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23217
23218 @itemize @bullet
23219 @item
23220 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23221
23222 @item
23223 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23224 width.
23225
23226 @item
23227 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23228 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23229
23230 @item
23231 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23232 supported.
23233
23234 @item
23235 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23236
23237 @item
23238 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23239 @end itemize
23240
23241 @noindent
23242 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23243 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23244 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23245 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23246
23247 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23248 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23249 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23250 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23251 supported.
23252
23253 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23254 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23255 together with a floating point specifier.
23256 letters:
23257
23258 @itemize @bullet
23259 @item
23260 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23261
23262 @item
23263 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23264
23265 @item
23266 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23267 @end itemize
23268
23269 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23270 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23271 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23272
23273 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23274 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23275
23276 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23277 @smallexample
23278 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23279 @end smallexample
23280
23281 @kindex eval
23282 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23283 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23284 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23285
23286 @end table
23287
23288 @node Python
23289 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23290 @cindex python scripting
23291 @cindex scripting with python
23292
23293 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23294 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23295 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23296
23297 @cindex python directory
23298 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23299 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23300 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23301 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23302 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23303 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23304
23305 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23306 are written in Python and are located in the
23307 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23308 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23309 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23310
23311 @menu
23312 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23313 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23314 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23315 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23316 @end menu
23317
23318 @node Python Commands
23319 @subsection Python Commands
23320 @cindex python commands
23321 @cindex commands to access python
23322
23323 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23324 and one related setting:
23325
23326 @table @code
23327 @kindex python-interactive
23328 @kindex pi
23329 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23330 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23331 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23332 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23333 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23334
23335 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23336 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23337 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23338
23339 @smallexample
23340 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
23341 5
23342 @end smallexample
23343
23344 @kindex python
23345 @kindex py
23346 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23347 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23348 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23349
23350 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23351 argument as a Python command. For example:
23352
23353 @smallexample
23354 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
23355 23
23356 @end smallexample
23357
23358 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23359 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23360 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23361 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23362 containing @code{end}. For example:
23363
23364 @smallexample
23365 (@value{GDBP}) python
23366 Type python script
23367 End with a line saying just "end".
23368 >print 23
23369 >end
23370 23
23371 @end smallexample
23372
23373 @kindex set python print-stack
23374 @item set python print-stack
23375 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23376 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23377 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23378 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23379 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23380 the message component of the error is printed.
23381 @end table
23382
23383 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23384 interpreter:
23385
23386 @table @code
23387 @item source @file{script-name}
23388 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23389 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23390 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23391
23392 @item python execfile ("script-name")
23393 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23394 and thus is always available.
23395 @end table
23396
23397 @node Python API
23398 @subsection Python API
23399 @cindex python api
23400 @cindex programming in python
23401
23402 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23403 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23404
23405 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23406 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23407 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23408 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23409
23410 @menu
23411 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23412 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23413 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23414 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23415 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23416 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23417 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23418 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23419 * Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23420 * Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23421 * Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23422 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23423 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23424 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23425 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23426 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23427 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23428 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23429 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23430 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23431 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23432 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23433 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23434 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23435 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23436 using Python.
23437 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23438 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23439 @end menu
23440
23441 @node Basic Python
23442 @subsubsection Basic Python
23443
23444 @cindex python stdout
23445 @cindex python pagination
23446 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23447 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23448 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23449 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23450 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23451
23452 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23453 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23454
23455 @itemize @bullet
23456 @item
23457 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23458 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23459 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23460 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23461 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23462 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23463
23464 @item
23465 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23466 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23467 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23468 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23469 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23470 child process.
23471 @end itemize
23472
23473 @cindex python functions
23474 @cindex python module
23475 @cindex gdb module
23476 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23477 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23478 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23479 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23480
23481 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23482 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23483 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23484 @end defvar
23485
23486 @findex gdb.execute
23487 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23488 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23489 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23490 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23491
23492 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23493 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23494 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23495
23496 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23497 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23498 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23499 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23500 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23501 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23502 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23503 @end defun
23504
23505 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23506 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23507 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23508 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23509 @end defun
23510
23511 @findex gdb.parameter
23512 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23513 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23514 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23515 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23516 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23517
23518 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23519 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23520 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23521 type, and returned.
23522 @end defun
23523
23524 @findex gdb.history
23525 @defun gdb.history (number)
23526 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23527 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23528 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23529 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23530 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23531 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23532 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23533 raised.
23534
23535 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23536 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23537 @end defun
23538
23539 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23540 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23541 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23542 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23543 @var{expression} must be a string.
23544
23545 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23546 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23547 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23548 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23549 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23550 @end defun
23551
23552 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23553 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23554 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23555 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23556 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23557 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23558 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23559 @end defun
23560
23561 @findex gdb.post_event
23562 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23563 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23564 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23565 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23566 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23567 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23568 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23569
23570 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23571 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23572 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23573 this. For example:
23574
23575 @smallexample
23576 (@value{GDBP}) python
23577 >import threading
23578 >
23579 >class Writer():
23580 > def __init__(self, message):
23581 > self.message = message;
23582 > def __call__(self):
23583 > gdb.write(self.message)
23584 >
23585 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23586 > def run (self):
23587 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23588 >
23589 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23590 > def run (self):
23591 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23592 >
23593 >MyThread1().start()
23594 >MyThread2().start()
23595 >end
23596 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23597 @end smallexample
23598 @end defun
23599
23600 @findex gdb.write
23601 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23602 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23603 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23604 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23605 values are:
23606
23607 @table @code
23608 @findex STDOUT
23609 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23610 @item gdb.STDOUT
23611 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23612
23613 @findex STDERR
23614 @findex gdb.STDERR
23615 @item gdb.STDERR
23616 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23617
23618 @findex STDLOG
23619 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23620 @item gdb.STDLOG
23621 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23622 @end table
23623
23624 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23625 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23626 relevant stream.
23627 @end defun
23628
23629 @findex gdb.flush
23630 @defun gdb.flush ()
23631 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23632 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23633 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23634 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23635 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23636 stream values are:
23637
23638 @table @code
23639 @findex STDOUT
23640 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23641 @item gdb.STDOUT
23642 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23643
23644 @findex STDERR
23645 @findex gdb.STDERR
23646 @item gdb.STDERR
23647 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23648
23649 @findex STDLOG
23650 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23651 @item gdb.STDLOG
23652 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23653
23654 @end table
23655
23656 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23657 call this function for the relevant stream.
23658 @end defun
23659
23660 @findex gdb.target_charset
23661 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23662 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23663 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23664 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23665 @end defun
23666
23667 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23668 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23669 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23670 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23671 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23672 never returned.
23673 @end defun
23674
23675 @findex gdb.solib_name
23676 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23677 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23678 as a string, or @code{None}.
23679 @end defun
23680
23681 @findex gdb.decode_line
23682 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23683 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23684 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23685 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23686 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23687 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23688 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23689 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23690 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23691 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23692 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23693 @end defun
23694
23695 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23696 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23697
23698 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23699 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23700 @value{GDBN}.
23701
23702 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23703 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23704 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23705 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23706 the current prompt.
23707
23708 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23709 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23710 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23711 @end defun
23712
23713 @node Exception Handling
23714 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23715 @cindex python exceptions
23716 @cindex exceptions, python
23717
23718 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23719 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23720 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23721 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23722 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23723 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23724 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23725
23726 @smallexample
23727 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23728 Traceback (most recent call last):
23729 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23730 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23731 @end smallexample
23732
23733 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23734 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23735 Python exception depends on the error.
23736
23737 @ftable @code
23738 @item gdb.error
23739 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23740 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23741 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23742
23743 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23744 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23745
23746 @item gdb.MemoryError
23747 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23748 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23749
23750 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23751 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23752 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23753 @end ftable
23754
23755 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23756 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23757 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23758 traceback.
23759
23760 @findex gdb.GdbError
23761 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23762 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23763 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23764 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23765 to handle this case. Example:
23766
23767 @smallexample
23768 (gdb) python
23769 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23770 > """Greet the whole world."""
23771 > def __init__ (self):
23772 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23773 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23774 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23775 > if len (argv) != 0:
23776 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23777 > print "Hello, World!"
23778 >HelloWorld ()
23779 >end
23780 (gdb) hello-world 42
23781 hello-world takes no arguments
23782 @end smallexample
23783
23784 @node Values From Inferior
23785 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23786 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23787 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23788
23789 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23790 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23791 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23792 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23793 fetching values when necessary.
23794
23795 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23796 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23797 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23798
23799 @smallexample
23800 bar = some_val + 2
23801 @end smallexample
23802
23803 @noindent
23804 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23805 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23806
23807 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23808 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23809 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23810 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23811
23812 @smallexample
23813 bar = some_val['foo']
23814 @end smallexample
23815
23816 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23817
23818 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23819 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23820 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23821 by that prototype.
23822
23823 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23824 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23825 execute this function, call it like so:
23826
23827 @smallexample
23828 result = some_val (10,20)
23829 @end smallexample
23830
23831 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23832 @code{gdb.Value}.
23833
23834 The following attributes are provided:
23835
23836 @defvar Value.address
23837 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23838 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23839 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23840 @end defvar
23841
23842 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23843 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23844 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23845 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23846 @end defvar
23847
23848 @defvar Value.type
23849 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23850 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23851 @end defvar
23852
23853 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23854 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23855 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23856 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23857 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23858 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23859 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23860 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23861 type.
23862
23863 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23864 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23865 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23866 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23867 @end defvar
23868
23869 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23870 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23871 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23872 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23873 For example:
23874
23875 @smallexample
23876 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23877 @end smallexample
23878
23879 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23880 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23881 method is invoked.
23882 @end defvar
23883
23884 The following methods are provided:
23885
23886 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23887 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23888 this object initializer. Specifically:
23889
23890 @table @asis
23891 @item Python boolean
23892 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23893 language.
23894
23895 @item Python integer
23896 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23897 current architecture.
23898
23899 @item Python long
23900 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23901 current architecture.
23902
23903 @item Python float
23904 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23905 current architecture.
23906
23907 @item Python string
23908 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23909 target encoding.
23910
23911 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23912 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23913
23914 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23915 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23916 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23917 its result is used.
23918 @end table
23919 @end defun
23920
23921 @defun Value.cast (type)
23922 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23923 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23924 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23925 reason, this method throws an exception.
23926 @end defun
23927
23928 @defun Value.dereference ()
23929 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23930 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23931 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23932
23933 @smallexample
23934 int *foo;
23935 @end smallexample
23936
23937 @noindent
23938 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23939 @code{foo} points to like this:
23940
23941 @smallexample
23942 bar = foo.dereference ()
23943 @end smallexample
23944
23945 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23946 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23947
23948 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23949 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23950 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23951 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23952 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23953 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23954 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23955 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23956 as
23957
23958 @smallexample
23959 typedef int *intptr;
23960 ...
23961 int val = 10;
23962 intptr ptr = &val;
23963 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23964 @end smallexample
23965
23966 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23967 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23968 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23969 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23970 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23971 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23972
23973 @smallexample
23974 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23975 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23976 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23977 @end smallexample
23978
23979 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23980 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23981 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23982 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23983 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23984 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23985 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23986 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23987 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23988 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23989 @end defun
23990
23991 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23992 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23993 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23994 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23995 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23996 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23997 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23998 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23999 in your C@t{++} program as
24000
24001 @smallexample
24002 int val = 10;
24003 int &ref = val;
24004 @end smallexample
24005
24006 @noindent
24007 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
24008 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
24009 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
24010 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
24011
24012 @smallexample
24013 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
24014 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
24015 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
24016 @end smallexample
24017
24018 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24019 corresponding to @code{val}.
24020 @end defun
24021
24022 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
24023 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
24024 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24025 @end defun
24026
24027 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
24028 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
24029 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24030 @end defun
24031
24032 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
24033 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24034 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
24035 throw an exception.
24036
24037 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
24038 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
24039 language.
24040
24041 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
24042 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
24043 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
24044 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
24045 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
24046
24047 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24048 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
24049 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
24050 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
24051 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
24052 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
24053 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
24054 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
24055 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
24056
24057 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
24058 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
24059
24060 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24061 fetched and converted to the given length.
24062 @end defun
24063
24064 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
24065 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24066 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
24067 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
24068
24069 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24070 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
24071 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
24072 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
24073 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
24074
24075 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
24076 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
24077 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
24078 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
24079 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
24080 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
24081
24082 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24083 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
24084 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
24085 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
24086 @end defun
24087
24088 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
24089 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
24090 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
24091 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
24092 will produce a Python exception.
24093
24094 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
24095 has no effect.
24096
24097 This method does not return a value.
24098 @end defun
24099
24100
24101 @node Types In Python
24102 @subsubsection Types In Python
24103 @cindex types in Python
24104 @cindex Python, working with types
24105
24106 @tindex gdb.Type
24107 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
24108 @code{gdb.Type}.
24109
24110 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24111 module:
24112
24113 @findex gdb.lookup_type
24114 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
24115 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
24116 type to look up. It must be a string.
24117
24118 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24119 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24120
24121 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
24122 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
24123 @end defun
24124
24125 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
24126 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
24127 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
24128 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
24129
24130 @smallexample
24131 bar = some_type['foo']
24132 @end smallexample
24133
24134 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
24135 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
24136 @code{gdb.Field} class.
24137
24138 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
24139
24140 @defvar Type.code
24141 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
24142 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
24143 @end defvar
24144
24145 @defvar Type.sizeof
24146 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
24147 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
24148 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
24149 @end defvar
24150
24151 @defvar Type.tag
24152 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
24153 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
24154 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
24155 @code{None} is returned.
24156 @end defvar
24157
24158 The following methods are provided:
24159
24160 @defun Type.fields ()
24161 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
24162 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
24163 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
24164 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
24165 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24166 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24167
24168 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24169 @table @code
24170 @item bitpos
24171 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
24172 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
24173 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
24174 enumeration member's integer representation.
24175
24176 @item name
24177 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24178
24179 @item artificial
24180 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24181 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24182 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24183
24184 @item is_base_class
24185 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24186 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24187 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24188 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24189
24190 @item bitsize
24191 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24192 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24193 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24194
24195 @item type
24196 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24197 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24198 @end table
24199 @end defun
24200
24201 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24202 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24203 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24204 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24205 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24206 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24207 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24208 @end defun
24209
24210 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24211 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24212 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24213 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24214 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24215 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24216 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24217
24218 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24219 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24220 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24221 @end defun
24222
24223 @defun Type.const ()
24224 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24225 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24226 @end defun
24227
24228 @defun Type.volatile ()
24229 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24230 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24231 @end defun
24232
24233 @defun Type.unqualified ()
24234 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24235 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24236 @code{volatile}.
24237 @end defun
24238
24239 @defun Type.range ()
24240 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24241 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24242 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24243 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24244 @end defun
24245
24246 @defun Type.reference ()
24247 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24248 type.
24249 @end defun
24250
24251 @defun Type.pointer ()
24252 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24253 type.
24254 @end defun
24255
24256 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24257 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24258 after removing all layers of typedefs.
24259 @end defun
24260
24261 @defun Type.target ()
24262 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24263 of this type.
24264
24265 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24266 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24267 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24268 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24269 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24270 target type is the aliased type.
24271
24272 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24273 exception.
24274 @end defun
24275
24276 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24277 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24278 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24279 @var{n}th template argument.
24280
24281 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24282 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24283
24284 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24285 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24286 @end defun
24287
24288
24289 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24290 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24291 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24292
24293 @table @code
24294 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24295 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24296 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24297 The type is a pointer.
24298
24299 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24300 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24301 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24302 The type is an array.
24303
24304 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24305 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24306 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24307 The type is a structure.
24308
24309 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24310 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24311 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24312 The type is a union.
24313
24314 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24315 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24316 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24317 The type is an enum.
24318
24319 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24320 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24321 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24322 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24323
24324 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24325 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24326 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24327 The type is a function.
24328
24329 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24330 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24331 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24332 The type is an integer type.
24333
24334 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24335 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24336 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24337 A floating point type.
24338
24339 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24340 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24341 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24342 The special type @code{void}.
24343
24344 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24345 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24346 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24347 A Pascal set type.
24348
24349 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24350 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24351 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24352 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24353
24354 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24355 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24356 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24357 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24358 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24359
24360 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24361 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24362 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24363 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24364
24365 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24366 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24367 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24368 An unknown or erroneous type.
24369
24370 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24371 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24372 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24373 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24374
24375 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24376 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24377 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24378 A pointer-to-member-function.
24379
24380 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24381 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24382 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24383 A pointer-to-member.
24384
24385 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24386 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24387 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24388 A reference type.
24389
24390 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24391 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24392 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24393 A character type.
24394
24395 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24396 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24397 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24398 A boolean type.
24399
24400 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24401 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24402 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24403 A complex float type.
24404
24405 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24406 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24407 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24408 A typedef to some other type.
24409
24410 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24411 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24412 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24413 A C@t{++} namespace.
24414
24415 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24416 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24417 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24418 A decimal floating point type.
24419
24420 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24421 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24422 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24423 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24424 convenience functions.
24425 @end table
24426
24427 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24428 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24429
24430 @node Pretty Printing API
24431 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24432
24433 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24434
24435 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24436 specific interface, defined here.
24437
24438 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24439 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24440 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24441
24442 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24443 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24444 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24445 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24446 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24447
24448 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24449 as though the value has no children.
24450 @end defun
24451
24452 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24453 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24454 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24455 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24456 printed.
24457
24458 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24459 string.
24460
24461 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24462
24463 @table @samp
24464 @item array
24465 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24466 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24467 @code{set print array}.
24468
24469 @item map
24470 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24471 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24472 values.
24473
24474 @item string
24475 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24476 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24477 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24478 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24479 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24480 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24481 @end table
24482 @end defun
24483
24484 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24485 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24486 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24487
24488 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24489 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24490 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24491 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24492 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24493 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24494 the result of @code{children}.
24495
24496 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24497
24498 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24499 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24500 another pretty-printer.
24501
24502 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24503 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24504 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24505 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24506 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24507
24508 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24509 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24510
24511 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24512 @end defun
24513
24514 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24515 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24516
24517 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24518 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24519 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24520 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24521 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24522 @end defun
24523
24524 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24525 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24526
24527 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24528 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24529 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24530 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24531 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24532 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24533 attribute.
24534
24535 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24536 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24537 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24538 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24539 @code{None}.
24540
24541 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24542 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24543 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24544 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24545 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24546 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24547 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24548 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24549 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24550 object is returned.
24551
24552 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24553 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24554 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24555 object is returned.
24556
24557 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24558 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24559 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24560
24561 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24562 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24563 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24564 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24565 with a broken printer.
24566
24567 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24568 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24569 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24570 the printer is enabled.
24571
24572 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24573 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24574 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24575
24576 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24577 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24578
24579 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24580 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24581 must provide.
24582
24583 @smallexample
24584 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24585 "Print a std::string"
24586
24587 def __init__(self, val):
24588 self.val = val
24589
24590 def to_string(self):
24591 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24592
24593 def display_hint(self):
24594 return 'string'
24595 @end smallexample
24596
24597 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24598 example above might be written.
24599
24600 @smallexample
24601 def str_lookup_function(val):
24602 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24603 if lookup_tag == None:
24604 return None
24605 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24606 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24607 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24608 return None
24609 @end smallexample
24610
24611 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24612 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24613 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24614 returns @code{None}.
24615
24616 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24617 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24618 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24619 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24620 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24621 different names.
24622
24623 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24624 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24625 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24626 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24627 the current objfile.
24628
24629 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24630 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24631 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24632 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24633 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24634 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24635 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24636 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24637 inferior.
24638
24639 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24640 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24641
24642 @smallexample
24643 def register_printers(objfile):
24644 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24645 @end smallexample
24646
24647 @noindent
24648 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24649
24650 @smallexample
24651 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24652 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24653 @end smallexample
24654
24655 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24656 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24657 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24658 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24659 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24660
24661 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24662 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24663 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24664 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24665 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24666 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24667
24668 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24669 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24670 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24671
24672 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24673
24674 @smallexample
24675 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24676 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24677 @end smallexample
24678
24679 Here are the printers:
24680
24681 @smallexample
24682 class fooPrinter:
24683 """Print a foo object."""
24684
24685 def __init__(self, val):
24686 self.val = val
24687
24688 def to_string(self):
24689 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24690 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24691
24692 class barPrinter:
24693 """Print a bar object."""
24694
24695 def __init__(self, val):
24696 self.val = val
24697
24698 def to_string(self):
24699 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24700 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24701 @end smallexample
24702
24703 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24704 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24705 the object that handles the lookup.
24706
24707 @smallexample
24708 import gdb.printing
24709
24710 def build_pretty_printer():
24711 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24712 "my_library")
24713 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24714 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24715 return pp
24716 @end smallexample
24717
24718 And here is the autoload support:
24719
24720 @smallexample
24721 import gdb.printing
24722 import my_library
24723 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24724 gdb.current_objfile(),
24725 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24726 @end smallexample
24727
24728 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24729 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24730
24731 @smallexample
24732 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24733 my_library.so:
24734 my_library
24735 foo
24736 bar
24737 @end smallexample
24738
24739 @node Type Printing API
24740 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24741 @cindex type printing API for Python
24742
24743 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24744 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24745 types.
24746
24747 @cindex type printer
24748 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24749 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24750 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24751
24752 @defivar type_printer enabled
24753 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24754 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24755 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24756 @end defivar
24757
24758 @defivar type_printer name
24759 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24760 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24761 commands.
24762 @end defivar
24763
24764 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24765 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24766 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24767 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24768 @end defmethod
24769
24770
24771 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24772 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24773 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24774 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24775 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24776
24777 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24778 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24779 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24780
24781 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24782 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24783 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24784 The recognition function is defined as:
24785
24786 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24787 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24788 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24789 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24790 Python}).
24791 @end defmethod
24792
24793 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24794 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24795 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24796 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24797 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24798 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24799 inferior changed.
24800
24801 @node Frame Filter API
24802 @subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24803 @cindex frame filters api
24804
24805 Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24806 frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24807 @value{GDBN}.
24808
24809 Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24810 commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24811 are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24812
24813 @code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24814 @code{-stack-list-frames}
24815 (@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24816 @code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24817 -stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24818 @pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24819 @code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24820 -stack-list-locals command}).
24821
24822 A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24823 actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24824 iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24825 where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24826 filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24827 work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
24828 Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
24829 the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
24830 call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
24831 @value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
24832 should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
24833 and that some frame filters will be executed after.
24834
24835 An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
24836 worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
24837 the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
24838 tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
24839 filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
24840 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
24841 iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
24842 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
24843 the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
24844 executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
24845 Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
24846 examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
24847 @xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
24848
24849 The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
24850 pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
24851 dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
24852 available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
24853 register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
24854 @code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
24855 with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
24856 Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
24857 can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
24858 @code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
24859 object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
24860 attribute.
24861
24862 When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
24863 frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
24864 @code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
24865 loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
24866 several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
24867 @value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
24868 attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
24869 to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
24870
24871 Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
24872 creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
24873 @code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
24874 output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
24875 filter, and so on.
24876
24877 Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
24878 implement, defined here:
24879
24880 @defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
24881 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
24882 reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
24883
24884 For example, if there are four frame filters:
24885
24886 @smallexample
24887 Name Priority
24888
24889 Filter1 5
24890 Filter2 10
24891 Filter3 100
24892 Filter4 1
24893 @end smallexample
24894
24895 The order that the frame filters will be called is:
24896
24897 @smallexample
24898 Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
24899 @end smallexample
24900
24901 Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
24902 @code{Filter2}, and so on.
24903
24904 This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
24905 contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
24906 @code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
24907 decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
24908 filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
24909 @code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
24910 executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
24911 the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
24912 decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
24913 decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
24914 Decorator API}).
24915
24916 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24917 protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
24918 the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
24919 perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
24920 iterator untouched.
24921
24922 This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
24923 raise and print an error.
24924 @end defun
24925
24926 @defvar FrameFilter.name
24927 The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
24928 name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
24929 Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
24930 or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
24931 attribute is mandatory.
24932 @end defvar
24933
24934 @defvar FrameFilter.enabled
24935 The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
24936 indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
24937 should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
24938 @code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
24939 when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
24940 are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
24941 filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
24942 @end defvar
24943
24944 @defvar FrameFilter.priority
24945 The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
24946 controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
24947 There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
24948 it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
24949 the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
24950 frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
24951 recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
24952 frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
24953 priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
24954 attribute is mandatory.
24955 @end defvar
24956
24957 @node Frame Decorator API
24958 @subsubsection Decorating Frames.
24959 @cindex frame decorator api
24960
24961 Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
24962 Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
24963 only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
24964
24965 The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
24966 of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
24967 This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
24968 a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
24969 This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
24970 the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
24971 necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
24972 @code{gdb.Frame}.
24973
24974 Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
24975
24976 @value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
24977 @code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
24978 boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
24979 recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
24980 object, and only to override the methods needed.
24981
24982 @defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
24983
24984 The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
24985 system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
24986 frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
24987 example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
24988 a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
24989 language, to the user.
24990
24991 The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
24992 must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
24993 frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
24994 return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
24995 from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
24996 @code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
24997 frame.
24998
24999 It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
25000 the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
25001 @end defun
25002
25003 @defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
25004
25005 This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
25006 be printed.
25007
25008 This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
25009 @code{None}.
25010
25011 If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
25012 data for this field.
25013 @end defun
25014
25015 @defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
25016
25017 This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
25018
25019 This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
25020 size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
25021
25022 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25023 any data for this field.
25024 @end defun
25025
25026 @defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
25027
25028 This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
25029
25030 This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
25031 the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
25032
25033 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25034 any data for this field.
25035 @end defun
25036
25037 @defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
25038
25039 This method returns the line number associated with the current
25040 position within the function addressed by this frame.
25041
25042 This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
25043
25044 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25045 any data for this field.
25046 @end defun
25047
25048 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
25049 @anchor{frame_args}
25050
25051 This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
25052 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
25053 printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
25054 implement two methods, described here.
25055
25056 This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
25057 single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
25058 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
25059 implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
25060 parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
25061 Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
25062 method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
25063 @code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
25064 the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
25065
25066 A brief example:
25067
25068 @smallexample
25069 class SymValueWrapper():
25070
25071 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
25072 self.sym = symbol
25073 self.val = value
25074
25075 def value(self):
25076 return self.val
25077
25078 def symbol(self):
25079 return self.sym
25080
25081 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25082 ...
25083 ...
25084 def frame_args(self):
25085 args = []
25086 try:
25087 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25088 except:
25089 return None
25090
25091 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
25092 # symbols that are arguments.
25093 for sym in block:
25094 if not sym.is_argument:
25095 continue
25096 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25097
25098 # Add example synthetic argument.
25099 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
25100
25101 return args
25102 @end smallexample
25103 @end defun
25104
25105 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
25106
25107 This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
25108 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
25109 printed for this frame.
25110
25111 The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
25112 reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
25113 described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
25114 frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
25115
25116 @smallexample
25117 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25118 ...
25119 ...
25120 def frame_locals(self):
25121 vars = []
25122 try:
25123 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25124 except:
25125 return None
25126
25127 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
25128 # symbols, except arguments.
25129 for sym in block:
25130 if sym.is_argument:
25131 continue
25132 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25133
25134 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
25135 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
25136
25137 return vars
25138 @end smallexample
25139 @end defun
25140
25141 @defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
25142
25143 This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
25144 frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
25145 frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
25146 values when printing a frame.
25147 @end defun
25148
25149 @node Writing a Frame Filter
25150 @subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
25151 @cindex writing a frame filter
25152
25153 There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
25154 must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
25155 API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
25156 decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
25157 cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
25158 return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
25159 the following example.
25160
25161 @smallexample
25162 import gdb
25163
25164 class FrameFilter():
25165
25166 def __init__(self):
25167 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25168 #
25169 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25170 #
25171 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25172 # filters.
25173 #
25174 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25175 # enabled and should be executed.
25176
25177 self.name = "Foo"
25178 self.priority = 100
25179 self.enabled = True
25180
25181 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25182 # dictionary.
25183 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25184
25185 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25186 # Just return the iterator.
25187 return frame_iter
25188 @end smallexample
25189
25190 The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25191 requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25192 registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25193 returns the iterator untouched).
25194
25195 The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25196 the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25197 @code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25198 @code{enabled} attribute.
25199
25200 The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25201 dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25202 comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25203 @code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25204 is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25205 @value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25206 important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25207 of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25208 @code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25209 currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25210 present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25211 with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25212 avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25213 frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25214 the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25215 Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25216
25217 @value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25218 therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25219 registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25220 appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25221 relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25222 the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25223 attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25224 Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25225 in the @code{name} attribute.
25226
25227 The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25228 @code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25229 @code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25230 and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25231 frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25232 untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25233 have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25234 any frames.
25235
25236 In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25237 utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25238 @xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25239 decorator interface.
25240
25241 This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25242 inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25243 frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25244 method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25245 decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25246
25247 This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25248 decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25249 step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25250 decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25251 each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25252 when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25253 well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25254 that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25255 Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25256 cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25257 time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25258 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25259 to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25260 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25261
25262 In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25263 As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25264 in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25265 this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25266 the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25267 there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25268 can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25269 result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25270
25271 @smallexample
25272 class InlineFilter():
25273
25274 def __init__(self):
25275 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25276 self.priority = 100
25277 self.enabled = True
25278 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25279
25280 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25281 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25282 frame_iter)
25283 return frame_iter
25284 @end smallexample
25285
25286 This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25287 that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25288 @code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25289 @code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25290 iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25291 wraps the existing one.
25292
25293 Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25294
25295 @smallexample
25296 class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25297
25298 def __init__(self, fobj):
25299 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25300
25301 def function(self):
25302 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25303 name = str(frame.name())
25304
25305 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25306 name = name + " [inlined]"
25307
25308 return name
25309 @end smallexample
25310
25311 This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25312 method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25313 with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25314 this frame.
25315
25316 The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25317 backtrace:
25318
25319 @smallexample
25320 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25321 #1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25322 #2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25323 @end smallexample
25324
25325 So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25326 frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25327 @value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25328 @value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25329 on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25330 like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25331 time.
25332
25333 @subheading Eliding Frames
25334
25335 It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25336 inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25337 want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25338 decorator interface might be preferable.
25339
25340 This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25341 example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25342 this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25343 all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25344 example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25345
25346 This example comprises of three sections.
25347
25348 @smallexample
25349 class InlineFrameFilter():
25350
25351 def __init__(self):
25352 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25353 self.priority = 100
25354 self.enabled = True
25355 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25356
25357 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25358 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25359 @end smallexample
25360
25361 This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25362 difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25363 it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25364 @code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25365 @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25366 until printing.
25367
25368 The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25369 the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25370
25371 @smallexample
25372 class ElidingInlineIterator:
25373 def __init__(self, ii):
25374 self.input_iterator = ii
25375
25376 def __iter__(self):
25377 return self
25378
25379 def next(self):
25380 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25381
25382 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25383 return frame
25384
25385 try:
25386 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25387 except StopIteration:
25388 return frame
25389 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25390 @end smallexample
25391
25392 This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25393 @code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25394 the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25395 an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25396 untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25397 inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25398 @code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25399 frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25400 elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25401
25402 @smallexample
25403 class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25404
25405 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25406 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25407 self.frame = frame
25408 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25409
25410 def elided(self):
25411 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25412 @end smallexample
25413
25414 This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25415 frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25416 @code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25417 this frame. This produces the following output.
25418
25419 @smallexample
25420 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25421 #2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25422 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25423 @end smallexample
25424
25425 In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25426 printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25427 @code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25428 marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25429 relationship.
25430
25431 @node Inferiors In Python
25432 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25433 @cindex inferiors in Python
25434
25435 @findex gdb.Inferior
25436 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25437 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25438 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25439 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25440
25441 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25442 module:
25443
25444 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
25445 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25446 @end defun
25447
25448 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25449 Return an object representing the current inferior.
25450 @end defun
25451
25452 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25453
25454 @defvar Inferior.num
25455 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25456 @end defvar
25457
25458 @defvar Inferior.pid
25459 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25460 system.
25461 @end defvar
25462
25463 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
25464 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25465 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25466 @end defvar
25467
25468 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25469
25470 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25471 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25472 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25473 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25474 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25475 at the time the method is called.
25476 @end defun
25477
25478 @defun Inferior.threads ()
25479 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25480 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25481 return an empty tuple.
25482 @end defun
25483
25484 @findex Inferior.read_memory
25485 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25486 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25487 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25488 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25489 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25490 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25491 @end defun
25492
25493 @findex Inferior.write_memory
25494 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25495 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25496 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25497 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25498 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25499 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25500 @end defun
25501
25502 @findex gdb.search_memory
25503 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25504 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25505 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25506 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25507 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25508 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25509 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25510 the pattern could not be found.
25511 @end defun
25512
25513 @node Events In Python
25514 @subsubsection Events In Python
25515 @cindex inferior events in Python
25516
25517 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25518 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25519 the inferior.
25520
25521 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25522 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25523 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25524
25525 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25526 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25527 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25528 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25529
25530 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25531 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25532 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25533 @end defun
25534
25535 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25536 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25537 will no longer receive notifications of events.
25538 @end defun
25539
25540 Here is an example:
25541
25542 @smallexample
25543 def exit_handler (event):
25544 print "event type: exit"
25545 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25546
25547 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25548 @end smallexample
25549
25550 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25551 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25552 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25553 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25554 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25555 the inferior.
25556
25557 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25558 details of the events they emit:
25559
25560 @table @code
25561
25562 @item events.cont
25563 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25564
25565 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25566 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25567 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25568 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25569 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25570 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25571
25572 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25573 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25574 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25575 @end defvar
25576
25577 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25578
25579 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25580 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25581
25582 @item events.exited
25583 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25584 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25585 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25586 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25587 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25588 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25589 the attribute does not exist.
25590 @end defvar
25591 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25592 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25593 @end defvar
25594
25595 @item events.stop
25596 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25597
25598 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25599 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25600 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25601 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25602
25603 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25604
25605 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25606 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25607
25608 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25609 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25610 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25611 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25612 @end defvar
25613
25614 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25615
25616 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25617 been hit, and has the following attributes:
25618
25619 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25620 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25621 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25622 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25623 @end defvar
25624 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25625 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25626 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25627 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25628 @end defvar
25629
25630 @item events.new_objfile
25631 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25632 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25633
25634 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25635 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25636 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25637 @end defvar
25638
25639 @end table
25640
25641 @node Threads In Python
25642 @subsubsection Threads In Python
25643 @cindex threads in python
25644
25645 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
25646 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25647 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25648
25649 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25650 module:
25651
25652 @findex gdb.selected_thread
25653 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25654 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25655 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25656 @end defun
25657
25658 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25659
25660 @defvar InferiorThread.name
25661 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25662 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25663 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25664 returns @code{None}.
25665
25666 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25667 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25668 user-specified thread name.
25669 @end defvar
25670
25671 @defvar InferiorThread.num
25672 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25673 @end defvar
25674
25675 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25676 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25677 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25678 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25679 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25680 does not use that identifier.
25681 @end defvar
25682
25683 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25684
25685 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25686 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25687 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25688 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25689 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25690 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25691 @end defun
25692
25693 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25694 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25695 by this object.
25696 @end defun
25697
25698 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25699 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25700 @end defun
25701
25702 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25703 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25704 @end defun
25705
25706 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25707 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25708 @end defun
25709
25710 @node Commands In Python
25711 @subsubsection Commands In Python
25712
25713 @cindex commands in python
25714 @cindex python commands
25715 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25716 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25717 class, most commonly using a subclass.
25718
25719 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25720 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25721 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25722 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25723
25724 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25725 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25726 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25727 an exception is raised.
25728
25729 There is no support for multi-line commands.
25730
25731 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25732 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25733 new command in the help system.
25734
25735 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25736 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25737 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25738 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25739 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25740 error will occur when completion is attempted.
25741
25742 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25743 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25744 registered.
25745
25746 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25747 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25748 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25749 not documented.'' is used.
25750 @end defun
25751
25752 @cindex don't repeat Python command
25753 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25754 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25755 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25756 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25757 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25758 @end defun
25759
25760 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25761 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25762
25763 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25764 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25765
25766 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25767 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25768 that the command came from elsewhere.
25769
25770 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25771 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25772
25773 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
25774 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25775 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25776 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25777 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25778 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25779 Example:
25780
25781 @smallexample
25782 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25783 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25784 @end smallexample
25785
25786 @end defun
25787
25788 @cindex completion of Python commands
25789 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
25790 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25791 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25792 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25793 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25794 complete}).
25795
25796 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25797 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25798 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25799 using a word-breaking heuristic.
25800
25801 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25802 @itemize @bullet
25803 @item
25804 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25805 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25806 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25807 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25808 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25809 sequence are ignored.
25810
25811 @item
25812 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25813 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25814 function is invoked, and its result is used.
25815
25816 @item
25817 All other results are treated as though there were no available
25818 completions.
25819 @end itemize
25820 @end defun
25821
25822 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25823 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25824 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25825 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25826 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25827 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25828
25829 @table @code
25830 @findex COMMAND_NONE
25831 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25832 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25833 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
25834 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
25835
25836 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
25837 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25838 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25839 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
25840 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
25841 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25842 commands in this category.
25843
25844 @findex COMMAND_DATA
25845 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25846 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25847 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
25848 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
25849 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
25850 in this category.
25851
25852 @findex COMMAND_STACK
25853 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25854 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25855 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
25856 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
25857 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
25858 list of commands in this category.
25859
25860 @findex COMMAND_FILES
25861 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25862 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25863 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
25864 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
25865 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25866 commands in this category.
25867
25868 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
25869 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25870 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25871 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
25872 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
25873 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
25874 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
25875 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25876 commands in this category.
25877
25878 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
25879 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25880 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25881 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
25882 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
25883 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
25884 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
25885
25886 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25887 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25888 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25889 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
25890 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25891 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
25892 this category.
25893
25894 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25895 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25896 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25897 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
25898 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
25899 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25900 commands in this category.
25901
25902 @findex COMMAND_USER
25903 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
25904 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
25905 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
25906 does not fit in one of the other categories.
25907 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
25908 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
25909 (@pxref{Sequences}).
25910
25911 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
25912 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25913 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25914 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
25915 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
25916 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25917 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
25918 category.
25919
25920 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25921 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25922 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25923 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
25924 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
25925 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25926 commands in this category.
25927 @end table
25928
25929 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
25930 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
25931 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
25932 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25933
25934 @table @code
25935 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
25936 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25937 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25938 This constant means that no completion should be done.
25939
25940 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
25941 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25942 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25943 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
25944
25945 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
25946 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25947 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25948 This constant means that location completion should be done.
25949 @xref{Specify Location}.
25950
25951 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
25952 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25953 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25954 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
25955 command names.
25956
25957 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25958 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25959 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25960 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
25961 as the source.
25962 @end table
25963
25964 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
25965 implemented in Python:
25966
25967 @smallexample
25968 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
25969 """Greet the whole world."""
25970
25971 def __init__ (self):
25972 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
25973
25974 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
25975 print "Hello, World!"
25976
25977 HelloWorld ()
25978 @end smallexample
25979
25980 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
25981 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
25982 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
25983 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
25984
25985 @node Parameters In Python
25986 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
25987
25988 @cindex parameters in python
25989 @cindex python parameters
25990 @tindex gdb.Parameter
25991 @tindex Parameter
25992 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
25993 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
25994 class.
25995
25996 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
25997 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
25998
25999 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
26000 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
26001 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
26002 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
26003 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
26004
26005 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
26006 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
26007 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
26008 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
26009
26010 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
26011 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
26012 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
26013 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
26014 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
26015 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
26016 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
26017
26018 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
26019 can be found, an exception is raised.
26020
26021 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
26022 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
26023 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
26024
26025 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
26026 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
26027 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
26028 completion.
26029
26030 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
26031 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
26032 represent the possible values for the parameter.
26033
26034 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
26035 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
26036
26037 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
26038 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
26039 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
26040 @end defun
26041
26042 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
26043 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26044 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
26045 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26046 have no effect.
26047 @end defvar
26048
26049 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
26050 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26051 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
26052 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26053 have no effect.
26054 @end defvar
26055
26056 @defvar Parameter.value
26057 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
26058 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
26059 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
26060 @end defvar
26061
26062 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
26063 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
26064
26065 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
26066 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
26067 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
26068 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
26069 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
26070 @end defun
26071
26072 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
26073 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
26074 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
26075 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
26076 current value. This method must return a string.
26077 @end defun
26078
26079 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
26080 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26081 module:
26082
26083 @table @code
26084 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
26085 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26086 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26087 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
26088 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
26089
26090 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26091 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26092 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26093 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
26094 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
26095 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
26096
26097 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
26098 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26099 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26100 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
26101 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
26102
26103 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
26104 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26105 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26106 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
26107 to mean ``unlimited''.
26108
26109 @findex PARAM_STRING
26110 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
26111 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
26112 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
26113 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
26114 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
26115 host charset.
26116
26117 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26118 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26119 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26120 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
26121 passed through untranslated.
26122
26123 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26124 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26125 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26126 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
26127
26128 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
26129 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26130 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26131 The value is a filename. This is just like
26132 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
26133
26134 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
26135 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26136 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26137 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
26138 is interpreted as itself.
26139
26140 @findex PARAM_ENUM
26141 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26142 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26143 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
26144 constants provided when the parameter is created.
26145 @end table
26146
26147 @node Functions In Python
26148 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
26149
26150 @cindex writing convenience functions
26151 @cindex convenience functions in python
26152 @cindex python convenience functions
26153 @tindex gdb.Function
26154 @tindex Function
26155 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
26156 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
26157 class @code{gdb.Function}.
26158
26159 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
26160 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
26161 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
26162 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
26163 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
26164 the given @var{name}.
26165
26166 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26167 string for the new class.
26168 @end defun
26169
26170 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26171 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26172 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26173 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26174 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26175 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26176 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26177 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26178
26179 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26180 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26181 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26182 @end defun
26183
26184 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26185 be implemented in Python:
26186
26187 @smallexample
26188 class Greet (gdb.Function):
26189 """Return string to greet someone.
26190 Takes a name as argument."""
26191
26192 def __init__ (self):
26193 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26194
26195 def invoke (self, name):
26196 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26197
26198 Greet ()
26199 @end smallexample
26200
26201 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26202 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26203 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26204 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26205
26206 Now you can use the function in an expression:
26207
26208 @smallexample
26209 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26210 $1 = "Hello, Bob!"
26211 @end smallexample
26212
26213 @node Progspaces In Python
26214 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26215
26216 @cindex progspaces in python
26217 @tindex gdb.Progspace
26218 @tindex Progspace
26219 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26220 of an address space.
26221 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26222 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26223 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26224 about program spaces.
26225
26226 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26227 @code{gdb} module:
26228
26229 @findex gdb.current_progspace
26230 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26231 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26232 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26233 @end defun
26234
26235 @findex gdb.progspaces
26236 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
26237 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26238 @end defun
26239
26240 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26241 class.
26242
26243 @defvar Progspace.filename
26244 The file name of the progspace as a string.
26245 @end defvar
26246
26247 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26248 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26249 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26250 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26251 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26252 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26253 information.
26254 @end defvar
26255
26256 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
26257 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26258 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26259 @end defvar
26260
26261 @defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26262 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26263 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26264 @end defvar
26265
26266 @node Objfiles In Python
26267 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26268
26269 @cindex objfiles in python
26270 @tindex gdb.Objfile
26271 @tindex Objfile
26272 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26273 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26274 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26275 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26276 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26277
26278 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26279 @code{gdb} module:
26280
26281 @findex gdb.current_objfile
26282 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26283 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26284 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26285 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26286 this function returns @code{None}.
26287 @end defun
26288
26289 @findex gdb.objfiles
26290 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
26291 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26292 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26293 @end defun
26294
26295 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26296 class.
26297
26298 @defvar Objfile.filename
26299 The file name of the objfile as a string.
26300 @end defvar
26301
26302 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26303 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26304 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26305 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26306 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26307 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26308 information.
26309 @end defvar
26310
26311 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
26312 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26313 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26314 @end defvar
26315
26316 @defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26317 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26318 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26319 @end defvar
26320
26321 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26322
26323 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26324 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26325 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26326 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26327 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26328 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26329 @end defun
26330
26331 @node Frames In Python
26332 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26333
26334 @cindex frames in python
26335 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26336 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26337 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26338 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26339 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26340 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26341
26342 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26343 operator, like:
26344
26345 @smallexample
26346 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26347 True
26348 @end smallexample
26349
26350 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26351
26352 @findex gdb.selected_frame
26353 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26354 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26355 @end defun
26356
26357 @findex gdb.newest_frame
26358 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26359 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26360 @end defun
26361
26362 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26363 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26364 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26365 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26366 @end defun
26367
26368 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26369
26370 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
26371 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26372 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26373 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26374 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26375 @end defun
26376
26377 @defun Frame.name ()
26378 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26379 obtained.
26380 @end defun
26381
26382 @defun Frame.architecture ()
26383 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26384 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26385 @end defun
26386
26387 @defun Frame.type ()
26388 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26389 @table @code
26390 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26391 An ordinary stack frame.
26392
26393 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26394 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26395 inferior function call.
26396
26397 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26398 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26399 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26400
26401 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26402 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26403
26404 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26405 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26406 it calls into a signal handler.
26407
26408 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26409 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26410
26411 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26412 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26413 newest frame.
26414 @end table
26415 @end defun
26416
26417 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26418 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26419 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26420 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26421 function to a string. The value can be one of:
26422
26423 @table @code
26424 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26425 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26426
26427 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26428 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
26429
26430 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26431 This frame is the outermost.
26432
26433 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26434 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26435 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26436
26437 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26438 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26439 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26440 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26441
26442 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26443 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26444 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26445 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26446 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26447 stack corruption.
26448
26449 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26450 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26451 one to unwind further.
26452
26453 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26454 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26455 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26456 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26457 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26458 versions. Using it, you could write:
26459 @smallexample
26460 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26461 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26462 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26463 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26464 @end smallexample
26465 @end table
26466
26467 @end defun
26468
26469 @defun Frame.pc ()
26470 Returns the frame's resume address.
26471 @end defun
26472
26473 @defun Frame.block ()
26474 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26475 @end defun
26476
26477 @defun Frame.function ()
26478 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26479 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
26480 @end defun
26481
26482 @defun Frame.older ()
26483 Return the frame that called this frame.
26484 @end defun
26485
26486 @defun Frame.newer ()
26487 Return the frame called by this frame.
26488 @end defun
26489
26490 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
26491 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26492 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26493 @end defun
26494
26495 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26496 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26497 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26498 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26499 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26500 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26501 @code{gdb.Block} object.
26502 @end defun
26503
26504 @defun Frame.select ()
26505 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26506 Stack}.
26507 @end defun
26508
26509 @node Blocks In Python
26510 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26511
26512 @cindex blocks in python
26513 @tindex gdb.Block
26514
26515 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26516 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26517 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26518 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26519 available.
26520
26521 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26522 in-depth discussion of frames.
26523
26524 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26525 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26526
26527 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26528 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26529 functions.
26530
26531 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26532 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26533 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26534 Python}).
26535
26536 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26537
26538 @smallexample
26539 /* This is in the global block. */
26540 int global;
26541
26542 /* This is in the static block. */
26543 static int file_scope;
26544
26545 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26546 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26547 int function (int argument)
26548 @{
26549 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26550 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26551 int local;
26552
26553 @{
26554 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26555 'local'. */
26556 int inner;
26557
26558 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26559 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26560 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26561 inline_function ();
26562 @}
26563 @}
26564 @end smallexample
26565
26566 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26567 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26568 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26569 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26570 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26571 table.
26572
26573 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26574 module:
26575
26576 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
26577 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26578 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26579 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26580 the function will return @code{None}.
26581 @end defun
26582
26583 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26584
26585 @defun Block.is_valid ()
26586 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26587 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26588 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26589 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26590 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26591 during iteration over symbols of the block.
26592 @end defun
26593
26594 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26595
26596 @defvar Block.start
26597 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26598 @end defvar
26599
26600 @defvar Block.end
26601 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26602 @end defvar
26603
26604 @defvar Block.function
26605 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26606 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26607 attribute is not writable.
26608
26609 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26610 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26611 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26612 happens for an inlined function.
26613 @end defvar
26614
26615 @defvar Block.superblock
26616 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26617 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26618 @end defvar
26619
26620 @defvar Block.global_block
26621 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26622 writable.
26623 @end defvar
26624
26625 @defvar Block.static_block
26626 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26627 writable.
26628 @end defvar
26629
26630 @defvar Block.is_global
26631 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26632 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26633 writable.
26634 @end defvar
26635
26636 @defvar Block.is_static
26637 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26638 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26639 @end defvar
26640
26641 @node Symbols In Python
26642 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26643
26644 @cindex symbols in python
26645 @tindex gdb.Symbol
26646
26647 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26648 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26649 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26650 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26651
26652 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26653 module:
26654
26655 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26656 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26657 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26658 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26659 arguments.
26660
26661 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26662 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26663 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26664 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26665 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26666 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26667 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26668 in this chapter.
26669
26670 The result is a tuple of two elements.
26671 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26672 is not found.
26673 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26674 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26675 otherwise it is @code{False}.
26676 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26677 @end defun
26678
26679 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26680 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26681 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26682 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26683
26684 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26685 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26686 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26687 module and described later in this chapter.
26688
26689 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26690 is not found.
26691 @end defun
26692
26693 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26694
26695 @defvar Symbol.type
26696 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26697 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26698 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26699 @end defvar
26700
26701 @defvar Symbol.symtab
26702 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26703 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26704 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26705 @end defvar
26706
26707 @defvar Symbol.line
26708 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26709 This is an integer.
26710 @end defvar
26711
26712 @defvar Symbol.name
26713 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26714 @end defvar
26715
26716 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26717 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26718 This attribute is not writable.
26719 @end defvar
26720
26721 @defvar Symbol.print_name
26722 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26723 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26724 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26725 @end defvar
26726
26727 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
26728 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26729 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26730 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26731 @end defvar
26732
26733 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26734 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26735 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26736 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26737 @end defvar
26738
26739 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
26740 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26741 @end defvar
26742
26743 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
26744 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26745 @end defvar
26746
26747 @defvar Symbol.is_function
26748 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26749 @end defvar
26750
26751 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
26752 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26753 @end defvar
26754
26755 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26756
26757 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26758 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26759 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26760 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26761 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26762 invalid at the time the method is called.
26763 @end defun
26764
26765 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26766 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26767 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26768 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26769 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26770 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26771 exception.
26772 @end defun
26773
26774 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26775 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26776
26777 @table @code
26778 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26779 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26780 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26781 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26782 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26783 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26784 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26785 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26786 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26787 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26788 type values.
26789 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26790 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26791 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26792 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26793 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26794 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26795 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26796 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26797 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26798 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26799 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26800 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26801 contains everything minus functions and types.
26802 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26803 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26804 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26805 This domain contains all functions.
26806 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26807 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26808 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26809 This domain contains all types.
26810 @end table
26811
26812 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26813 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26814
26815 @table @code
26816 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26817 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26818 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26819 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
26820 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26821 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26822 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26823 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26824 Value is constant int.
26825 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26826 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26827 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26828 Value is at a fixed address.
26829 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26830 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26831 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26832 Value is in a register.
26833 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26834 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26835 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26836 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
26837 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
26838 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26839 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26840 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26841 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
26842 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
26843 offset, not the value itself.
26844 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26845 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26846 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26847 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
26848 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
26849 itself.
26850 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26851 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26852 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26853 Value is a local variable.
26854 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26855 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26856 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26857 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
26858 have this class.
26859 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26860 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26861 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26862 Value is a block.
26863 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26864 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26865 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26866 Value is a byte-sequence.
26867 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26868 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26869 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26870 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
26871 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
26872 referenced.
26873 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26874 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26875 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26876 The value does not actually exist in the program.
26877 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26878 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26879 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26880 The value's address is a computed location.
26881 @end table
26882
26883 @node Symbol Tables In Python
26884 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
26885
26886 @cindex symbol tables in python
26887 @tindex gdb.Symtab
26888 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
26889
26890 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
26891 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
26892 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
26893 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
26894 @xref{Frames In Python}.
26895
26896 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
26897 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
26898
26899 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
26900
26901 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
26902 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
26903 This attribute is not writable.
26904 @end defvar
26905
26906 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
26907 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
26908 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
26909 @end defvar
26910
26911 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
26912 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
26913 source line. This attribute is not writable.
26914 @end defvar
26915
26916 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
26917 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
26918 attribute is not writable.
26919 @end defvar
26920
26921 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
26922
26923 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
26924 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
26925 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
26926 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
26927 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
26928 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
26929 invalid at the time the method is called.
26930 @end defun
26931
26932 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
26933
26934 @defvar Symtab.filename
26935 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
26936 @end defvar
26937
26938 @defvar Symtab.objfile
26939 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26940 This attribute is not writable.
26941 @end defvar
26942
26943 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
26944
26945 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
26946 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
26947 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
26948 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
26949 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
26950 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26951 @end defun
26952
26953 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
26954 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
26955 @end defun
26956
26957 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
26958 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
26959 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26960 @end defun
26961
26962 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
26963 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
26964 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26965 @end defun
26966
26967 @node Breakpoints In Python
26968 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
26969
26970 @cindex breakpoints in python
26971 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
26972
26973 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
26974 class.
26975
26976 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
26977 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
26978 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
26979 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
26980 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
26981 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
26982 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
26983 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
26984 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
26985 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
26986 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
26987 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
26988 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
26989 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
26990 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
26991 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
26992 @end defun
26993
26994 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
26995 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
26996 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
26997 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
26998 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
26999 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
27000 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
27001 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
27002
27003 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
27004 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
27005 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
27006 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
27007 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
27008 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
27009
27010 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
27011 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
27012 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
27013 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
27014 at this time.
27015
27016 Example @code{stop} implementation:
27017
27018 @smallexample
27019 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
27020 def stop (self):
27021 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
27022 if inf_val == 3:
27023 return True
27024 return False
27025 @end smallexample
27026 @end defun
27027
27028 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
27029 @code{gdb} module:
27030
27031 @table @code
27032 @findex WP_READ
27033 @findex gdb.WP_READ
27034 @item gdb.WP_READ
27035 Read only watchpoint.
27036
27037 @findex WP_WRITE
27038 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
27039 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
27040 Write only watchpoint.
27041
27042 @findex WP_ACCESS
27043 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
27044 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
27045 Read/Write watchpoint.
27046 @end table
27047
27048 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
27049 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
27050 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
27051 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
27052 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
27053 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
27054 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
27055 @end defun
27056
27057 @defun Breakpoint.delete
27058 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
27059 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
27060 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
27061 @end defun
27062
27063 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
27064 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
27065 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27066 @end defvar
27067
27068 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
27069 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
27070 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27071
27072 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
27073 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
27074 @code{silent} attribute.
27075 @end defvar
27076
27077 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
27078 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
27079 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
27080 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27081 @end defvar
27082
27083 @defvar Breakpoint.task
27084 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
27085 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
27086 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
27087 is writable.
27088 @end defvar
27089
27090 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
27091 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27092 This attribute is writable.
27093 @end defvar
27094
27095 @defvar Breakpoint.number
27096 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
27097 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
27098 @end defvar
27099
27100 @defvar Breakpoint.type
27101 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
27102 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
27103 writable.
27104 @end defvar
27105
27106 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
27107 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
27108 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
27109 attribute is not writable.
27110 @end defvar
27111
27112 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
27113 module:
27114
27115 @table @code
27116 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
27117 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27118 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27119 Normal code breakpoint.
27120
27121 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
27122 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27123 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27124 Watchpoint breakpoint.
27125
27126 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27127 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27128 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27129 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
27130
27131 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27132 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27133 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27134 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
27135
27136 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27137 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27138 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27139 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
27140 @end table
27141
27142 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
27143 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27144 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
27145 @end defvar
27146
27147 @defvar Breakpoint.location
27148 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
27149 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
27150 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
27151 attribute is not writable.
27152 @end defvar
27153
27154 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
27155 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
27156 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
27157 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
27158 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27159 @end defvar
27160
27161 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
27162 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
27163 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
27164 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27165 @end defvar
27166
27167 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
27168 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27169 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27170 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27171 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27172 @end defvar
27173
27174 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27175 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27176
27177 @cindex python finish breakpoints
27178 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27179
27180 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27181 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27182 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27183 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27184 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27185 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27186 thread selected.
27187
27188 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27189 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27190 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27191 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27192 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27193 details about this argument.
27194 @end defun
27195
27196 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27197 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27198 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27199 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27200 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27201
27202 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27203 method:
27204
27205 @smallexample
27206 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27207 def stop (self):
27208 print "normal finish"
27209 return True
27210
27211 def out_of_scope ():
27212 print "abnormal finish"
27213 @end smallexample
27214 @end defun
27215
27216 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27217 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27218 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27219 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27220 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27221 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27222 is not writable.
27223 @end defvar
27224
27225 @node Lazy Strings In Python
27226 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27227
27228 @cindex lazy strings in python
27229 @tindex gdb.LazyString
27230
27231 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27232 encoded until it is needed.
27233
27234 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27235 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27236 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27237 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27238 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27239 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27240 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27241 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27242 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27243
27244 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27245
27246 @defun LazyString.value ()
27247 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27248 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27249 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27250 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
27251 @end defun
27252
27253 @defvar LazyString.address
27254 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27255 writable.
27256 @end defvar
27257
27258 @defvar LazyString.length
27259 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27260 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27261 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27262 @end defvar
27263
27264 @defvar LazyString.encoding
27265 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27266 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27267 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27268 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27269 is not writable.
27270 @end defvar
27271
27272 @defvar LazyString.type
27273 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27274 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27275 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27276 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27277 writable.
27278 @end defvar
27279
27280 @node Architectures In Python
27281 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27282 @cindex Python architectures
27283
27284 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27285 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27286 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27287
27288 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27289
27290 @defun Architecture.name ()
27291 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27292 @end defun
27293
27294 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27295 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27296 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27297 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27298 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27299 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27300 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27301 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27302 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27303 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27304 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27305 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27306 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27307 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27308 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27309 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27310
27311 @table @code
27312
27313 @item addr
27314 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27315 the memory address of the instruction.
27316
27317 @item asm
27318 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27319 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27320 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27321 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27322
27323 @item length
27324 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27325 instruction in bytes.
27326
27327 @end table
27328 @end defun
27329
27330 @node Python Auto-loading
27331 @subsection Python Auto-loading
27332 @cindex Python auto-loading
27333
27334 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27335 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27336 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27337 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27338 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27339 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27340
27341 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27342 debugging commands and scripts.
27343
27344 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27345 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27346
27347 @table @code
27348 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27349 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27350 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27351 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27352
27353 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27354 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27355 @item show auto-load python-scripts
27356 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27357
27358 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27359 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27360 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27361 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27362 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27363
27364 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27365 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27366 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27367 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27368 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27369 an error message for each one is problematic.
27370
27371 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27372
27373 Example:
27374
27375 @smallexample
27376 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27377 Loaded Script
27378 Yes py-section-script.py
27379 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27380 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27381 @end smallexample
27382 @end table
27383
27384 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27385 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27386 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27387 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27388
27389 @menu
27390 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27391 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27392 * Which flavor to choose?::
27393 @end menu
27394
27395 @node objfile-gdb.py file
27396 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27397 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27398
27399 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27400 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27401 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27402 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27403 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27404 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27405
27406 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27407 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27408
27409 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27410 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27411
27412 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27413 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27414 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27415 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27416 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27417 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27418
27419 @table @code
27420 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27421 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27422 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27423 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27424 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27425 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27426
27427 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27428 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27429
27430 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27431 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27432 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27433 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27434
27435 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27436 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27437 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27438 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27439 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27440 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27441 platform.
27442
27443 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27444 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27445 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27446
27447 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27448 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27449 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
27450 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27451 @end table
27452
27453 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27454 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27455 @var{objfile} is opened.
27456 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27457 is evaluated more than once.
27458
27459 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27460 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27461 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27462
27463 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27464 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27465 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27466 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27467
27468 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27469 current directory and then along the source search path
27470 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27471 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27472 directory is not relevant to scripts.
27473
27474 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27475 for example, this GCC macro:
27476
27477 @example
27478 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27479 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27480 asm("\
27481 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27482 .byte 1\n\
27483 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27484 .popsection \n\
27485 ");
27486 @end example
27487
27488 @noindent
27489 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27490
27491 @example
27492 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27493 @end example
27494
27495 The script name may include directories if desired.
27496
27497 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27498 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27499
27500 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27501 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27502
27503 @node Which flavor to choose?
27504 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27505
27506 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27507 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27508
27509 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27510
27511 @itemize @bullet
27512 @item
27513 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27514
27515 @item
27516 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27517
27518 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27519 in the source search path.
27520 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27521 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27522
27523 @item
27524 Doesn't require source code additions.
27525 @end itemize
27526
27527 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27528
27529 @itemize @bullet
27530 @item
27531 Works with static linking.
27532
27533 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27534 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27535 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27536 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27537
27538 @item
27539 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27540
27541 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27542 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27543
27544 @item
27545 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27546
27547 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27548 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27549 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27550 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27551 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27552 top of the source tree to the source search path.
27553 @end itemize
27554
27555 @node Python modules
27556 @subsection Python modules
27557 @cindex python modules
27558
27559 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27560
27561 @menu
27562 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27563 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27564 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27565 @end menu
27566
27567 @node gdb.printing
27568 @subsubsection gdb.printing
27569 @cindex gdb.printing
27570
27571 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27572 pretty-printers.
27573
27574 @table @code
27575 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27576 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27577 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27578 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27579
27580 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27581 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27582 corresponding API for the subprinters.
27583
27584 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27585 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27586 regular expressions.
27587 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27588
27589 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27590 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27591 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27592 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27593 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27594 the @code{enum} type to look up.
27595
27596 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27597 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27598 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27599 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27600 if a printer with the same name already exists.
27601 @end table
27602
27603 @node gdb.types
27604 @subsubsection gdb.types
27605 @cindex gdb.types
27606
27607 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27608 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
27609
27610 @table @code
27611 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27612 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27613 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27614
27615 C@t{++} example:
27616
27617 @smallexample
27618 typedef const int const_int;
27619 const_int foo (3);
27620 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27621 int main () @{ return 0; @}
27622 @end smallexample
27623
27624 Then in gdb:
27625
27626 @smallexample
27627 (gdb) start
27628 (gdb) python import gdb.types
27629 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27630 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27631 int
27632 @end smallexample
27633
27634 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27635 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27636 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27637
27638 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27639 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27640
27641 @item deep_items (@var{type})
27642 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27643 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27644 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27645 union fields. For example:
27646
27647 @smallexample
27648 struct A
27649 @{
27650 int a;
27651 union @{
27652 int b0;
27653 int b1;
27654 @};
27655 @};
27656 @end smallexample
27657
27658 @noindent
27659 Then in @value{GDBN}:
27660 @smallexample
27661 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27662 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27663 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27664 @{['a', '']@}
27665 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27666 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27667 @end smallexample
27668
27669 @item get_type_recognizers ()
27670 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27671 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27672 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27673
27674 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27675 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27676 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27677 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27678 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27679 API}).
27680
27681 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27682 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27683 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27684 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27685 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27686 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27687 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27688 registered globally.
27689
27690 @item TypePrinter
27691 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27692 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27693 It defines a constructor:
27694
27695 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27696 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27697 starts in the enabled state.
27698 @end defmethod
27699
27700 @end table
27701
27702 @node gdb.prompt
27703 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
27704 @cindex gdb.prompt
27705
27706 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27707
27708 @table @code
27709 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27710 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27711 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27712 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27713
27714 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27715
27716 @table @code
27717 @item \\
27718 Substitute a backslash.
27719 @item \e
27720 Substitute an ESC character.
27721 @item \f
27722 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27723 @item \n
27724 Substitute a newline.
27725 @item \p
27726 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27727 @item \r
27728 Substitute a carriage return.
27729 @item \t
27730 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27731 @item \v
27732 Substitute the version of GDB.
27733 @item \w
27734 Substitute the current working directory.
27735 @item \[
27736 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27737 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27738 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27739 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27740 @item \]
27741 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27742 @end table
27743
27744 For example:
27745
27746 @smallexample
27747 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27748 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27749 @end smallexample
27750
27751 @exdent will return the string:
27752
27753 @smallexample
27754 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27755 @end smallexample
27756 @end table
27757
27758 @node Aliases
27759 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
27760 @cindex aliases for commands
27761
27762 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
27763 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
27764 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
27765 that involves less typing.
27766
27767 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
27768 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
27769 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
27770
27771 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
27772 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
27773 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
27774
27775 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
27776
27777 @table @code
27778
27779 @kindex alias
27780 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
27781
27782 @end table
27783
27784 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
27785 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
27786 underscores.
27787
27788 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
27789 that is being aliased.
27790
27791 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
27792 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
27793 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
27794
27795 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
27796 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
27797
27798 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
27799 of a command so that there is less to type.
27800 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
27801 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
27802 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
27803 The following will accomplish this.
27804
27805 @smallexample
27806 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
27807 @end smallexample
27808
27809 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
27810 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
27811 for it with the @samp{document} command.
27812 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
27813
27814 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
27815 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
27816 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
27817 of a command.
27818
27819 @smallexample
27820 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
27821 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
27822 (gdb) set p elms 20
27823 (gdb) show p elms
27824 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
27825 @end smallexample
27826
27827 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
27828 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
27829 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
27830
27831 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
27832 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
27833
27834 @smallexample
27835 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
27836 @end smallexample
27837
27838 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
27839 alias for a more complex command.
27840 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
27841
27842 @smallexample
27843 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
27844 (gdb) spe 20
27845 @end smallexample
27846
27847 @node Interpreters
27848 @chapter Command Interpreters
27849 @cindex command interpreters
27850
27851 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
27852 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
27853 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
27854
27855 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
27856 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
27857 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
27858 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
27859
27860 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
27861 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
27862 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
27863 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
27864
27865 @table @code
27866 @item console
27867 @cindex console interpreter
27868 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
27869 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
27870 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
27871
27872 @item mi
27873 @cindex mi interpreter
27874 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
27875 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
27876 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
27877 Interface}.
27878
27879 @item mi2
27880 @cindex mi2 interpreter
27881 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
27882
27883 @item mi1
27884 @cindex mi1 interpreter
27885 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
27886
27887 @end table
27888
27889 @cindex invoke another interpreter
27890 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
27891 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
27892 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
27893 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
27894 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
27895 the IDE inoperable!
27896
27897 @kindex interpreter-exec
27898 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
27899 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
27900 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
27901 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
27902
27903 @smallexample
27904 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
27905 @end smallexample
27906
27907 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
27908 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
27909
27910 @node TUI
27911 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
27912 @cindex TUI
27913 @cindex Text User Interface
27914
27915 @menu
27916 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
27917 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
27918 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
27919 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
27920 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
27921 @end menu
27922
27923 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
27924 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
27925 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
27926 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
27927 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
27928 is available.
27929
27930 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
27931 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
27932 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
27933 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
27934 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
27935
27936 @node TUI Overview
27937 @section TUI Overview
27938
27939 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
27940
27941 @table @emph
27942 @item command
27943 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
27944 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
27945 managed using readline.
27946
27947 @item source
27948 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
27949 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
27950
27951 @item assembly
27952 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
27953
27954 @item register
27955 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
27956 when their values change.
27957 @end table
27958
27959 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
27960 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
27961 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
27962 indicates the breakpoint type:
27963
27964 @table @code
27965 @item B
27966 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27967
27968 @item b
27969 Breakpoint which was never hit.
27970
27971 @item H
27972 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27973
27974 @item h
27975 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
27976 @end table
27977
27978 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
27979
27980 @table @code
27981 @item +
27982 Breakpoint is enabled.
27983
27984 @item -
27985 Breakpoint is disabled.
27986 @end table
27987
27988 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
27989 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
27990 changes.
27991
27992 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
27993 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
27994 layouts:
27995
27996 @itemize @bullet
27997 @item
27998 source only,
27999
28000 @item
28001 assembly only,
28002
28003 @item
28004 source and assembly,
28005
28006 @item
28007 source and registers, or
28008
28009 @item
28010 assembly and registers.
28011 @end itemize
28012
28013 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
28014
28015 @table @emph
28016 @item target
28017 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
28018 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
28019
28020 @item process
28021 Gives the current process or thread number.
28022 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
28023
28024 @item function
28025 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
28026 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
28027 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
28028 the string @code{??} is displayed.
28029
28030 @item line
28031 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
28032 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
28033
28034 @item pc
28035 Indicates the current program counter address.
28036 @end table
28037
28038 @node TUI Keys
28039 @section TUI Key Bindings
28040 @cindex TUI key bindings
28041
28042 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
28043 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
28044 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
28045 @end ifset
28046 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
28047 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
28048 @end ifclear
28049 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
28050 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
28051
28052 @table @kbd
28053 @kindex C-x C-a
28054 @item C-x C-a
28055 @kindex C-x a
28056 @itemx C-x a
28057 @kindex C-x A
28058 @itemx C-x A
28059 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
28060 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
28061 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
28062 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
28063 The screen is then refreshed.
28064
28065 @kindex C-x 1
28066 @item C-x 1
28067 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
28068 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
28069 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
28070
28071 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
28072
28073 @kindex C-x 2
28074 @item C-x 2
28075 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
28076 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
28077 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
28078 previous layout and the new one.
28079
28080 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
28081
28082 @kindex C-x o
28083 @item C-x o
28084 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
28085 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
28086 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
28087
28088 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
28089
28090 @kindex C-x s
28091 @item C-x s
28092 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
28093 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
28094 @end table
28095
28096 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
28097
28098 @table @asis
28099 @kindex PgUp
28100 @item @key{PgUp}
28101 Scroll the active window one page up.
28102
28103 @kindex PgDn
28104 @item @key{PgDn}
28105 Scroll the active window one page down.
28106
28107 @kindex Up
28108 @item @key{Up}
28109 Scroll the active window one line up.
28110
28111 @kindex Down
28112 @item @key{Down}
28113 Scroll the active window one line down.
28114
28115 @kindex Left
28116 @item @key{Left}
28117 Scroll the active window one column left.
28118
28119 @kindex Right
28120 @item @key{Right}
28121 Scroll the active window one column right.
28122
28123 @kindex C-L
28124 @item @kbd{C-L}
28125 Refresh the screen.
28126 @end table
28127
28128 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
28129 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
28130 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
28131 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
28132 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
28133
28134 @node TUI Single Key Mode
28135 @section TUI Single Key Mode
28136 @cindex TUI single key mode
28137
28138 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
28139 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
28140 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
28141
28142 @table @kbd
28143 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28144 @item c
28145 continue
28146
28147 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28148 @item d
28149 down
28150
28151 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28152 @item f
28153 finish
28154
28155 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28156 @item n
28157 next
28158
28159 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28160 @item q
28161 exit the SingleKey mode.
28162
28163 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28164 @item r
28165 run
28166
28167 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28168 @item s
28169 step
28170
28171 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28172 @item u
28173 up
28174
28175 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28176 @item v
28177 info locals
28178
28179 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28180 @item w
28181 where
28182 @end table
28183
28184 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28185 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28186 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28187 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28188 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28189 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28190
28191
28192 @node TUI Commands
28193 @section TUI-specific Commands
28194 @cindex TUI commands
28195
28196 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28197 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28198 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28199 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28200
28201 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28202 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28203 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28204 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28205 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28206
28207 @table @code
28208 @item info win
28209 @kindex info win
28210 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28211
28212 @item layout next
28213 @kindex layout
28214 Display the next layout.
28215
28216 @item layout prev
28217 Display the previous layout.
28218
28219 @item layout src
28220 Display the source window only.
28221
28222 @item layout asm
28223 Display the assembly window only.
28224
28225 @item layout split
28226 Display the source and assembly window.
28227
28228 @item layout regs
28229 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28230
28231 @item focus next
28232 @kindex focus
28233 Make the next window active for scrolling.
28234
28235 @item focus prev
28236 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28237
28238 @item focus src
28239 Make the source window active for scrolling.
28240
28241 @item focus asm
28242 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28243
28244 @item focus regs
28245 Make the register window active for scrolling.
28246
28247 @item focus cmd
28248 Make the command window active for scrolling.
28249
28250 @item refresh
28251 @kindex refresh
28252 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28253
28254 @item tui reg float
28255 @kindex tui reg
28256 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28257
28258 @item tui reg general
28259 Show the general registers in the register window.
28260
28261 @item tui reg next
28262 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28263 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28264 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28265 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28266
28267 @item tui reg system
28268 Show the system registers in the register window.
28269
28270 @item update
28271 @kindex update
28272 Update the source window and the current execution point.
28273
28274 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28275 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28276 @kindex winheight
28277 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28278 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28279 decrease it.
28280
28281 @item tabset @var{nchars}
28282 @kindex tabset
28283 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28284 @end table
28285
28286 @node TUI Configuration
28287 @section TUI Configuration Variables
28288 @cindex TUI configuration variables
28289
28290 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28291
28292 @table @code
28293 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28294 @kindex set tui border-kind
28295 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28296 The possible values are the following:
28297 @table @code
28298 @item space
28299 Use a space character to draw the border.
28300
28301 @item ascii
28302 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28303
28304 @item acs
28305 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28306 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28307 @end table
28308
28309 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28310 @kindex set tui border-mode
28311 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28312 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
28313 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28314 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28315 @table @code
28316 @item normal
28317 Use normal attributes to display the border.
28318
28319 @item standout
28320 Use standout mode.
28321
28322 @item reverse
28323 Use reverse video mode.
28324
28325 @item half
28326 Use half bright mode.
28327
28328 @item half-standout
28329 Use half bright and standout mode.
28330
28331 @item bold
28332 Use extra bright or bold mode.
28333
28334 @item bold-standout
28335 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28336 @end table
28337 @end table
28338
28339 @node Emacs
28340 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28341
28342 @cindex Emacs
28343 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28344 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28345 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28346 @value{GDBN}.
28347
28348 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28349 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28350 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28351 created Emacs buffer.
28352 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28353
28354 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28355 things:
28356
28357 @itemize @bullet
28358 @item
28359 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28360 the GUD buffer.
28361
28362 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28363 and output done by the program you are debugging.
28364
28365 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28366 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28367 in this way.
28368
28369 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28370 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28371 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28372 stop.
28373
28374 @item
28375 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28376
28377 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28378 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28379 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28380 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28381 and the source.
28382
28383 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28384 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28385 @end itemize
28386
28387 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28388 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28389 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28390 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28391
28392 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28393 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28394 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28395 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28396 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28397 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28398 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28399 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28400 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28401
28402 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28403 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28404 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28405 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
28406
28407 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28408 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28409 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28410 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28411 one you want.
28412
28413 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28414 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28415
28416 @table @kbd
28417 @item C-h m
28418 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28419
28420 @item C-c C-s
28421 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28422 update the display window to show the current file and location.
28423
28424 @item C-c C-n
28425 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28426 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28427 to show the current file and location.
28428
28429 @item C-c C-i
28430 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28431 display window accordingly.
28432
28433 @item C-c C-f
28434 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28435 @code{finish} command.
28436
28437 @item C-c C-r
28438 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28439 command.
28440
28441 @item C-c <
28442 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28443 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28444 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28445
28446 @item C-c >
28447 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28448 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28449 @end table
28450
28451 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28452 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28453
28454 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28455 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28456 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28457 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28458 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28459 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28460 speedbar displays watch expressions.
28461
28462 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28463 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28464 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28465 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28466 frame.
28467
28468 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28469 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28470 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28471 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28472 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28473 to correspond properly with the code.
28474
28475 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28476 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28477 Emacs Manual}).
28478
28479 @node GDB/MI
28480 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28481
28482 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28483
28484 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28485 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28486 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28487 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28488 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28489 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28490
28491 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28492 in the form of a reference manual.
28493
28494 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28495 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28496 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28497
28498 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28499
28500 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28501 This chapter uses the following notation:
28502
28503 @itemize @bullet
28504 @item
28505 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
28506
28507 @item
28508 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28509 it may or may not be given.
28510
28511 @item
28512 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28513 may repeat zero or more times.
28514
28515 @item
28516 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28517 may repeat one or more times.
28518
28519 @item
28520 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28521 @end itemize
28522
28523 @ignore
28524 @heading Dependencies
28525 @end ignore
28526
28527 @menu
28528 * GDB/MI General Design::
28529 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28530 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28531 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28532 * GDB/MI Output Records::
28533 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28534 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28535 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28536 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28537 * GDB/MI Program Context::
28538 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28539 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28540 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
28541 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28542 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28543 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28544 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28545 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28546 * GDB/MI File Commands::
28547 @ignore
28548 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28549 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28550 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28551 @end ignore
28552 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28553 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28554 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28555 @end menu
28556
28557 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28558 @node GDB/MI General Design
28559 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28560 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
28561
28562 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28563 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28564 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28565 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28566 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28567 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28568 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28569 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28570 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28571 a command and reported as part of that command response.
28572
28573 The important examples of notifications are:
28574 @itemize @bullet
28575
28576 @item
28577 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28578 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28579 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28580 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28581 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28582 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28583 command itself was successfully executed.
28584
28585 @item
28586 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28587 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28588 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28589 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28590 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28591 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28592
28593 @item
28594 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28595 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28596 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28597 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28598 orthogonal frontend design.
28599
28600 @end itemize
28601
28602 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28603 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28604 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28605 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28606 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28607 the user interface.
28608
28609
28610 @menu
28611 * Context management::
28612 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28613 * Thread groups::
28614 @end menu
28615
28616 @node Context management
28617 @subsection Context management
28618
28619 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28620 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28621 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28622 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28623 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28624 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28625 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28626 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28627 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28628
28629 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28630 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28631 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28632 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28633 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28634 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28635 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28636 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28637 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28638 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28639 for thread and frame to operate on.
28640
28641 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28642 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28643 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28644 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28645 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28646 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28647 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28648 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28649 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28650 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28651
28652 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28653 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28654 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28655 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28656 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28657 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28658 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28659 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28660 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28661 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28662 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28663 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28664 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28665 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28666 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28667 @samp{--frame} options.
28668
28669 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28670 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28671
28672 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28673 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28674 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28675 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28676 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28677 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28678 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28679 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28680 @code{-list-target-features} command.
28681
28682 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28683 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28684 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28685 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28686 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28687 are running.
28688
28689 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28690 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28691 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28692 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28693 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28694 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28695 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28696 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28697 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28698 @samp{--thread} option).
28699
28700 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
28701 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
28702 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
28703 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
28704
28705 @node Thread groups
28706 @subsection Thread groups
28707 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
28708 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
28709 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
28710 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
28711 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
28712
28713 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
28714 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
28715 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
28716 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
28717 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
28718 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
28719 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
28720 into processes.
28721
28722 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
28723 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
28724 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
28725 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
28726 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
28727 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
28728 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
28729 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
28730 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
28731 the members of specific thread group.
28732
28733 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
28734 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
28735 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
28736 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
28737 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
28738 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
28739 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
28740 after attaching to that thread group.
28741
28742 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
28743 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
28744 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
28745 such thread groups.
28746
28747 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28748 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
28749 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
28750
28751 @menu
28752 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
28753 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
28754 @end menu
28755
28756 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
28757 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
28758
28759 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
28760 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
28761 @table @code
28762 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
28763 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
28764
28765 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
28766 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
28767 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
28768
28769 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
28770 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
28771 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
28772
28773 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28774 "any sequence of digits"
28775
28776 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
28777 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
28778
28779 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
28780 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
28781
28782 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
28783 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
28784
28785 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
28786 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
28787 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
28788
28789 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
28790 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
28791
28792 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28793 @code{CR | CR-LF}
28794 @end table
28795
28796 @noindent
28797 Notes:
28798
28799 @itemize @bullet
28800 @item
28801 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
28802 output is described below.
28803
28804 @item
28805 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
28806 finishes.
28807
28808 @item
28809 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
28810 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
28811 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
28812 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
28813 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
28814 @end itemize
28815
28816 Pragmatics:
28817
28818 @itemize @bullet
28819 @item
28820 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
28821
28822 @item
28823 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
28824 @end itemize
28825
28826 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
28827 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
28828
28829 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
28830 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
28831 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
28832 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
28833 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
28834 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
28835
28836 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
28837 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
28838 @var{token}.
28839
28840 @table @code
28841 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
28842 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
28843
28844 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
28845 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28846
28847 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
28848 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
28849
28850 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
28851 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
28852
28853 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
28854 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
28855
28856 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
28857 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
28858
28859 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
28860 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
28861
28862 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
28863 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28864
28865 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
28866 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
28867
28868 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
28869 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
28870 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
28871
28872 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
28873 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
28874
28875 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
28876 @code{ @var{string} }
28877
28878 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
28879 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
28880
28881 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
28882 @code{@var{c-string}}
28883
28884 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
28885 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
28886
28887 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
28888 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
28889 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
28890
28891 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
28892 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
28893
28894 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
28895 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
28896
28897 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
28898 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
28899
28900 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
28901 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
28902
28903 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28904 @code{CR | CR-LF}
28905
28906 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28907 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
28908 @end table
28909
28910 @noindent
28911 Notes:
28912
28913 @itemize @bullet
28914 @item
28915 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
28916
28917 @item
28918 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
28919 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
28920 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
28921 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
28922 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
28923 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
28924 prior command.
28925
28926 @item
28927 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28928 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
28929 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
28930 prefixed by @samp{+}.
28931
28932 @item
28933 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28934 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
28935 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
28936 @samp{*}.
28937
28938 @item
28939 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28940 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
28941 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
28942 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
28943
28944 @item
28945 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28946 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
28947 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
28948 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
28949
28950 @item
28951 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28952 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
28953 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
28954
28955 @item
28956 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28957 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
28958 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
28959 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
28960
28961 @item
28962 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28963 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
28964 @var{values}.
28965
28966
28967 @end itemize
28968
28969 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
28970 details about the various output records.
28971
28972 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28973 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
28974 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
28975
28976 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
28977 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
28978
28979 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
28980 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
28981 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
28982 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
28983 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
28984 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
28985
28986 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
28987 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
28988 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
28989
28990 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28991 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
28992 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
28993 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
28994
28995 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
28996 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
28997
28998 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
28999 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
29000 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
29001 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
29002 might change.
29003
29004 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
29005 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
29006 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
29007 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
29008
29009 @itemize @bullet
29010 @item
29011 New MI commands may be added.
29012
29013 @item
29014 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
29015
29016 @item
29017 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
29018 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
29019
29020 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
29021 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
29022
29023 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
29024 @c resolve inconsistencies.
29025 @end itemize
29026
29027 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
29028 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
29029 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
29030 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
29031 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
29032
29033 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
29034 @c version?
29035
29036 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
29037 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
29038 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
29039 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
29040 @cindex mailing lists
29041
29042 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29043 @node GDB/MI Output Records
29044 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
29045
29046 @menu
29047 * GDB/MI Result Records::
29048 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
29049 * GDB/MI Async Records::
29050 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
29051 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
29052 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
29053 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
29054 @end menu
29055
29056 @node GDB/MI Result Records
29057 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
29058
29059 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29060 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
29061 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
29062 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
29063
29064 @table @code
29065 @findex ^done
29066 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
29067 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
29068 values.
29069
29070 @item "^running"
29071 @findex ^running
29072 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
29073 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
29074 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
29075 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
29076 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
29077 which threads are resumed.
29078
29079 @item "^connected"
29080 @findex ^connected
29081 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
29082
29083 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
29084 @findex ^error
29085 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
29086 error message.
29087
29088 @item "^exit"
29089 @findex ^exit
29090 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
29091
29092 @end table
29093
29094 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
29095 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
29096
29097 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
29098 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29099 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
29100 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
29101 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
29102
29103 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
29104 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
29105 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
29106 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
29107 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
29108
29109 @table @code
29110 @item "~" @var{string-output}
29111 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
29112 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
29113
29114 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
29115 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
29116 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
29117 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
29118
29119 @item "&" @var{string-output}
29120 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
29121 internals.
29122 @end table
29123
29124 @node GDB/MI Async Records
29125 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
29126
29127 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29128 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
29129 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
29130 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
29131 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
29132 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
29133
29134 The following is the list of possible async records:
29135
29136 @table @code
29137
29138 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
29139 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
29140 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
29141 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
29142 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
29143 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
29144 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
29145 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
29146 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
29147 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
29148
29149 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
29150 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
29151 following values:
29152
29153 @table @code
29154 @item breakpoint-hit
29155 A breakpoint was reached.
29156 @item watchpoint-trigger
29157 A watchpoint was triggered.
29158 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
29159 A read watchpoint was triggered.
29160 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
29161 An access watchpoint was triggered.
29162 @item function-finished
29163 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29164 @item location-reached
29165 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29166 @item watchpoint-scope
29167 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29168 @item end-stepping-range
29169 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29170 similar CLI command was accomplished.
29171 @item exited-signalled
29172 The inferior exited because of a signal.
29173 @item exited
29174 The inferior exited.
29175 @item exited-normally
29176 The inferior exited normally.
29177 @item signal-received
29178 A signal was received by the inferior.
29179 @item solib-event
29180 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29181 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29182 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29183 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29184 @item fork
29185 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29186 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29187 @item vfork
29188 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29189 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29190 @item syscall-entry
29191 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29192 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29193 @item syscall-entry
29194 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29195 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29196 @item exec
29197 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29198 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29199 @end table
29200
29201 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29202 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29203 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29204 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29205 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29206 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29207 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29208 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29209 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29210 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29211 if such information is not available.
29212
29213 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29214 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29215 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29216 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29217 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29218 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29219 cannot be used in any way.
29220
29221 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29222 A thread group became associated with a running program,
29223 either because the program was just started or the thread group
29224 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29225 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29226 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29227
29228 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29229 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29230 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29231 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29232 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29233 only when the inferior exited with some code.
29234
29235 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29236 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29237 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29238 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29239 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29240
29241 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29242 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29243 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29244 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29245 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29246 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29247 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29248
29249 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29250 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29251 that thread.
29252
29253 @item =library-loaded,...
29254 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29255 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29256 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29257 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29258 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29259 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29260 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29261 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29262 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29263 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29264 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29265 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29266 thread groups.
29267
29268 @item =library-unloaded,...
29269 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29270 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29271 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29272 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29273 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29274 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29275 thread groups.
29276
29277 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29278 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29279 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29280 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29281 frame is @var{tpnum}.
29282
29283 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29284 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29285 initial value @var{initial}.
29286
29287 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29288 @itemx =tsv-deleted
29289 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29290 trace state variables are deleted.
29291
29292 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29293 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29294 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29295 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29296 value of trace state variable is known.
29297
29298 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29299 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29300 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29301 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29302 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29303 user.
29304
29305 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29306 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29307 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29308
29309 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29310 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29311
29312 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29313 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29314 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29315 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29316 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29317
29318 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29319 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29320 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29321 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29322 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29323 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29324
29325 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29326 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29327 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29328 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29329 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29330 executable code.
29331 @end table
29332
29333 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29334 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29335
29336 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29337 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29338 following fields:
29339
29340 @table @code
29341 @item number
29342 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29343 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29344 @samp{1.2}.
29345
29346 @item type
29347 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29348 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29349
29350 @item catch-type
29351 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29352 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29353
29354 @item disp
29355 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29356 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29357 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29358
29359 @item enabled
29360 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29361 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29362 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29363
29364 @item addr
29365 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29366 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29367 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29368 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29369 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29370
29371 @item func
29372 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29373 If not known, this field is not present.
29374
29375 @item filename
29376 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29377 If not known, this field is not present.
29378
29379 @item fullname
29380 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29381 known. If not known, this field is not present.
29382
29383 @item line
29384 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29385 If not known, this field is not present.
29386
29387 @item at
29388 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29389 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29390 by a symbol name.
29391
29392 @item pending
29393 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29394 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29395
29396 @item evaluated-by
29397 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29398 @samp{target}.
29399
29400 @item thread
29401 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29402 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29403
29404 @item task
29405 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29406 field will hold the task identifier.
29407
29408 @item cond
29409 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29410
29411 @item ignore
29412 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29413
29414 @item enable
29415 The enable count of the breakpoint.
29416
29417 @item traceframe-usage
29418 FIXME.
29419
29420 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29421 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29422
29423 @item mask
29424 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29425
29426 @item pass
29427 A tracepoint's pass count.
29428
29429 @item original-location
29430 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29431 This field is optional.
29432
29433 @item times
29434 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29435
29436 @item installed
29437 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29438 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29439 is not.
29440
29441 @item what
29442 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29443
29444 @end table
29445
29446 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29447 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29448
29449 @smallexample
29450 -> -break-insert main
29451 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29452 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29453 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29454 times="0"@}
29455 <- (gdb)
29456 @end smallexample
29457
29458 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
29459 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29460
29461 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29462 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29463 fields:
29464
29465 @table @code
29466 @item level
29467 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29468 zero. This field is always present.
29469
29470 @item func
29471 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29472 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29473
29474 @item addr
29475 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29476
29477 @item file
29478 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29479 address. This field may be absent.
29480
29481 @item line
29482 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29483 may be absent.
29484
29485 @item from
29486 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29487 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29488
29489 @end table
29490
29491 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
29492 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29493
29494 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29495 uses a tuple with the following fields:
29496
29497 @table @code
29498 @item id
29499 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29500 always present.
29501
29502 @item target-id
29503 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29504
29505 @item details
29506 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29507 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29508 frontend. This field is optional.
29509
29510 @item state
29511 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29512 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29513
29514 @item core
29515 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29516 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29517 @end table
29518
29519 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29520 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29521
29522 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29523 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29524 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29525 the @code{exception-name} field.
29526
29527 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29528 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29529 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29530 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29531
29532 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29533 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29534 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29535 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29536
29537 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29538 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29539
29540 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29541
29542 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29543 information of the breakpoint.
29544
29545 @smallexample
29546 -> -break-insert main
29547 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29548 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29549 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29550 times="0"@}
29551 <- (gdb)
29552 @end smallexample
29553
29554 @subheading Program Execution
29555
29556 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29557 reason that execution stopped.
29558
29559 @smallexample
29560 -> -exec-run
29561 <- ^running
29562 <- (gdb)
29563 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29564 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29565 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29566 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29567 <- (gdb)
29568 -> -exec-continue
29569 <- ^running
29570 <- (gdb)
29571 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29572 <- (gdb)
29573 @end smallexample
29574
29575 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29576
29577 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29578
29579 @smallexample
29580 -> (gdb)
29581 <- -gdb-exit
29582 <- ^exit
29583 @end smallexample
29584
29585 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29586 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29587 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29588 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29589 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29590 fails to exit in reasonable time.
29591
29592 @subheading A Bad Command
29593
29594 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29595
29596 @smallexample
29597 -> -rubbish
29598 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29599 <- (gdb)
29600 @end smallexample
29601
29602
29603 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29604 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29605 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29606
29607 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29608 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29609
29610 @subheading Motivation
29611
29612 The motivation for this collection of commands.
29613
29614 @subheading Introduction
29615
29616 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29617
29618 @subheading Commands
29619
29620 For each command in the block, the following is described:
29621
29622 @subsubheading Synopsis
29623
29624 @smallexample
29625 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29626 @end smallexample
29627
29628 @subsubheading Result
29629
29630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29631
29632 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29633
29634 @subsubheading Example
29635
29636 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29637 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29638
29639
29640 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29641 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29642 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29643
29644 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29645 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29646 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29647 breakpoints.
29648
29649 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29650 @findex -break-after
29651
29652 @subsubheading Synopsis
29653
29654 @smallexample
29655 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29656 @end smallexample
29657
29658 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29659 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29660 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29661 @samp{-break-list} command below.
29662
29663 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29664
29665 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29666
29667 @subsubheading Example
29668
29669 @smallexample
29670 (gdb)
29671 -break-insert main
29672 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29673 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29674 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29675 times="0"@}
29676 (gdb)
29677 -break-after 1 3
29678 ~
29679 ^done
29680 (gdb)
29681 -break-list
29682 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29683 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29684 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29685 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29686 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29687 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29688 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29689 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29690 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29691 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29692 (gdb)
29693 @end smallexample
29694
29695 @ignore
29696 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
29697 @findex -break-catch
29698 @end ignore
29699
29700 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
29701 @findex -break-commands
29702
29703 @subsubheading Synopsis
29704
29705 @smallexample
29706 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
29707 @end smallexample
29708
29709 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
29710 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
29711 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
29712 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
29713 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
29714 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
29715
29716 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29717
29718 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
29719
29720 @subsubheading Example
29721
29722 @smallexample
29723 (gdb)
29724 -break-insert main
29725 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29726 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29727 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29728 times="0"@}
29729 (gdb)
29730 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
29731 ^done
29732 (gdb)
29733 @end smallexample
29734
29735 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
29736 @findex -break-condition
29737
29738 @subsubheading Synopsis
29739
29740 @smallexample
29741 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
29742 @end smallexample
29743
29744 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
29745 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
29746 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
29747 command below).
29748
29749 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29750
29751 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
29752
29753 @subsubheading Example
29754
29755 @smallexample
29756 (gdb)
29757 -break-condition 1 1
29758 ^done
29759 (gdb)
29760 -break-list
29761 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29762 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29763 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29764 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29765 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29766 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29767 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29768 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29769 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29770 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29771 (gdb)
29772 @end smallexample
29773
29774 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
29775 @findex -break-delete
29776
29777 @subsubheading Synopsis
29778
29779 @smallexample
29780 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29781 @end smallexample
29782
29783 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
29784 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
29785
29786 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29787
29788 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
29789
29790 @subsubheading Example
29791
29792 @smallexample
29793 (gdb)
29794 -break-delete 1
29795 ^done
29796 (gdb)
29797 -break-list
29798 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29799 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29800 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29801 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29802 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29803 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29804 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29805 body=[]@}
29806 (gdb)
29807 @end smallexample
29808
29809 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
29810 @findex -break-disable
29811
29812 @subsubheading Synopsis
29813
29814 @smallexample
29815 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29816 @end smallexample
29817
29818 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
29819 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
29820
29821 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29822
29823 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
29824
29825 @subsubheading Example
29826
29827 @smallexample
29828 (gdb)
29829 -break-disable 2
29830 ^done
29831 (gdb)
29832 -break-list
29833 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29834 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29835 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29836 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29837 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29838 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29839 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29840 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29841 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29842 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29843 (gdb)
29844 @end smallexample
29845
29846 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
29847 @findex -break-enable
29848
29849 @subsubheading Synopsis
29850
29851 @smallexample
29852 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29853 @end smallexample
29854
29855 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
29856
29857 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29858
29859 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
29860
29861 @subsubheading Example
29862
29863 @smallexample
29864 (gdb)
29865 -break-enable 2
29866 ^done
29867 (gdb)
29868 -break-list
29869 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29870 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29871 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29872 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29873 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29874 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29875 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29876 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29877 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29878 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29879 (gdb)
29880 @end smallexample
29881
29882 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
29883 @findex -break-info
29884
29885 @subsubheading Synopsis
29886
29887 @smallexample
29888 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
29889 @end smallexample
29890
29891 @c REDUNDANT???
29892 Get information about a single breakpoint.
29893
29894 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
29895 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
29896 table.
29897
29898 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29899
29900 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
29901
29902 @subsubheading Example
29903 N.A.
29904
29905 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
29906 @findex -break-insert
29907
29908 @subsubheading Synopsis
29909
29910 @smallexample
29911 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
29912 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29913 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
29914 @end smallexample
29915
29916 @noindent
29917 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29918
29919 @itemize @bullet
29920 @item function
29921 @c @item +offset
29922 @c @item -offset
29923 @c @item linenum
29924 @item filename:linenum
29925 @item filename:function
29926 @item *address
29927 @end itemize
29928
29929 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29930
29931 @table @samp
29932 @item -t
29933 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29934 @item -h
29935 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
29936 @item -f
29937 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
29938 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29939 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29940 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29941 cannot be parsed.
29942 @item -d
29943 Create a disabled breakpoint.
29944 @item -a
29945 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
29946 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
29947 @item -c @var{condition}
29948 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29949 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
29950 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
29951 @item -p @var{thread-id}
29952 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29953 @end table
29954
29955 @subsubheading Result
29956
29957 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29958 resulting breakpoint.
29959
29960 Note: this format is open to change.
29961 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29962
29963 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29964
29965 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
29966 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
29967
29968 @subsubheading Example
29969
29970 @smallexample
29971 (gdb)
29972 -break-insert main
29973 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
29974 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29975 times="0"@}
29976 (gdb)
29977 -break-insert -t foo
29978 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
29979 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29980 times="0"@}
29981 (gdb)
29982 -break-list
29983 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29984 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29985 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29986 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29987 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29988 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29989 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29990 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29991 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
29992 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29993 times="0"@},
29994 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
29995 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
29996 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29997 times="0"@}]@}
29998 (gdb)
29999 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
30000 @c ~int foo(int, int);
30001 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
30002 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30003 @c times="0"@}
30004 @c (gdb)
30005 @end smallexample
30006
30007 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
30008 @findex -dprintf-insert
30009
30010 @subsubheading Synopsis
30011
30012 @smallexample
30013 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
30014 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30015 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
30016 [ @var{argument} ]
30017 @end smallexample
30018
30019 @noindent
30020 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30021
30022 @itemize @bullet
30023 @item @var{function}
30024 @c @item +offset
30025 @c @item -offset
30026 @c @item @var{linenum}
30027 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
30028 @item @var{filename}:function
30029 @item *@var{address}
30030 @end itemize
30031
30032 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30033
30034 @table @samp
30035 @item -t
30036 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30037 @item -f
30038 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
30039 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30040 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30041 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30042 cannot be parsed.
30043 @item -d
30044 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30045 @item -c @var{condition}
30046 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30047 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30048 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
30049 to @var{ignore-count}.
30050 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30051 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30052 @end table
30053
30054 @subsubheading Result
30055
30056 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30057 resulting breakpoint.
30058
30059 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30060
30061 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30062
30063 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
30064
30065 @subsubheading Example
30066
30067 @smallexample
30068 (gdb)
30069 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
30070 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30071 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30072 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
30073 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
30074 original-location="foo"@}
30075 (gdb)
30076 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
30077 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30078 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30079 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
30080 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
30081 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
30082 (gdb)
30083 @end smallexample
30084
30085 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
30086 @findex -break-list
30087
30088 @subsubheading Synopsis
30089
30090 @smallexample
30091 -break-list
30092 @end smallexample
30093
30094 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
30095
30096 @table @samp
30097 @item Number
30098 number of the breakpoint
30099 @item Type
30100 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
30101 @item Disposition
30102 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
30103 or @samp{nokeep}
30104 @item Enabled
30105 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
30106 @item Address
30107 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
30108 @item What
30109 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
30110 name, line number
30111 @item Thread-groups
30112 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
30113 @item Times
30114 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
30115 @end table
30116
30117 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
30118 @code{body} field is an empty list.
30119
30120 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30121
30122 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
30123
30124 @subsubheading Example
30125
30126 @smallexample
30127 (gdb)
30128 -break-list
30129 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30130 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30131 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30132 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30133 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30134 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30135 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30136 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30137 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30138 times="0"@},
30139 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30140 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30141 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30142 (gdb)
30143 @end smallexample
30144
30145 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
30146
30147 @smallexample
30148 (gdb)
30149 -break-list
30150 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30151 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30152 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30153 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30154 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30155 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30156 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30157 body=[]@}
30158 (gdb)
30159 @end smallexample
30160
30161 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
30162 @findex -break-passcount
30163
30164 @subsubheading Synopsis
30165
30166 @smallexample
30167 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30168 @end smallexample
30169
30170 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30171 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30172 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30173 command @samp{passcount}.
30174
30175 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30176 @findex -break-watch
30177
30178 @subsubheading Synopsis
30179
30180 @smallexample
30181 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30182 @end smallexample
30183
30184 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30185 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30186 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30187 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30188 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30189 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30190 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30191 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30192
30193 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30194 breakpoints inserted.
30195
30196 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30197
30198 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30199 @samp{rwatch}.
30200
30201 @subsubheading Example
30202
30203 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30204
30205 @smallexample
30206 (gdb)
30207 -break-watch x
30208 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30209 (gdb)
30210 -exec-continue
30211 ^running
30212 (gdb)
30213 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30214 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30215 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30216 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30217 (gdb)
30218 @end smallexample
30219
30220 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30221 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30222 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30223
30224 @smallexample
30225 (gdb)
30226 -break-watch C
30227 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30228 (gdb)
30229 -exec-continue
30230 ^running
30231 (gdb)
30232 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30233 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30234 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30235 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30236 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30237 (gdb)
30238 -exec-continue
30239 ^running
30240 (gdb)
30241 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30242 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30243 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30244 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30245 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30246 (gdb)
30247 @end smallexample
30248
30249 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30250 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30251 deleted.
30252
30253 @smallexample
30254 (gdb)
30255 -break-watch C
30256 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30257 (gdb)
30258 -break-list
30259 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30260 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30261 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30262 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30263 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30264 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30265 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30266 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30267 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30268 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30269 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30270 times="1"@},
30271 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30272 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30273 (gdb)
30274 -exec-continue
30275 ^running
30276 (gdb)
30277 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30278 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30279 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30280 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30281 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30282 (gdb)
30283 -break-list
30284 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30285 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30286 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30287 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30288 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30289 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30290 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30291 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30292 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30293 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30294 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30295 times="1"@},
30296 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30297 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30298 (gdb)
30299 -exec-continue
30300 ^running
30301 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30302 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30303 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30304 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30305 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30306 (gdb)
30307 -break-list
30308 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30309 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30310 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30311 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30312 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30313 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30314 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30315 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30316 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30317 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30318 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30319 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30320 (gdb)
30321 @end smallexample
30322
30323
30324 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30325 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30326 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30327
30328 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30329 catchpoints.
30330
30331 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30332 @findex -catch-load
30333
30334 @subsubheading Synopsis
30335
30336 @smallexample
30337 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30338 @end smallexample
30339
30340 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30341 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30342 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30343 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30344 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30345
30346
30347 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30348
30349 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30350
30351 @subsubheading Example
30352
30353 @smallexample
30354 -catch-load -t foo.so
30355 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30356 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30357 (gdb)
30358 @end smallexample
30359
30360
30361 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30362 @findex -catch-unload
30363
30364 @subsubheading Synopsis
30365
30366 @smallexample
30367 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30368 @end smallexample
30369
30370 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30371 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30372 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30373 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30374 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30375
30376 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30377
30378 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30379
30380 @subsubheading Example
30381
30382 @smallexample
30383 -catch-unload -d bar.so
30384 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30385 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30386 (gdb)
30387 @end smallexample
30388
30389
30390 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30391 @node GDB/MI Program Context
30392 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30393
30394 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30395 @findex -exec-arguments
30396
30397
30398 @subsubheading Synopsis
30399
30400 @smallexample
30401 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30402 @end smallexample
30403
30404 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30405 @samp{-exec-run}.
30406
30407 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30408
30409 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30410
30411 @subsubheading Example
30412
30413 @smallexample
30414 (gdb)
30415 -exec-arguments -v word
30416 ^done
30417 (gdb)
30418 @end smallexample
30419
30420
30421 @ignore
30422 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30423 @findex -exec-show-arguments
30424
30425 @subsubheading Synopsis
30426
30427 @smallexample
30428 -exec-show-arguments
30429 @end smallexample
30430
30431 Print the arguments of the program.
30432
30433 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30434
30435 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30436
30437 @subsubheading Example
30438 N.A.
30439 @end ignore
30440
30441
30442 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30443 @findex -environment-cd
30444
30445 @subsubheading Synopsis
30446
30447 @smallexample
30448 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30449 @end smallexample
30450
30451 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30452
30453 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30454
30455 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30456
30457 @subsubheading Example
30458
30459 @smallexample
30460 (gdb)
30461 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30462 ^done
30463 (gdb)
30464 @end smallexample
30465
30466
30467 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30468 @findex -environment-directory
30469
30470 @subsubheading Synopsis
30471
30472 @smallexample
30473 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30474 @end smallexample
30475
30476 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30477 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30478 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30479 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30480 occurs as normal.
30481 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30482 multiple directories in a single command
30483 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30484 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30485 If blanks are needed as
30486 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30487 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30488 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30489 character must not be used
30490 in any directory name.
30491 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30492
30493 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30494
30495 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30496
30497 @subsubheading Example
30498
30499 @smallexample
30500 (gdb)
30501 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30502 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30503 (gdb)
30504 -environment-directory ""
30505 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30506 (gdb)
30507 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30508 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30509 (gdb)
30510 -environment-directory -r
30511 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30512 (gdb)
30513 @end smallexample
30514
30515
30516 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30517 @findex -environment-path
30518
30519 @subsubheading Synopsis
30520
30521 @smallexample
30522 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30523 @end smallexample
30524
30525 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30526 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30527 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30528 supplied in addition to the
30529 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30530 occurs as normal.
30531 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30532 multiple directories in a single command
30533 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30534 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30535 If blanks are needed as
30536 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30537 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30538 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30539 character must not be used
30540 in any directory name.
30541 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30542
30543
30544 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30545
30546 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30547
30548 @subsubheading Example
30549
30550 @smallexample
30551 (gdb)
30552 -environment-path
30553 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
30554 (gdb)
30555 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30556 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30557 (gdb)
30558 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30559 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30560 (gdb)
30561 @end smallexample
30562
30563
30564 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30565 @findex -environment-pwd
30566
30567 @subsubheading Synopsis
30568
30569 @smallexample
30570 -environment-pwd
30571 @end smallexample
30572
30573 Show the current working directory.
30574
30575 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30576
30577 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30578
30579 @subsubheading Example
30580
30581 @smallexample
30582 (gdb)
30583 -environment-pwd
30584 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30585 (gdb)
30586 @end smallexample
30587
30588 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30589 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30590 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
30591
30592
30593 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
30594 @findex -thread-info
30595
30596 @subsubheading Synopsis
30597
30598 @smallexample
30599 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
30600 @end smallexample
30601
30602 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
30603 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
30604 threads. When printing information about all threads,
30605 also reports the current thread.
30606
30607 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30608
30609 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
30610 about all threads.
30611
30612 @subsubheading Result
30613
30614 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
30615 defined for a given thread:
30616
30617 @table @samp
30618 @item current
30619 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30620
30621 @item id
30622 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
30623
30624 @item target-id
30625 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
30626
30627 @item details
30628 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
30629 field is optional.
30630
30631 @item name
30632 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
30633 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
30634 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
30635 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
30636 field is omitted.
30637
30638 @item frame
30639 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
30640
30641 @item state
30642 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
30643 values:
30644
30645 @table @code
30646 @item stopped
30647 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
30648 threads.
30649
30650 @item running
30651 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
30652 threads.
30653
30654 @end table
30655
30656 @item core
30657 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
30658 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
30659
30660 @end table
30661
30662 @subsubheading Example
30663
30664 @smallexample
30665 -thread-info
30666 ^done,threads=[
30667 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
30668 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
30669 args=[]@},state="running"@},
30670 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
30671 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
30672 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
30673 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
30674 state="running"@}],
30675 current-thread-id="1"
30676 (gdb)
30677 @end smallexample
30678
30679 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
30680 @findex -thread-list-ids
30681
30682 @subsubheading Synopsis
30683
30684 @smallexample
30685 -thread-list-ids
30686 @end smallexample
30687
30688 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
30689 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
30690
30691 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
30692 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
30693
30694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30695
30696 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
30697
30698 @subsubheading Example
30699
30700 @smallexample
30701 (gdb)
30702 -thread-list-ids
30703 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30704 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
30705 (gdb)
30706 @end smallexample
30707
30708
30709 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
30710 @findex -thread-select
30711
30712 @subsubheading Synopsis
30713
30714 @smallexample
30715 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
30716 @end smallexample
30717
30718 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
30719 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
30720
30721 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
30722 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
30723
30724 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30725
30726 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
30727
30728 @subsubheading Example
30729
30730 @smallexample
30731 (gdb)
30732 -exec-next
30733 ^running
30734 (gdb)
30735 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
30736 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
30737 (gdb)
30738 -thread-list-ids
30739 ^done,
30740 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30741 number-of-threads="3"
30742 (gdb)
30743 -thread-select 3
30744 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
30745 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
30746 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
30747 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
30748 (gdb)
30749 @end smallexample
30750
30751 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30752 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
30753 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
30754
30755 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
30756 @findex -ada-task-info
30757
30758 @subsubheading Synopsis
30759
30760 @smallexample
30761 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
30762 @end smallexample
30763
30764 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
30765 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
30766
30767 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30768
30769 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
30770 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
30771
30772 @subsubheading Result
30773
30774 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
30775 defined for each Ada task:
30776
30777 @table @samp
30778 @item current
30779 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30780
30781 @item id
30782 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
30783
30784 @item task-id
30785 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
30786
30787 @item thread-id
30788 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
30789
30790 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
30791 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
30792 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
30793
30794 @item parent-id
30795 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
30796 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
30797
30798 @item priority
30799 The base priority of the task.
30800
30801 @item state
30802 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
30803 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
30804
30805 @item name
30806 The name of the task.
30807
30808 @end table
30809
30810 @subsubheading Example
30811
30812 @smallexample
30813 -ada-task-info
30814 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
30815 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
30816 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
30817 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
30818 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
30819 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
30820 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
30821 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
30822 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
30823 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
30824 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
30825 (gdb)
30826 @end smallexample
30827
30828 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30829 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
30830 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
30831
30832 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
30833 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
30834 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
30835 other cases.
30836
30837 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
30838 @findex -exec-continue
30839
30840 @subsubheading Synopsis
30841
30842 @smallexample
30843 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
30844 @end smallexample
30845
30846 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
30847 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
30848 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
30849 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
30850 @itemize @bullet
30851 @item
30852 breakpoints or watchpoints
30853 @item
30854 signals or exceptions
30855 @item
30856 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
30857 @item
30858 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
30859 @end itemize
30860 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
30861 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
30862 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
30863 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
30864 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
30865 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
30866
30867 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30868
30869 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
30870
30871 @subsubheading Example
30872
30873 @smallexample
30874 -exec-continue
30875 ^running
30876 (gdb)
30877 @@Hello world
30878 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
30879 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
30880 line="13"@}
30881 (gdb)
30882 @end smallexample
30883
30884
30885 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
30886 @findex -exec-finish
30887
30888 @subsubheading Synopsis
30889
30890 @smallexample
30891 -exec-finish [--reverse]
30892 @end smallexample
30893
30894 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
30895 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
30896 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
30897 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
30898 function was called.
30899
30900 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30901
30902 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
30903
30904 @subsubheading Example
30905
30906 Function returning @code{void}.
30907
30908 @smallexample
30909 -exec-finish
30910 ^running
30911 (gdb)
30912 @@hello from foo
30913 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
30914 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
30915 (gdb)
30916 @end smallexample
30917
30918 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
30919 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
30920 value itself.
30921
30922 @smallexample
30923 -exec-finish
30924 ^running
30925 (gdb)
30926 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
30927 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
30928 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30929 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
30930 (gdb)
30931 @end smallexample
30932
30933
30934 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
30935 @findex -exec-interrupt
30936
30937 @subsubheading Synopsis
30938
30939 @smallexample
30940 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
30941 @end smallexample
30942
30943 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
30944 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
30945 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
30946 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
30947 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
30948
30949 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
30950 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
30951 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
30952 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
30953
30954 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
30955 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
30956 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
30957 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
30958
30959 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30960
30961 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
30962
30963 @subsubheading Example
30964
30965 @smallexample
30966 (gdb)
30967 111-exec-continue
30968 111^running
30969
30970 (gdb)
30971 222-exec-interrupt
30972 222^done
30973 (gdb)
30974 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
30975 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30976 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
30977 (gdb)
30978
30979 (gdb)
30980 -exec-interrupt
30981 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
30982 (gdb)
30983 @end smallexample
30984
30985 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
30986 @findex -exec-jump
30987
30988 @subsubheading Synopsis
30989
30990 @smallexample
30991 -exec-jump @var{location}
30992 @end smallexample
30993
30994 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
30995 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
30996 different forms of @var{location}.
30997
30998 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30999
31000 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
31001
31002 @subsubheading Example
31003
31004 @smallexample
31005 -exec-jump foo.c:10
31006 *running,thread-id="all"
31007 ^running
31008 @end smallexample
31009
31010
31011 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
31012 @findex -exec-next
31013
31014 @subsubheading Synopsis
31015
31016 @smallexample
31017 -exec-next [--reverse]
31018 @end smallexample
31019
31020 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31021 of the next source line is reached.
31022
31023 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31024 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
31025 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
31026 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
31027 source line where the function was called.
31028
31029
31030 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31031
31032 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
31033
31034 @subsubheading Example
31035
31036 @smallexample
31037 -exec-next
31038 ^running
31039 (gdb)
31040 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
31041 (gdb)
31042 @end smallexample
31043
31044
31045 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
31046 @findex -exec-next-instruction
31047
31048 @subsubheading Synopsis
31049
31050 @smallexample
31051 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
31052 @end smallexample
31053
31054 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
31055 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
31056 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
31057 printed as well.
31058
31059 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31060 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
31061 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
31062 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
31063 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
31064
31065 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31066
31067 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
31068
31069 @subsubheading Example
31070
31071 @smallexample
31072 (gdb)
31073 -exec-next-instruction
31074 ^running
31075
31076 (gdb)
31077 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31078 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
31079 (gdb)
31080 @end smallexample
31081
31082
31083 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
31084 @findex -exec-return
31085
31086 @subsubheading Synopsis
31087
31088 @smallexample
31089 -exec-return
31090 @end smallexample
31091
31092 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
31093 Displays the new current frame.
31094
31095 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31096
31097 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
31098
31099 @subsubheading Example
31100
31101 @smallexample
31102 (gdb)
31103 200-break-insert callee4
31104 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
31105 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31106 (gdb)
31107 000-exec-run
31108 000^running
31109 (gdb)
31110 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31111 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
31112 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31113 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31114 (gdb)
31115 205-break-delete
31116 205^done
31117 (gdb)
31118 111-exec-return
31119 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
31120 args=[@{name="strarg",
31121 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
31122 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31123 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
31124 (gdb)
31125 @end smallexample
31126
31127
31128 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
31129 @findex -exec-run
31130
31131 @subsubheading Synopsis
31132
31133 @smallexample
31134 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
31135 @end smallexample
31136
31137 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
31138 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
31139 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
31140 the program has exited exceptionally.
31141
31142 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
31143 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
31144 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
31145 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
31146 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
31147
31148 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
31149 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
31150 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
31151 (@pxref{Starting}).
31152
31153 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31154
31155 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
31156
31157 @subsubheading Examples
31158
31159 @smallexample
31160 (gdb)
31161 -break-insert main
31162 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31163 (gdb)
31164 -exec-run
31165 ^running
31166 (gdb)
31167 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31168 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
31169 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31170 (gdb)
31171 @end smallexample
31172
31173 @noindent
31174 Program exited normally:
31175
31176 @smallexample
31177 (gdb)
31178 -exec-run
31179 ^running
31180 (gdb)
31181 x = 55
31182 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31183 (gdb)
31184 @end smallexample
31185
31186 @noindent
31187 Program exited exceptionally:
31188
31189 @smallexample
31190 (gdb)
31191 -exec-run
31192 ^running
31193 (gdb)
31194 x = 55
31195 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31196 (gdb)
31197 @end smallexample
31198
31199 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31200 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31201
31202 @smallexample
31203 (gdb)
31204 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31205 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31206 @end smallexample
31207
31208
31209 @c @subheading -exec-signal
31210
31211
31212 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31213 @findex -exec-step
31214
31215 @subsubheading Synopsis
31216
31217 @smallexample
31218 -exec-step [--reverse]
31219 @end smallexample
31220
31221 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31222 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31223 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31224 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31225 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31226 previously executed source line.
31227
31228 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31229
31230 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31231
31232 @subsubheading Example
31233
31234 Stepping into a function:
31235
31236 @smallexample
31237 -exec-step
31238 ^running
31239 (gdb)
31240 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31241 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31242 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31243 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31244 (gdb)
31245 @end smallexample
31246
31247 Regular stepping:
31248
31249 @smallexample
31250 -exec-step
31251 ^running
31252 (gdb)
31253 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31254 (gdb)
31255 @end smallexample
31256
31257
31258 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31259 @findex -exec-step-instruction
31260
31261 @subsubheading Synopsis
31262
31263 @smallexample
31264 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31265 @end smallexample
31266
31267 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31268 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31269 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31270 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31271 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31272 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31273 as well.
31274
31275 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31276
31277 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31278
31279 @subsubheading Example
31280
31281 @smallexample
31282 (gdb)
31283 -exec-step-instruction
31284 ^running
31285
31286 (gdb)
31287 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31288 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31289 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31290 (gdb)
31291 -exec-step-instruction
31292 ^running
31293
31294 (gdb)
31295 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31296 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31297 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31298 (gdb)
31299 @end smallexample
31300
31301
31302 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31303 @findex -exec-until
31304
31305 @subsubheading Synopsis
31306
31307 @smallexample
31308 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31309 @end smallexample
31310
31311 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31312 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31313 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31314 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31315
31316 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31317
31318 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31319
31320 @subsubheading Example
31321
31322 @smallexample
31323 (gdb)
31324 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
31325 ^running
31326 (gdb)
31327 x = 55
31328 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31329 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31330 (gdb)
31331 @end smallexample
31332
31333 @ignore
31334 @subheading -file-clear
31335 Is this going away????
31336 @end ignore
31337
31338 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31339 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31340 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31341
31342 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31343 @findex -enable-frame-filters
31344
31345 @smallexample
31346 -enable-frame-filters
31347 @end smallexample
31348
31349 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31350 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31351 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31352 request that this functionality be enabled.
31353
31354 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31355
31356 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31357 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31358
31359 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31360 @findex -stack-info-frame
31361
31362 @subsubheading Synopsis
31363
31364 @smallexample
31365 -stack-info-frame
31366 @end smallexample
31367
31368 Get info on the selected frame.
31369
31370 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31371
31372 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31373 (without arguments).
31374
31375 @subsubheading Example
31376
31377 @smallexample
31378 (gdb)
31379 -stack-info-frame
31380 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31381 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31382 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31383 (gdb)
31384 @end smallexample
31385
31386 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31387 @findex -stack-info-depth
31388
31389 @subsubheading Synopsis
31390
31391 @smallexample
31392 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31393 @end smallexample
31394
31395 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31396 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31397
31398 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31399
31400 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31401
31402 @subsubheading Example
31403
31404 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31405
31406 @smallexample
31407 (gdb)
31408 -stack-info-depth
31409 ^done,depth="12"
31410 (gdb)
31411 -stack-info-depth 4
31412 ^done,depth="4"
31413 (gdb)
31414 -stack-info-depth 12
31415 ^done,depth="12"
31416 (gdb)
31417 -stack-info-depth 11
31418 ^done,depth="11"
31419 (gdb)
31420 -stack-info-depth 13
31421 ^done,depth="12"
31422 (gdb)
31423 @end smallexample
31424
31425 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31426 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31427 @findex -stack-list-arguments
31428
31429 @subsubheading Synopsis
31430
31431 @smallexample
31432 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31433 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31434 @end smallexample
31435
31436 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31437 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31438 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31439 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31440 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31441 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31442 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31443 which case only existing frames will be returned.
31444
31445 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31446 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31447 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31448 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31449 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31450 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31451
31452 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31453 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31454 are still displayed, however.
31455
31456 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31457 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31458
31459 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31460
31461 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31462 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31463 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31464
31465 @subsubheading Example
31466
31467 @smallexample
31468 (gdb)
31469 -stack-list-frames
31470 ^done,
31471 stack=[
31472 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31473 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31474 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31475 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31476 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31477 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31478 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31479 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31480 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31481 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31482 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31483 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31484 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31485 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31486 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31487 (gdb)
31488 -stack-list-arguments 0
31489 ^done,
31490 stack-args=[
31491 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31492 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31493 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31494 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31495 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31496 (gdb)
31497 -stack-list-arguments 1
31498 ^done,
31499 stack-args=[
31500 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31501 frame=@{level="1",
31502 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31503 frame=@{level="2",args=[
31504 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31505 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31506 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31507 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31508 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31509 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31510 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31511 (gdb)
31512 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31513 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31514 (gdb)
31515 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31516 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31517 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31518 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31519 (gdb)
31520 @end smallexample
31521
31522 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31523
31524
31525 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31526 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31527 @findex -stack-list-frames
31528
31529 @subsubheading Synopsis
31530
31531 @smallexample
31532 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31533 @end smallexample
31534
31535 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31536 following info:
31537
31538 @table @samp
31539 @item @var{level}
31540 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31541 @item @var{addr}
31542 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31543 @item @var{func}
31544 Function name.
31545 @item @var{file}
31546 File name of the source file where the function lives.
31547 @item @var{fullname}
31548 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31549 @item @var{line}
31550 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31551 @item @var{from}
31552 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31553 if the frame's function is not known.
31554 @end table
31555
31556 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31557 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31558 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31559 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31560 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31561 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31562 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31563 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31564 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31565
31566 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31567
31568 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31569
31570 @subsubheading Example
31571
31572 Full stack backtrace:
31573
31574 @smallexample
31575 (gdb)
31576 -stack-list-frames
31577 ^done,stack=
31578 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31579 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31580 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31581 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31582 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31583 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31584 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31585 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31586 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31587 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31588 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31589 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31590 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31591 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31592 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31593 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31594 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31595 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31596 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31597 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31598 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31599 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31600 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
31601 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
31602 (gdb)
31603 @end smallexample
31604
31605 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
31606
31607 @smallexample
31608 (gdb)
31609 -stack-list-frames 3 5
31610 ^done,stack=
31611 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31612 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31613 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31614 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31615 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31616 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31617 (gdb)
31618 @end smallexample
31619
31620 Show a single frame:
31621
31622 @smallexample
31623 (gdb)
31624 -stack-list-frames 3 3
31625 ^done,stack=
31626 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31627 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31628 (gdb)
31629 @end smallexample
31630
31631
31632 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
31633 @findex -stack-list-locals
31634 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
31635
31636 @subsubheading Synopsis
31637
31638 @smallexample
31639 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31640 @end smallexample
31641
31642 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
31643 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31644 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31645 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31646 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31647 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
31648 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
31649 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
31650 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31651 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31652
31653 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31654 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
31655 variables are still displayed, however.
31656
31657 This command is deprecated in favor of the
31658 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31659
31660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31661
31662 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
31663
31664 @subsubheading Example
31665
31666 @smallexample
31667 (gdb)
31668 -stack-list-locals 0
31669 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
31670 (gdb)
31671 -stack-list-locals --all-values
31672 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
31673 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
31674 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
31675 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
31676 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
31677 (gdb)
31678 @end smallexample
31679
31680 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
31681 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
31682 @findex -stack-list-variables
31683
31684 @subsubheading Synopsis
31685
31686 @smallexample
31687 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31688 @end smallexample
31689
31690 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
31691 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31692 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31693 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31694 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31695 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31696 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31697
31698 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31699 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
31700 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
31701
31702 @subsubheading Example
31703
31704 @smallexample
31705 (gdb)
31706 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
31707 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
31708 (gdb)
31709 @end smallexample
31710
31711
31712 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
31713 @findex -stack-select-frame
31714
31715 @subsubheading Synopsis
31716
31717 @smallexample
31718 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
31719 @end smallexample
31720
31721 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
31722 the stack.
31723
31724 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
31725 option to every command.
31726
31727 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31728
31729 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
31730 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
31731
31732 @subsubheading Example
31733
31734 @smallexample
31735 (gdb)
31736 -stack-select-frame 2
31737 ^done
31738 (gdb)
31739 @end smallexample
31740
31741 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31742 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
31743 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
31744
31745 @ignore
31746
31747 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31748
31749 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
31750 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
31751 used by @code{Insight}.
31752
31753 The two main reasons for that are:
31754
31755 @enumerate 1
31756 @item
31757 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
31758
31759 @item
31760 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
31761 now).
31762 @end enumerate
31763
31764 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
31765 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
31766 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
31767 hints about their use.
31768
31769 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
31770 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
31771 least, the following operations:
31772
31773 @itemize @bullet
31774 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
31775 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
31776 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
31777 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
31778 @end itemize
31779
31780 @end ignore
31781
31782 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
31783
31784 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31785
31786 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
31787 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
31788 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
31789 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
31790 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
31791 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
31792 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
31793 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
31794 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
31795 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
31796 object, or to change display format.
31797
31798 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
31799 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
31800 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
31801 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
31802 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
31803 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
31804 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
31805 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
31806 child will be created.
31807
31808 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
31809 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
31810 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
31811 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
31812 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
31813
31814 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
31815 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
31816 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
31817 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
31818 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
31819 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
31820 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
31821 variables that frontend has created.
31822
31823 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
31824 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
31825 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
31826 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
31827 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
31828 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
31829 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
31830 implicitly updated.
31831
31832 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
31833 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
31834 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
31835 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
31836 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
31837 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
31838 frame. Consider this example:
31839
31840 @smallexample
31841 void do_work(...)
31842 @{
31843 struct work_state state;
31844
31845 if (...)
31846 do_work(...);
31847 @}
31848 @end smallexample
31849
31850 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
31851 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
31852 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
31853 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
31854 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
31855
31856 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
31857 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
31858 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
31859 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
31860 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
31861 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
31862
31863 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
31864 access this functionality:
31865
31866 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
31867 @item @strong{Operation}
31868 @tab @strong{Description}
31869
31870 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
31871 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
31872 @item @code{-var-create}
31873 @tab create a variable object
31874 @item @code{-var-delete}
31875 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
31876 @item @code{-var-set-format}
31877 @tab set the display format of this variable
31878 @item @code{-var-show-format}
31879 @tab show the display format of this variable
31880 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
31881 @tab tells how many children this object has
31882 @item @code{-var-list-children}
31883 @tab return a list of the object's children
31884 @item @code{-var-info-type}
31885 @tab show the type of this variable object
31886 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
31887 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
31888 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
31889 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
31890 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
31891 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
31892 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
31893 @tab get the value of this variable
31894 @item @code{-var-assign}
31895 @tab set the value of this variable
31896 @item @code{-var-update}
31897 @tab update the variable and its children
31898 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
31899 @tab set frozeness attribute
31900 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
31901 @tab set range of children to display on update
31902 @end multitable
31903
31904 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
31905 how it can be used.
31906
31907 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
31908
31909 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
31910 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
31911
31912 @smallexample
31913 -enable-pretty-printing
31914 @end smallexample
31915
31916 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
31917 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
31918 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31919 request that this functionality be enabled.
31920
31921 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31922
31923 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31924 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31925
31926 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
31927 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
31928
31929 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
31930 @findex -var-create
31931
31932 @subsubheading Synopsis
31933
31934 @smallexample
31935 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
31936 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
31937 @end smallexample
31938
31939 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
31940 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
31941 register.
31942
31943 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
31944 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
31945 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
31946 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
31947 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
31948
31949 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
31950 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
31951 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
31952 object must be created.
31953
31954 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
31955 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
31956
31957 @itemize @bullet
31958 @item
31959 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
31960
31961 @item
31962 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
31963
31964 @item
31965 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
31966 @end itemize
31967
31968 @cindex dynamic varobj
31969 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
31970 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
31971 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
31972 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
31973 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
31974 compatibility for existing clients.
31975
31976 @subsubheading Result
31977
31978 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
31979 are:
31980
31981 @table @samp
31982 @item name
31983 The name of the varobj.
31984
31985 @item numchild
31986 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
31987 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
31988 @samp{has_more} attribute.
31989
31990 @item value
31991 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
31992 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
31993 will not be interesting.
31994
31995 @item type
31996 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
31997 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
31998 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
31999 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32000 @emph{declared} one.
32001
32002 @item thread-id
32003 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
32004 thread's identifier.
32005
32006 @item has_more
32007 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
32008 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
32009
32010 @item dynamic
32011 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32012 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32013 then this attribute will not be present.
32014
32015 @item displayhint
32016 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32017 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32018 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32019 @end table
32020
32021 Typical output will look like this:
32022
32023 @smallexample
32024 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
32025 has_more="@var{has_more}"
32026 @end smallexample
32027
32028
32029 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
32030 @findex -var-delete
32031
32032 @subsubheading Synopsis
32033
32034 @smallexample
32035 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
32036 @end smallexample
32037
32038 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
32039 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
32040
32041 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
32042
32043
32044 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
32045 @findex -var-set-format
32046
32047 @subsubheading Synopsis
32048
32049 @smallexample
32050 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
32051 @end smallexample
32052
32053 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
32054 @var{format-spec}.
32055
32056 @anchor{-var-set-format}
32057 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
32058
32059 @smallexample
32060 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
32061 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
32062 @end smallexample
32063
32064 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
32065 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
32066 for pointers, etc.).
32067
32068 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
32069 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
32070
32071 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
32072 @findex -var-show-format
32073
32074 @subsubheading Synopsis
32075
32076 @smallexample
32077 -var-show-format @var{name}
32078 @end smallexample
32079
32080 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
32081
32082 @smallexample
32083 @var{format} @expansion{}
32084 @var{format-spec}
32085 @end smallexample
32086
32087
32088 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
32089 @findex -var-info-num-children
32090
32091 @subsubheading Synopsis
32092
32093 @smallexample
32094 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
32095 @end smallexample
32096
32097 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
32098
32099 @smallexample
32100 numchild=@var{n}
32101 @end smallexample
32102
32103 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
32104 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
32105 be available.
32106
32107
32108 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
32109 @findex -var-list-children
32110
32111 @subsubheading Synopsis
32112
32113 @smallexample
32114 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
32115 @end smallexample
32116 @anchor{-var-list-children}
32117
32118 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
32119 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
32120 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
32121 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
32122 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
32123 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
32124 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
32125 and unions.
32126
32127 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
32128 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
32129 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
32130 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
32131 reported.
32132
32133 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
32134 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
32135 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
32136 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
32137 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
32138 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
32139 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
32140 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
32141 the visible items.
32142
32143 For each child the following results are returned:
32144
32145 @table @var
32146
32147 @item name
32148 Name of the variable object created for this child.
32149
32150 @item exp
32151 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
32152 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
32153
32154 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
32155 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
32156
32157 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
32158 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
32159 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
32160 type and value are not present.
32161
32162 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
32163 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
32164 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
32165
32166 @item numchild
32167 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
32168 0.
32169
32170 @item type
32171 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32172 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32173 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32174 @emph{declared} one.
32175
32176 @item value
32177 If values were requested, this is the value.
32178
32179 @item thread-id
32180 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32181 Otherwise this result is not present.
32182
32183 @item frozen
32184 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32185 @end table
32186
32187 The result may have its own attributes:
32188
32189 @table @samp
32190 @item displayhint
32191 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32192 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32193 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32194
32195 @item has_more
32196 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32197 remaining after the end of the selected range.
32198 @end table
32199
32200 @subsubheading Example
32201
32202 @smallexample
32203 (gdb)
32204 -var-list-children n
32205 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32206 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32207 (gdb)
32208 -var-list-children --all-values n
32209 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32210 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32211 @end smallexample
32212
32213
32214 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32215 @findex -var-info-type
32216
32217 @subsubheading Synopsis
32218
32219 @smallexample
32220 -var-info-type @var{name}
32221 @end smallexample
32222
32223 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32224 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32225 @value{GDBN} CLI:
32226
32227 @smallexample
32228 type=@var{typename}
32229 @end smallexample
32230
32231
32232 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32233 @findex -var-info-expression
32234
32235 @subsubheading Synopsis
32236
32237 @smallexample
32238 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32239 @end smallexample
32240
32241 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32242 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32243 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32244
32245 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32246 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32247
32248 @smallexample
32249 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32250 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32251 @end smallexample
32252
32253 @noindent
32254 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
32255
32256 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32257 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32258 is of limited use.
32259
32260 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32261 @findex -var-info-path-expression
32262
32263 @subsubheading Synopsis
32264
32265 @smallexample
32266 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32267 @end smallexample
32268
32269 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32270 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32271 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32272 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32273 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32274 watchpoint from a variable object.
32275
32276 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32277 and will give an error when invoked on one.
32278
32279 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32280 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32281 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32282 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32283 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32284 @smallexample
32285 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32286 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32287 @end smallexample
32288
32289 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32290 @findex -var-show-attributes
32291
32292 @subsubheading Synopsis
32293
32294 @smallexample
32295 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32296 @end smallexample
32297
32298 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32299
32300 @smallexample
32301 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32302 @end smallexample
32303
32304 @noindent
32305 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32306
32307 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32308 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
32309
32310 @subsubheading Synopsis
32311
32312 @smallexample
32313 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32314 @end smallexample
32315
32316 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32317 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32318 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32319 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32320 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32321 the current display format will be used. The current display format
32322 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32323
32324 @smallexample
32325 value=@var{value}
32326 @end smallexample
32327
32328 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32329 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32330
32331 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32332 @findex -var-assign
32333
32334 @subsubheading Synopsis
32335
32336 @smallexample
32337 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32338 @end smallexample
32339
32340 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32341 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32342 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32343 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32344
32345 @subsubheading Example
32346
32347 @smallexample
32348 (gdb)
32349 -var-assign var1 3
32350 ^done,value="3"
32351 (gdb)
32352 -var-update *
32353 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32354 (gdb)
32355 @end smallexample
32356
32357 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32358 @findex -var-update
32359
32360 @subsubheading Synopsis
32361
32362 @smallexample
32363 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32364 @end smallexample
32365
32366 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32367 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32368 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32369 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32370 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32371 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32372 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32373 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32374 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32375 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32376 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32377 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32378 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32379
32380 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32381 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32382 diagnostic.
32383
32384 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32385 only the selected range of children will be reported.
32386
32387 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32388 @samp{changelist}.
32389
32390 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32391
32392 @table @samp
32393 @item name
32394 The name of the varobj.
32395
32396 @item value
32397 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32398 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32399
32400 @item in_scope
32401 @anchor{-var-update}
32402 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32403
32404 @table @code
32405 @item "true"
32406 The variable object's current value is valid.
32407
32408 @item "false"
32409 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32410 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32411 scope.
32412
32413 @item "invalid"
32414 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32415 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32416 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32417 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32418 objects.
32419 @end table
32420
32421 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32422 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32423
32424 @item type_changed
32425 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32426 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32427 be @samp{false}.
32428
32429 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32430 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32431 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32432 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32433 unset.
32434
32435 @item new_type
32436 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32437 hold the new type.
32438
32439 @item new_num_children
32440 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32441 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32442
32443 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32444 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32445 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32446 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32447 children which may be available.
32448
32449 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32450 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32451 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32452 only happen at the end of the update range).
32453
32454 @item displayhint
32455 The display hint, if any.
32456
32457 @item has_more
32458 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32459 available outside the varobj's update range.
32460
32461 @item dynamic
32462 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32463 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32464 then this attribute will not be present.
32465
32466 @item new_children
32467 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32468 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32469 be listed in this attribute.
32470 @end table
32471
32472 @subsubheading Example
32473
32474 @smallexample
32475 (gdb)
32476 -var-assign var1 3
32477 ^done,value="3"
32478 (gdb)
32479 -var-update --all-values var1
32480 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32481 type_changed="false"@}]
32482 (gdb)
32483 @end smallexample
32484
32485 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32486 @findex -var-set-frozen
32487 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32488
32489 @subsubheading Synopsis
32490
32491 @smallexample
32492 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32493 @end smallexample
32494
32495 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32496 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32497 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32498 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32499 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32500 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32501 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32502 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32503 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32504 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32505 @code{-var-update} does.
32506
32507 @subsubheading Example
32508
32509 @smallexample
32510 (gdb)
32511 -var-set-frozen V 1
32512 ^done
32513 (gdb)
32514 @end smallexample
32515
32516 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32517 @findex -var-set-update-range
32518 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32519
32520 @subsubheading Synopsis
32521
32522 @smallexample
32523 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32524 @end smallexample
32525
32526 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32527 @code{-var-update}.
32528
32529 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32530 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32531 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32532 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32533
32534 @subsubheading Example
32535
32536 @smallexample
32537 (gdb)
32538 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
32539 ^done
32540 @end smallexample
32541
32542 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32543 @findex -var-set-visualizer
32544 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32545
32546 @subsubheading Synopsis
32547
32548 @smallexample
32549 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32550 @end smallexample
32551
32552 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32553
32554 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32555 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32556
32557 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32558 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32559 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32560 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32561 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32562 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32563 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32564
32565 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32566 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32567 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32568 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32569
32570 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32571 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32572 can be used to check this.
32573
32574 @subsubheading Example
32575
32576 Resetting the visualizer:
32577
32578 @smallexample
32579 (gdb)
32580 -var-set-visualizer V None
32581 ^done
32582 @end smallexample
32583
32584 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
32585
32586 @smallexample
32587 (gdb)
32588 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
32589 ^done
32590 @end smallexample
32591
32592 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
32593 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
32594
32595 @smallexample
32596 (gdb)
32597 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
32598 ^done
32599 @end smallexample
32600
32601 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32602 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
32603 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
32604
32605 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
32606 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
32607 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
32608 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
32609
32610 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
32611 @c @subheading -data-assign
32612 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
32613 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
32614 @c set variable
32615 @c @subsubheading Example
32616 @c N.A.
32617
32618 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
32619 @findex -data-disassemble
32620
32621 @subsubheading Synopsis
32622
32623 @smallexample
32624 -data-disassemble
32625 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
32626 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
32627 -- @var{mode}
32628 @end smallexample
32629
32630 @noindent
32631 Where:
32632
32633 @table @samp
32634 @item @var{start-addr}
32635 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
32636 @item @var{end-addr}
32637 is the end address
32638 @item @var{filename}
32639 is the name of the file to disassemble
32640 @item @var{linenum}
32641 is the line number to disassemble around
32642 @item @var{lines}
32643 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
32644 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
32645 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
32646 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
32647 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
32648 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
32649 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
32650 are displayed.
32651 @item @var{mode}
32652 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
32653 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
32654 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
32655 @end table
32656
32657 @subsubheading Result
32658
32659 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
32660 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
32661 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
32662
32663 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
32664 following fields:
32665
32666 @table @code
32667 @item address
32668 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
32669
32670 @item func-name
32671 The name of the function this instruction is within.
32672
32673 @item offset
32674 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
32675
32676 @item inst
32677 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
32678
32679 @item opcodes
32680 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
32681 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
32682
32683 @end table
32684
32685 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
32686 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
32687
32688 @table @code
32689 @item line
32690 The line number within @samp{file}.
32691
32692 @item file
32693 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
32694 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
32695 used.
32696
32697 @item fullname
32698 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
32699 using the source file search path
32700 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
32701 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
32702
32703 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
32704 present in the debug information.
32705
32706 @item line_asm_insn
32707 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
32708 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
32709 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
32710 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
32711 @samp{opcodes}.
32712
32713 @end table
32714
32715 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
32716 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
32717 adjust its format.
32718
32719 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32720
32721 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
32722
32723 @subsubheading Example
32724
32725 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
32726
32727 @smallexample
32728 (gdb)
32729 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
32730 ^done,
32731 asm_insns=[
32732 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32733 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32734 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32735 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32736 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
32737 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
32738 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
32739 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32740 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
32741 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
32742 (gdb)
32743 @end smallexample
32744
32745 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
32746 @code{main}.
32747
32748 @smallexample
32749 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
32750 ^done,asm_insns=[
32751 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32752 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32753 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32754 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32755 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32756 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32757 [@dots{}]
32758 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
32759 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
32760 (gdb)
32761 @end smallexample
32762
32763 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
32764
32765 @smallexample
32766 (gdb)
32767 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
32768 ^done,asm_insns=[
32769 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32770 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32771 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32772 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32773 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32774 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
32775 (gdb)
32776 @end smallexample
32777
32778 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
32779
32780 @smallexample
32781 (gdb)
32782 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
32783 ^done,asm_insns=[
32784 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
32785 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32786 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32787 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
32788 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
32789 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
32790 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32791 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32792 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
32793 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32794 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32795 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
32796 (gdb)
32797 @end smallexample
32798
32799
32800 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
32801 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
32802
32803 @subsubheading Synopsis
32804
32805 @smallexample
32806 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
32807 @end smallexample
32808
32809 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
32810 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
32811 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
32812
32813 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32814
32815 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
32816 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
32817 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
32818
32819 @subsubheading Example
32820
32821 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
32822 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
32823 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
32824 output.
32825
32826 @smallexample
32827 211-data-evaluate-expression A
32828 211^done,value="1"
32829 (gdb)
32830 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
32831 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
32832 (gdb)
32833 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
32834 411^done,value="4"
32835 (gdb)
32836 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
32837 511^done,value="4"
32838 (gdb)
32839 @end smallexample
32840
32841
32842 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
32843 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
32844
32845 @subsubheading Synopsis
32846
32847 @smallexample
32848 -data-list-changed-registers
32849 @end smallexample
32850
32851 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
32852
32853 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32854
32855 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
32856 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
32857
32858 @subsubheading Example
32859
32860 On a PPC MBX board:
32861
32862 @smallexample
32863 (gdb)
32864 -exec-continue
32865 ^running
32866
32867 (gdb)
32868 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
32869 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
32870 line="5"@}
32871 (gdb)
32872 -data-list-changed-registers
32873 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
32874 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
32875 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
32876 (gdb)
32877 @end smallexample
32878
32879
32880 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
32881 @findex -data-list-register-names
32882
32883 @subsubheading Synopsis
32884
32885 @smallexample
32886 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
32887 @end smallexample
32888
32889 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
32890 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
32891 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
32892 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
32893 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
32894 include empty register names.
32895
32896 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32897
32898 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
32899 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
32900 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
32901
32902 @subsubheading Example
32903
32904 For the PPC MBX board:
32905 @smallexample
32906 (gdb)
32907 -data-list-register-names
32908 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
32909 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
32910 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
32911 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
32912 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
32913 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
32914 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
32915 (gdb)
32916 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
32917 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
32918 (gdb)
32919 @end smallexample
32920
32921 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
32922 @findex -data-list-register-values
32923
32924 @subsubheading Synopsis
32925
32926 @smallexample
32927 -data-list-register-values
32928 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
32929 @end smallexample
32930
32931 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
32932 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
32933 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
32934 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
32935 returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
32936 the available registers are to be returned.
32937
32938 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
32939
32940 @table @code
32941 @item x
32942 Hexadecimal
32943 @item o
32944 Octal
32945 @item t
32946 Binary
32947 @item d
32948 Decimal
32949 @item r
32950 Raw
32951 @item N
32952 Natural
32953 @end table
32954
32955 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32956
32957 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
32958 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
32959
32960 @subsubheading Example
32961
32962 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
32963 don't appear in the actual output):
32964
32965 @smallexample
32966 (gdb)
32967 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
32968 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
32969 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
32970 (gdb)
32971 -data-list-register-values x
32972 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
32973 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32974 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
32975 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
32976 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
32977 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
32978 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
32979 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
32980 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
32981 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32982 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
32983 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
32984 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
32985 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
32986 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
32987 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
32988 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
32989 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
32990 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
32991 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
32992 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
32993 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
32994 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
32995 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
32996 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
32997 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
32998 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
32999 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
33000 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
33001 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
33002 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
33003 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
33004 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33005 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
33006 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
33007 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
33008 (gdb)
33009 @end smallexample
33010
33011
33012 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
33013 @findex -data-read-memory
33014
33015 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
33016
33017 @subsubheading Synopsis
33018
33019 @smallexample
33020 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33021 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
33022 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
33023 @end smallexample
33024
33025 @noindent
33026 where:
33027
33028 @table @samp
33029 @item @var{address}
33030 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33031 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33032 quoted using the C convention.
33033
33034 @item @var{word-format}
33035 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
33036 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
33037 ,Output Formats}).
33038
33039 @item @var{word-size}
33040 The size of each memory word in bytes.
33041
33042 @item @var{nr-rows}
33043 The number of rows in the output table.
33044
33045 @item @var{nr-cols}
33046 The number of columns in the output table.
33047
33048 @item @var{aschar}
33049 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
33050 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
33051 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
33052 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
33053
33054 @item @var{byte-offset}
33055 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
33056 @end table
33057
33058 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
33059 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
33060 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
33061 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
33062 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
33063 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
33064 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
33065 @samp{addr}.
33066
33067 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
33068 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
33069 @samp{prev-page}.
33070
33071 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33072
33073 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
33074 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
33075
33076 @subsubheading Example
33077
33078 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
33079 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
33080 word. Display each word in hex.
33081
33082 @smallexample
33083 (gdb)
33084 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
33085 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
33086 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
33087 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
33088 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
33089 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
33090 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
33091 (gdb)
33092 @end smallexample
33093
33094 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
33095 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
33096
33097 @smallexample
33098 (gdb)
33099 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
33100 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
33101 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
33102 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
33103 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
33104 (gdb)
33105 @end smallexample
33106
33107 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
33108 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
33109 used as the non-printable character.
33110
33111 @smallexample
33112 (gdb)
33113 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
33114 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
33115 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
33116 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
33117 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33118 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33119 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33120 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33121 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
33122 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
33123 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
33124 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
33125 (gdb)
33126 @end smallexample
33127
33128 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
33129 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
33130
33131 @subsubheading Synopsis
33132
33133 @smallexample
33134 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33135 @var{address} @var{count}
33136 @end smallexample
33137
33138 @noindent
33139 where:
33140
33141 @table @samp
33142 @item @var{address}
33143 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33144 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33145 quoted using the C convention.
33146
33147 @item @var{count}
33148 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
33149
33150 @item @var{byte-offset}
33151 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
33152 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
33153 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
33154 perform address arithmetics itself.
33155
33156 @end table
33157
33158 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
33159 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
33160 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
33161 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
33162 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
33163 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
33164
33165 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
33166 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
33167 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
33168 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
33169 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
33170 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
33171 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33172 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
33173
33174 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33175 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33176 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33177 and has the following fields:
33178
33179 @table @code
33180 @item begin
33181 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33182
33183 @item end
33184 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33185
33186 @item offset
33187 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33188 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33189
33190 @item contents
33191 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33192
33193 @end table
33194
33195
33196
33197 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33198
33199 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33200
33201 @subsubheading Example
33202
33203 @smallexample
33204 (gdb)
33205 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33206 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33207 end="0xbffff15e",
33208 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33209 (gdb)
33210 @end smallexample
33211
33212
33213 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33214 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33215
33216 @subsubheading Synopsis
33217
33218 @smallexample
33219 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33220 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33221 @end smallexample
33222
33223 @noindent
33224 where:
33225
33226 @table @samp
33227 @item @var{address}
33228 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33229 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33230 quoted using the C convention.
33231
33232 @item @var{contents}
33233 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33234
33235 @item @var{count}
33236 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33237 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33238 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33239
33240 @end table
33241
33242 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33243
33244 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33245
33246 @subsubheading Example
33247
33248 @smallexample
33249 (gdb)
33250 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33251 ^done
33252 (gdb)
33253 @end smallexample
33254
33255 @smallexample
33256 (gdb)
33257 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33258 ^done
33259 (gdb)
33260 @end smallexample
33261
33262 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33263 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33264 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33265
33266 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33267 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33268
33269 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33270 @findex -trace-find
33271
33272 @subsubheading Synopsis
33273
33274 @smallexample
33275 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33276 @end smallexample
33277
33278 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33279 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33280 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33281
33282 @table @samp
33283
33284 @item none
33285 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33286
33287 @item frame-number
33288 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33289 that index.
33290
33291 @item tracepoint-number
33292 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33293 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33294
33295 @item pc
33296 An address is required as parameter. Finds
33297 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33298 address.
33299
33300 @item pc-inside-range
33301 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33302 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33303 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33304
33305 @item pc-outside-range
33306 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33307 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33308 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33309
33310 @item line
33311 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33312 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33313 the specified location.
33314
33315 @end table
33316
33317 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33318 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33319
33320 @table @samp
33321 @item found
33322 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33323 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33324
33325 @item traceframe
33326 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33327 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33328
33329 @item tracepoint
33330 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33331 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33332
33333 @item frame
33334 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33335 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33336 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33337
33338 @end table
33339
33340 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33341
33342 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33343
33344 @subheading -trace-define-variable
33345 @findex -trace-define-variable
33346
33347 @subsubheading Synopsis
33348
33349 @smallexample
33350 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33351 @end smallexample
33352
33353 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33354 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33355 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33356 with the @samp{$} character.
33357
33358 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33359
33360 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33361
33362 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33363 @findex -trace-frame-collected
33364
33365 @subsubheading Synopsis
33366
33367 @smallexample
33368 -trace-frame-collected
33369 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33370 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33371 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33372 [--memory-contents]
33373 @end smallexample
33374
33375 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33376 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33377 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33378 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33379 See the output description table below for more details.
33380
33381 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33382 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33383 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33384 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33385 memory range and which is a computed expression.
33386
33387 For instance, if the actions were
33388 @smallexample
33389 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33390 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33391 @end smallexample
33392
33393 @noindent
33394 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33395 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33396 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33397 objects would be computed expressions.
33398
33399 An example output would be:
33400
33401 @smallexample
33402 (gdb)
33403 -trace-frame-collected
33404 ^done,
33405 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33406 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33407 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33408 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33409 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33410 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33411 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33412 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33413 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33414 ...
33415 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33416 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33417 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33418 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33419 (gdb)
33420 @end smallexample
33421
33422 Where:
33423
33424 @table @code
33425 @item explicit-variables
33426 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33427 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33428 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33429 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33430 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33431 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33432 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33433 arrays, structures and unions.
33434
33435 @item computed-expressions
33436 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33437 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33438 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33439 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33440
33441 @item registers
33442 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33443 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33444 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33445 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33446 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33447
33448 @item tvars
33449 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
33450 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
33451 current value are returned.
33452
33453 @item memory
33454 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
33455 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
33456 collected memory range and has the following fields:
33457
33458 @table @code
33459 @item address
33460 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
33461
33462 @item length
33463 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
33464
33465 @item contents
33466 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
33467 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
33468
33469 @end table
33470
33471 @end table
33472
33473 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33474
33475 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33476
33477 @subsubheading Example
33478
33479 @subheading -trace-list-variables
33480 @findex -trace-list-variables
33481
33482 @subsubheading Synopsis
33483
33484 @smallexample
33485 -trace-list-variables
33486 @end smallexample
33487
33488 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33489 table has the following fields:
33490
33491 @table @samp
33492 @item name
33493 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33494
33495 @item initial
33496 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33497 field is always present.
33498
33499 @item current
33500 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33501 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33502 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33503 presently running.
33504
33505 @end table
33506
33507 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33508
33509 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33510
33511 @subsubheading Example
33512
33513 @smallexample
33514 (gdb)
33515 -trace-list-variables
33516 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33517 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33518 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33519 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33520 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33521 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33522 (gdb)
33523 @end smallexample
33524
33525 @subheading -trace-save
33526 @findex -trace-save
33527
33528 @subsubheading Synopsis
33529
33530 @smallexample
33531 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33532 @end smallexample
33533
33534 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33535 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33536 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33537 to perform the save.
33538
33539 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33540
33541 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33542
33543
33544 @subheading -trace-start
33545 @findex -trace-start
33546
33547 @subsubheading Synopsis
33548
33549 @smallexample
33550 -trace-start
33551 @end smallexample
33552
33553 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33554 have any fields.
33555
33556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33557
33558 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33559
33560 @subheading -trace-status
33561 @findex -trace-status
33562
33563 @subsubheading Synopsis
33564
33565 @smallexample
33566 -trace-status
33567 @end smallexample
33568
33569 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33570 the following fields:
33571
33572 @table @samp
33573
33574 @item supported
33575 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33576 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33577 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33578 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
33579 started. This field is always present.
33580
33581 @item running
33582 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
33583 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
33584 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33585
33586 @item stop-reason
33587 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
33588 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
33589 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
33590 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
33591 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
33592 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
33593 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
33594 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
33595 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33596
33597 @item stopping-tracepoint
33598 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
33599 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
33600 @samp{passcount}.
33601
33602 @item frames
33603 @itemx frames-created
33604 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
33605 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
33606 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
33607 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
33608
33609 @item buffer-size
33610 @itemx buffer-free
33611 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
33612 remaining space. These fields are optional.
33613
33614 @item circular
33615 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33616 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33617 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33618 and may fill up.
33619
33620 @item disconnected
33621 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33622 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33623 that the trace run will stop.
33624
33625 @item trace-file
33626 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
33627 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
33628
33629 @end table
33630
33631 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33632
33633 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
33634
33635 @subheading -trace-stop
33636 @findex -trace-stop
33637
33638 @subsubheading Synopsis
33639
33640 @smallexample
33641 -trace-stop
33642 @end smallexample
33643
33644 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
33645 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
33646 @samp{running} fields are not output.
33647
33648 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33649
33650 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
33651
33652
33653 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33654 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
33655 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
33656
33657
33658 @ignore
33659 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
33660 @findex -symbol-info-address
33661
33662 @subsubheading Synopsis
33663
33664 @smallexample
33665 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
33666 @end smallexample
33667
33668 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
33669
33670 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33671
33672 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
33673
33674 @subsubheading Example
33675 N.A.
33676
33677
33678 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
33679 @findex -symbol-info-file
33680
33681 @subsubheading Synopsis
33682
33683 @smallexample
33684 -symbol-info-file
33685 @end smallexample
33686
33687 Show the file for the symbol.
33688
33689 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33690
33691 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
33692 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
33693
33694 @subsubheading Example
33695 N.A.
33696
33697
33698 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
33699 @findex -symbol-info-function
33700
33701 @subsubheading Synopsis
33702
33703 @smallexample
33704 -symbol-info-function
33705 @end smallexample
33706
33707 Show which function the symbol lives in.
33708
33709 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33710
33711 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
33712
33713 @subsubheading Example
33714 N.A.
33715
33716
33717 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
33718 @findex -symbol-info-line
33719
33720 @subsubheading Synopsis
33721
33722 @smallexample
33723 -symbol-info-line
33724 @end smallexample
33725
33726 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
33727
33728 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33729
33730 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
33731 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
33732
33733 @subsubheading Example
33734 N.A.
33735
33736
33737 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
33738 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
33739
33740 @subsubheading Synopsis
33741
33742 @smallexample
33743 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
33744 @end smallexample
33745
33746 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
33747
33748 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33749
33750 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
33751
33752 @subsubheading Example
33753 N.A.
33754
33755
33756 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
33757 @findex -symbol-list-functions
33758
33759 @subsubheading Synopsis
33760
33761 @smallexample
33762 -symbol-list-functions
33763 @end smallexample
33764
33765 List the functions in the executable.
33766
33767 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33768
33769 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
33770 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33771
33772 @subsubheading Example
33773 N.A.
33774 @end ignore
33775
33776
33777 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
33778 @findex -symbol-list-lines
33779
33780 @subsubheading Synopsis
33781
33782 @smallexample
33783 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
33784 @end smallexample
33785
33786 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
33787 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
33788 ascending PC order.
33789
33790 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33791
33792 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33793
33794 @subsubheading Example
33795 @smallexample
33796 (gdb)
33797 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
33798 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
33799 (gdb)
33800 @end smallexample
33801
33802
33803 @ignore
33804 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
33805 @findex -symbol-list-types
33806
33807 @subsubheading Synopsis
33808
33809 @smallexample
33810 -symbol-list-types
33811 @end smallexample
33812
33813 List all the type names.
33814
33815 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33816
33817 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
33818 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33819
33820 @subsubheading Example
33821 N.A.
33822
33823
33824 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
33825 @findex -symbol-list-variables
33826
33827 @subsubheading Synopsis
33828
33829 @smallexample
33830 -symbol-list-variables
33831 @end smallexample
33832
33833 List all the global and static variable names.
33834
33835 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33836
33837 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33838
33839 @subsubheading Example
33840 N.A.
33841
33842
33843 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
33844 @findex -symbol-locate
33845
33846 @subsubheading Synopsis
33847
33848 @smallexample
33849 -symbol-locate
33850 @end smallexample
33851
33852 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33853
33854 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
33855
33856 @subsubheading Example
33857 N.A.
33858
33859
33860 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
33861 @findex -symbol-type
33862
33863 @subsubheading Synopsis
33864
33865 @smallexample
33866 -symbol-type @var{variable}
33867 @end smallexample
33868
33869 Show type of @var{variable}.
33870
33871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33872
33873 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
33874 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
33875
33876 @subsubheading Example
33877 N.A.
33878 @end ignore
33879
33880
33881 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33882 @node GDB/MI File Commands
33883 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
33884
33885 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
33886 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
33887
33888 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
33889 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
33890
33891 @subsubheading Synopsis
33892
33893 @smallexample
33894 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
33895 @end smallexample
33896
33897 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
33898 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
33899 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
33900 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
33901 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
33902 notification.
33903
33904 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33905
33906 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
33907
33908 @subsubheading Example
33909
33910 @smallexample
33911 (gdb)
33912 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33913 ^done
33914 (gdb)
33915 @end smallexample
33916
33917
33918 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
33919 @findex -file-exec-file
33920
33921 @subsubheading Synopsis
33922
33923 @smallexample
33924 -file-exec-file @var{file}
33925 @end smallexample
33926
33927 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
33928 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
33929 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
33930 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
33931 notification.
33932
33933 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33934
33935 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
33936
33937 @subsubheading Example
33938
33939 @smallexample
33940 (gdb)
33941 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33942 ^done
33943 (gdb)
33944 @end smallexample
33945
33946
33947 @ignore
33948 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
33949 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
33950
33951 @subsubheading Synopsis
33952
33953 @smallexample
33954 -file-list-exec-sections
33955 @end smallexample
33956
33957 List the sections of the current executable file.
33958
33959 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33960
33961 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
33962 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
33963 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
33964
33965 @subsubheading Example
33966 N.A.
33967 @end ignore
33968
33969
33970 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
33971 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
33972
33973 @subsubheading Synopsis
33974
33975 @smallexample
33976 -file-list-exec-source-file
33977 @end smallexample
33978
33979 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
33980 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
33981 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
33982 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
33983
33984 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33985
33986 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
33987
33988 @subsubheading Example
33989
33990 @smallexample
33991 (gdb)
33992 123-file-list-exec-source-file
33993 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
33994 (gdb)
33995 @end smallexample
33996
33997
33998 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
33999 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
34000
34001 @subsubheading Synopsis
34002
34003 @smallexample
34004 -file-list-exec-source-files
34005 @end smallexample
34006
34007 List the source files for the current executable.
34008
34009 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
34010 name) of a source file.
34011
34012 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34013
34014 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
34015 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
34016
34017 @subsubheading Example
34018 @smallexample
34019 (gdb)
34020 -file-list-exec-source-files
34021 ^done,files=[
34022 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
34023 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
34024 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
34025 (gdb)
34026 @end smallexample
34027
34028 @ignore
34029 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
34030 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
34031
34032 @subsubheading Synopsis
34033
34034 @smallexample
34035 -file-list-shared-libraries
34036 @end smallexample
34037
34038 List the shared libraries in the program.
34039
34040 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34041
34042 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
34043
34044 @subsubheading Example
34045 N.A.
34046
34047
34048 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
34049 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
34050
34051 @subsubheading Synopsis
34052
34053 @smallexample
34054 -file-list-symbol-files
34055 @end smallexample
34056
34057 List symbol files.
34058
34059 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34060
34061 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
34062
34063 @subsubheading Example
34064 N.A.
34065 @end ignore
34066
34067
34068 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
34069 @findex -file-symbol-file
34070
34071 @subsubheading Synopsis
34072
34073 @smallexample
34074 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
34075 @end smallexample
34076
34077 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
34078 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
34079 produced, except for a completion notification.
34080
34081 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34082
34083 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
34084
34085 @subsubheading Example
34086
34087 @smallexample
34088 (gdb)
34089 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34090 ^done
34091 (gdb)
34092 @end smallexample
34093
34094 @ignore
34095 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34096 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
34097 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
34098
34099 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
34100
34101 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
34102
34103 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
34104
34105 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
34106
34107 @c @subheading -overlay-map
34108
34109 @c @subheading -overlay-off
34110
34111 @c @subheading -overlay-on
34112
34113 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
34114
34115 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34116 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
34117 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
34118
34119 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
34120
34121 @c @subheading -signal-handle
34122
34123 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
34124
34125 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
34126 @end ignore
34127
34128
34129 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34130 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
34131 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
34132
34133
34134 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
34135 @findex -target-attach
34136
34137 @subsubheading Synopsis
34138
34139 @smallexample
34140 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
34141 @end smallexample
34142
34143 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
34144 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
34145 group, the id previously returned by
34146 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
34147
34148 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34149
34150 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
34151
34152 @subsubheading Example
34153 @smallexample
34154 (gdb)
34155 -target-attach 34
34156 =thread-created,id="1"
34157 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
34158 ^done
34159 (gdb)
34160 @end smallexample
34161
34162 @ignore
34163 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
34164 @findex -target-compare-sections
34165
34166 @subsubheading Synopsis
34167
34168 @smallexample
34169 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
34170 @end smallexample
34171
34172 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34173 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34174
34175 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34176
34177 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34178
34179 @subsubheading Example
34180 N.A.
34181 @end ignore
34182
34183
34184 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34185 @findex -target-detach
34186
34187 @subsubheading Synopsis
34188
34189 @smallexample
34190 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34191 @end smallexample
34192
34193 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34194 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34195 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34196
34197 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34198
34199 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34200
34201 @subsubheading Example
34202
34203 @smallexample
34204 (gdb)
34205 -target-detach
34206 ^done
34207 (gdb)
34208 @end smallexample
34209
34210
34211 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34212 @findex -target-disconnect
34213
34214 @subsubheading Synopsis
34215
34216 @smallexample
34217 -target-disconnect
34218 @end smallexample
34219
34220 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34221 generally not resumed.
34222
34223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34224
34225 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34226
34227 @subsubheading Example
34228
34229 @smallexample
34230 (gdb)
34231 -target-disconnect
34232 ^done
34233 (gdb)
34234 @end smallexample
34235
34236
34237 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34238 @findex -target-download
34239
34240 @subsubheading Synopsis
34241
34242 @smallexample
34243 -target-download
34244 @end smallexample
34245
34246 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34247 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34248
34249 @table @samp
34250 @item section
34251 The name of the section.
34252 @item section-sent
34253 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34254 @item section-size
34255 The size of the section.
34256 @item total-sent
34257 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34258 @item total-size
34259 The size of the overall executable to download.
34260 @end table
34261
34262 @noindent
34263 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34264 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34265
34266 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34267 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34268
34269 @table @samp
34270 @item section
34271 The name of the section.
34272 @item section-size
34273 The size of the section.
34274 @item total-size
34275 The size of the overall executable to download.
34276 @end table
34277
34278 @noindent
34279 At the end, a summary is printed.
34280
34281 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34282
34283 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34284
34285 @subsubheading Example
34286
34287 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34288 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34289
34290 @smallexample
34291 (gdb)
34292 -target-download
34293 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34294 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34295 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34296 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34297 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34298 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34299 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34300 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34301 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34302 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34303 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34304 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34305 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34306 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34307 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34308 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34309 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34310 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34311 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34312 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34313 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34314 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34315 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34316 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34317 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34318 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34319 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34320 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34321 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34322 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34323 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34324 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34325 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34326 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34327 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34328 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34329 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34330 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34331 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34332 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34333 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34334 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34335 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34336 write-rate="429"
34337 (gdb)
34338 @end smallexample
34339
34340
34341 @ignore
34342 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34343 @findex -target-exec-status
34344
34345 @subsubheading Synopsis
34346
34347 @smallexample
34348 -target-exec-status
34349 @end smallexample
34350
34351 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34352 not, for instance).
34353
34354 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34355
34356 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34357
34358 @subsubheading Example
34359 N.A.
34360
34361
34362 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34363 @findex -target-list-available-targets
34364
34365 @subsubheading Synopsis
34366
34367 @smallexample
34368 -target-list-available-targets
34369 @end smallexample
34370
34371 List the possible targets to connect to.
34372
34373 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34374
34375 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34376
34377 @subsubheading Example
34378 N.A.
34379
34380
34381 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34382 @findex -target-list-current-targets
34383
34384 @subsubheading Synopsis
34385
34386 @smallexample
34387 -target-list-current-targets
34388 @end smallexample
34389
34390 Describe the current target.
34391
34392 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34393
34394 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34395 other things).
34396
34397 @subsubheading Example
34398 N.A.
34399
34400
34401 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34402 @findex -target-list-parameters
34403
34404 @subsubheading Synopsis
34405
34406 @smallexample
34407 -target-list-parameters
34408 @end smallexample
34409
34410 @c ????
34411 @end ignore
34412
34413 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34414
34415 No equivalent.
34416
34417 @subsubheading Example
34418 N.A.
34419
34420
34421 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34422 @findex -target-select
34423
34424 @subsubheading Synopsis
34425
34426 @smallexample
34427 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34428 @end smallexample
34429
34430 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34431
34432 @table @samp
34433 @item @var{type}
34434 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34435 @item @var{parameters}
34436 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34437 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34438 @end table
34439
34440 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34441 which the target program is, in the following form:
34442
34443 @smallexample
34444 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34445 args=[@var{arg list}]
34446 @end smallexample
34447
34448 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34449
34450 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34451
34452 @subsubheading Example
34453
34454 @smallexample
34455 (gdb)
34456 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
34457 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34458 (gdb)
34459 @end smallexample
34460
34461 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34462 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34463 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34464
34465
34466 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34467 @findex -target-file-put
34468
34469 @subsubheading Synopsis
34470
34471 @smallexample
34472 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34473 @end smallexample
34474
34475 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34476 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34477
34478 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34479
34480 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34481
34482 @subsubheading Example
34483
34484 @smallexample
34485 (gdb)
34486 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
34487 ^done
34488 (gdb)
34489 @end smallexample
34490
34491
34492 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34493 @findex -target-file-get
34494
34495 @subsubheading Synopsis
34496
34497 @smallexample
34498 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34499 @end smallexample
34500
34501 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34502 on the host system.
34503
34504 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34505
34506 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34507
34508 @subsubheading Example
34509
34510 @smallexample
34511 (gdb)
34512 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
34513 ^done
34514 (gdb)
34515 @end smallexample
34516
34517
34518 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34519 @findex -target-file-delete
34520
34521 @subsubheading Synopsis
34522
34523 @smallexample
34524 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34525 @end smallexample
34526
34527 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34528
34529 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34530
34531 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34532
34533 @subsubheading Example
34534
34535 @smallexample
34536 (gdb)
34537 -target-file-delete remotefile
34538 ^done
34539 (gdb)
34540 @end smallexample
34541
34542
34543 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34544 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
34545 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34546
34547 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
34548
34549 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
34550 @findex -gdb-exit
34551
34552 @subsubheading Synopsis
34553
34554 @smallexample
34555 -gdb-exit
34556 @end smallexample
34557
34558 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
34559
34560 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34561
34562 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
34563
34564 @subsubheading Example
34565
34566 @smallexample
34567 (gdb)
34568 -gdb-exit
34569 ^exit
34570 @end smallexample
34571
34572
34573 @ignore
34574 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
34575 @findex -exec-abort
34576
34577 @subsubheading Synopsis
34578
34579 @smallexample
34580 -exec-abort
34581 @end smallexample
34582
34583 Kill the inferior running program.
34584
34585 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34586
34587 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
34588
34589 @subsubheading Example
34590 N.A.
34591 @end ignore
34592
34593
34594 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
34595 @findex -gdb-set
34596
34597 @subsubheading Synopsis
34598
34599 @smallexample
34600 -gdb-set
34601 @end smallexample
34602
34603 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
34604 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
34605
34606 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34607
34608 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
34609
34610 @subsubheading Example
34611
34612 @smallexample
34613 (gdb)
34614 -gdb-set $foo=3
34615 ^done
34616 (gdb)
34617 @end smallexample
34618
34619
34620 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
34621 @findex -gdb-show
34622
34623 @subsubheading Synopsis
34624
34625 @smallexample
34626 -gdb-show
34627 @end smallexample
34628
34629 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
34630
34631 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34632
34633 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
34634
34635 @subsubheading Example
34636
34637 @smallexample
34638 (gdb)
34639 -gdb-show annotate
34640 ^done,value="0"
34641 (gdb)
34642 @end smallexample
34643
34644 @c @subheading -gdb-source
34645
34646
34647 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
34648 @findex -gdb-version
34649
34650 @subsubheading Synopsis
34651
34652 @smallexample
34653 -gdb-version
34654 @end smallexample
34655
34656 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
34657
34658 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34659
34660 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
34661 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
34662
34663 @subsubheading Example
34664
34665 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
34666 @c box in TeX.
34667 @smallexample
34668 (gdb)
34669 -gdb-version
34670 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
34671 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34672 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
34673 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
34674 ~ certain conditions.
34675 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
34676 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
34677 ~ details.
34678 ~This GDB was configured as
34679 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
34680 ^done
34681 (gdb)
34682 @end smallexample
34683
34684 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
34685 @findex -list-features
34686
34687 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
34688 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
34689 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
34690 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
34691 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
34692 startup.
34693
34694 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
34695 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
34696 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
34697 is given below.
34698
34699 Example output:
34700
34701 @smallexample
34702 (gdb) -list-features
34703 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
34704 @end smallexample
34705
34706 The current list of features is:
34707
34708 @table @samp
34709 @item frozen-varobjs
34710 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
34711 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
34712 of @code{-varobj-create}.
34713 @item pending-breakpoints
34714 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
34715 command.
34716 @item python
34717 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
34718 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
34719 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
34720 @item thread-info
34721 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
34722 @item data-read-memory-bytes
34723 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
34724 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
34725 @item breakpoint-notifications
34726 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
34727 CLI will be announced via async records.
34728 @item ada-task-info
34729 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
34730 @end table
34731
34732 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
34733 @findex -list-target-features
34734
34735 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
34736 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
34737 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
34738 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
34739 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
34740 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
34741 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
34742 Example output:
34743
34744 @smallexample
34745 (gdb) -list-target-features
34746 ^done,result=["async"]
34747 @end smallexample
34748
34749 The current list of features is:
34750
34751 @table @samp
34752 @item async
34753 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
34754 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
34755 while the target is running.
34756
34757 @item reverse
34758 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
34759 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34760
34761 @end table
34762
34763 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
34764 @findex -list-thread-groups
34765
34766 @subheading Synopsis
34767
34768 @smallexample
34769 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
34770 @end smallexample
34771
34772 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
34773 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
34774 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
34775 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
34776 top-level thread groups.
34777
34778 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
34779 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
34780 available on the target.
34781
34782 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
34783 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
34784 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
34785 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
34786 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
34787 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
34788 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
34789 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
34790
34791 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
34792 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
34793 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
34794 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
34795 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
34796 @samp{threads} field.
34797
34798 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
34799 the following caveats:
34800
34801 @itemize @bullet
34802 @item
34803 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
34804 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
34805 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
34806
34807 @item
34808 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
34809 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
34810 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
34811 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
34812 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
34813 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
34814
34815 @end itemize
34816
34817 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
34818 have the following fields:
34819
34820 @table @code
34821 @item id
34822 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
34823 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
34824 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
34825
34826 @item type
34827 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
34828 valid type.
34829
34830 @item pid
34831 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
34832 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
34833
34834 @item num_children
34835 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
34836 absent for an available thread group.
34837
34838 @item threads
34839 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
34840 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
34841 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
34842
34843 @item cores
34844 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
34845 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
34846 such information is not available.
34847
34848 @item executable
34849 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
34850 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
34851 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
34852
34853 @end table
34854
34855 @subheading Example
34856
34857 @smallexample
34858 @value{GDBP}
34859 -list-thread-groups
34860 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
34861 -list-thread-groups 17
34862 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
34863 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
34864 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
34865 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
34866 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
34867 -list-thread-groups --available
34868 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
34869 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
34870 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34871 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34872 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
34873 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
34874 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34875 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34876 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
34877 @end smallexample
34878
34879 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
34880 @findex -info-os
34881
34882 @subsubheading Synopsis
34883
34884 @smallexample
34885 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
34886 @end smallexample
34887
34888 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
34889 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
34890 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
34891 of data of that type.
34892
34893 The types of information available depend on the target operating
34894 system.
34895
34896 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34897
34898 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
34899
34900 @subsubheading Example
34901
34902 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
34903 like this:
34904
34905 @smallexample
34906 @value{GDBP}
34907 -info-os
34908 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
34909 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
34910 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
34911 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
34912 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
34913 col2="Processes"@},
34914 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
34915 col2="Process groups"@},
34916 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
34917 col2="Threads"@},
34918 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
34919 col2="File descriptors"@},
34920 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
34921 col2="Sockets"@},
34922 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
34923 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
34924 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
34925 col2="Semaphores"@},
34926 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
34927 col2="Message queues"@},
34928 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
34929 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
34930 @value{GDBP}
34931 -info-os processes
34932 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
34933 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
34934 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
34935 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
34936 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
34937 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
34938 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
34939 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
34940 ...
34941 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
34942 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
34943 (gdb)
34944 @end smallexample
34945
34946 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
34947 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
34948 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
34949 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
34950 @code{info os} omits it.)
34951
34952 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
34953 @findex -add-inferior
34954
34955 @subheading Synopsis
34956
34957 @smallexample
34958 -add-inferior
34959 @end smallexample
34960
34961 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
34962 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
34963 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
34964 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
34965 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
34966 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
34967
34968 @subheading Example
34969
34970 @smallexample
34971 @value{GDBP}
34972 -add-inferior
34973 ^done,inferior="i3"
34974 @end smallexample
34975
34976 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
34977 @findex -interpreter-exec
34978
34979 @subheading Synopsis
34980
34981 @smallexample
34982 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
34983 @end smallexample
34984 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
34985
34986 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
34987
34988 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34989
34990 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
34991
34992 @subheading Example
34993
34994 @smallexample
34995 (gdb)
34996 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
34997 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
34998 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
34999 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
35000 ^done
35001 (gdb)
35002 @end smallexample
35003
35004 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
35005 @findex -inferior-tty-set
35006
35007 @subheading Synopsis
35008
35009 @smallexample
35010 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35011 @end smallexample
35012
35013 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
35014
35015 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35016
35017 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
35018
35019 @subheading Example
35020
35021 @smallexample
35022 (gdb)
35023 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35024 ^done
35025 (gdb)
35026 @end smallexample
35027
35028 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
35029 @findex -inferior-tty-show
35030
35031 @subheading Synopsis
35032
35033 @smallexample
35034 -inferior-tty-show
35035 @end smallexample
35036
35037 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
35038
35039 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35040
35041 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
35042
35043 @subheading Example
35044
35045 @smallexample
35046 (gdb)
35047 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35048 ^done
35049 (gdb)
35050 -inferior-tty-show
35051 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
35052 (gdb)
35053 @end smallexample
35054
35055 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
35056 @findex -enable-timings
35057
35058 @subheading Synopsis
35059
35060 @smallexample
35061 -enable-timings [yes | no]
35062 @end smallexample
35063
35064 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
35065 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
35066 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
35067 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
35068
35069 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35070
35071 No equivalent.
35072
35073 @subheading Example
35074
35075 @smallexample
35076 (gdb)
35077 -enable-timings
35078 ^done
35079 (gdb)
35080 -break-insert main
35081 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
35082 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
35083 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
35084 times="0"@},
35085 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
35086 (gdb)
35087 -enable-timings no
35088 ^done
35089 (gdb)
35090 -exec-run
35091 ^running
35092 (gdb)
35093 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
35094 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
35095 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
35096 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
35097 (gdb)
35098 @end smallexample
35099
35100 @node Annotations
35101 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
35102
35103 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
35104 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
35105 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
35106 relatively high level.
35107
35108 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
35109 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
35110
35111 @ignore
35112 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
35113 @end ignore
35114
35115 @menu
35116 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
35117 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
35118 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
35119 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
35120 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
35121 * Annotations for Running::
35122 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
35123 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
35124 @end menu
35125
35126 @node Annotations Overview
35127 @section What is an Annotation?
35128 @cindex annotations
35129
35130 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
35131 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
35132 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
35133 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
35134 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
35135 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
35136 cannot contain newline characters.
35137
35138 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
35139 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
35140 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
35141 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
35142 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
35143 means those three characters as output.
35144
35145 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
35146 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
35147 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
35148 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
35149 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
35150 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
35151 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
35152 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
35153 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
35154
35155 @table @code
35156 @kindex set annotate
35157 @item set annotate @var{level}
35158 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
35159 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
35160
35161 @item show annotate
35162 @kindex show annotate
35163 Show the current annotation level.
35164 @end table
35165
35166 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
35167
35168 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
35169
35170 @smallexample
35171 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35172 GNU gdb 6.0
35173 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35174 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35175 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35176 under certain conditions.
35177 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35178 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35179 for details.
35180 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35181
35182 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
35183 (@value{GDBP})
35184 ^Z^Zprompt
35185 @kbd{quit}
35186
35187 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
35188 $
35189 @end smallexample
35190
35191 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35192 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35193 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35194 output from @value{GDBN}.
35195
35196 @node Server Prefix
35197 @section The Server Prefix
35198 @cindex server prefix
35199
35200 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35201 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35202 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35203 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35204 a transparent manner.
35205
35206 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35207 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35208 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35209 @code{print} command.
35210
35211 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35212 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35213
35214 @node Prompting
35215 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35216
35217 @cindex annotations for prompts
35218 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35219 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35220 over, etc.
35221
35222 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35223 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35224 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35225 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35226 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35227 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35228 features the following annotations:
35229
35230 @smallexample
35231 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
35232 ^Z^Zprompt
35233 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
35234 @end smallexample
35235
35236 The input types are
35237
35238 @table @code
35239 @findex pre-prompt annotation
35240 @findex prompt annotation
35241 @findex post-prompt annotation
35242 @item prompt
35243 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35244
35245 @findex pre-commands annotation
35246 @findex commands annotation
35247 @findex post-commands annotation
35248 @item commands
35249 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35250 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35251
35252 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35253 @findex overload-choice annotation
35254 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
35255 @item overload-choice
35256 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35257
35258 @findex pre-query annotation
35259 @findex query annotation
35260 @findex post-query annotation
35261 @item query
35262 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35263
35264 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35265 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35266 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35267 @item prompt-for-continue
35268 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35269 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35270 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35271 presence of annotations.
35272 @end table
35273
35274 @node Errors
35275 @section Errors
35276 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35277
35278 @findex quit annotation
35279 @smallexample
35280 ^Z^Zquit
35281 @end smallexample
35282
35283 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35284
35285 @findex error annotation
35286 @smallexample
35287 ^Z^Zerror
35288 @end smallexample
35289
35290 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35291
35292 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35293 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35294 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35295 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35296 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35297 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35298 to the top level.
35299
35300 @findex error-begin annotation
35301 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35302
35303 @smallexample
35304 ^Z^Zerror-begin
35305 @end smallexample
35306
35307 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35308 message.
35309
35310 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35311 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35312 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35313
35314 @node Invalidation
35315 @section Invalidation Notices
35316
35317 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35318 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35319 changed.
35320
35321 @table @code
35322 @findex frames-invalid annotation
35323 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35324
35325 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35326 have changed.
35327
35328 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35329 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35330
35331 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35332 deleted a breakpoint.
35333 @end table
35334
35335 @node Annotations for Running
35336 @section Running the Program
35337 @cindex annotations for running programs
35338
35339 @findex starting annotation
35340 @findex stopping annotation
35341 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35342 @code{step} or @code{continue},
35343
35344 @smallexample
35345 ^Z^Zstarting
35346 @end smallexample
35347
35348 is output. When the program stops,
35349
35350 @smallexample
35351 ^Z^Zstopped
35352 @end smallexample
35353
35354 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35355 annotations describe how the program stopped.
35356
35357 @table @code
35358 @findex exited annotation
35359 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35360 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35361 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35362
35363 @findex signalled annotation
35364 @findex signal-name annotation
35365 @findex signal-name-end annotation
35366 @findex signal-string annotation
35367 @findex signal-string-end annotation
35368 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
35369 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35370 annotation continues:
35371
35372 @smallexample
35373 @var{intro-text}
35374 ^Z^Zsignal-name
35375 @var{name}
35376 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35377 @var{middle-text}
35378 ^Z^Zsignal-string
35379 @var{string}
35380 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35381 @var{end-text}
35382 @end smallexample
35383
35384 @noindent
35385 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35386 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35387 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35388 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35389 user's benefit and have no particular format.
35390
35391 @findex signal annotation
35392 @item ^Z^Zsignal
35393 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35394 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35395 terminated with it.
35396
35397 @findex breakpoint annotation
35398 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35399 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35400
35401 @findex watchpoint annotation
35402 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35403 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35404 @end table
35405
35406 @node Source Annotations
35407 @section Displaying Source
35408 @cindex annotations for source display
35409
35410 @findex source annotation
35411 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35412
35413 @smallexample
35414 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35415 @end smallexample
35416
35417 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35418 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35419 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35420 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35421 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35422 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35423 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35424 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35425 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35426 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35427 depend on the language).
35428
35429 @node JIT Interface
35430 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35431 @cindex just-in-time compilation
35432 @cindex JIT compilation interface
35433
35434 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35435 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35436 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35437 performance while maintaining platform independence.
35438
35439 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35440 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35441 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35442 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35443 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35444 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35445
35446 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35447 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35448 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35449 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35450 LLVM JIT.
35451
35452 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35453 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35454 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35455 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35456 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35457 out about additional code.
35458
35459 @menu
35460 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35461 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35462 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35463 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
35464 @end menu
35465
35466 @node Declarations
35467 @section JIT Declarations
35468
35469 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
35470 implement the interface:
35471
35472 @smallexample
35473 typedef enum
35474 @{
35475 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
35476 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
35477 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
35478 @} jit_actions_t;
35479
35480 struct jit_code_entry
35481 @{
35482 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
35483 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
35484 const char *symfile_addr;
35485 uint64_t symfile_size;
35486 @};
35487
35488 struct jit_descriptor
35489 @{
35490 uint32_t version;
35491 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
35492 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
35493 uint32_t action_flag;
35494 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
35495 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
35496 @};
35497
35498 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
35499 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
35500
35501 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
35502 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
35503 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
35504 @end smallexample
35505
35506 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
35507 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
35508 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
35509
35510 @node Registering Code
35511 @section Registering Code
35512
35513 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
35514
35515 @itemize @bullet
35516 @item
35517 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
35518 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
35519
35520 @item
35521 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
35522 file.
35523
35524 @item
35525 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
35526
35527 @item
35528 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
35529
35530 @item
35531 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
35532 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35533 @end itemize
35534
35535 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
35536 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
35537 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
35538 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
35539
35540 @node Unregistering Code
35541 @section Unregistering Code
35542
35543 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
35544
35545 @itemize @bullet
35546 @item
35547 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
35548
35549 @item
35550 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
35551
35552 @item
35553 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
35554 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35555 @end itemize
35556
35557 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
35558 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
35559
35560 @node Custom Debug Info
35561 @section Custom Debug Info
35562 @cindex custom JIT debug info
35563 @cindex JIT debug info reader
35564
35565 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
35566 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
35567 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
35568 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
35569 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
35570 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
35571 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
35572 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
35573 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
35574
35575 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
35576 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
35577 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
35578 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
35579 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
35580 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
35581 compiler.
35582
35583 @menu
35584 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
35585 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
35586 @end menu
35587
35588 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35589 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35590 @kindex jit-reader-load
35591 @kindex jit-reader-unload
35592
35593 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
35594 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
35595
35596 @table @code
35597 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
35598 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
35599 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
35600 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
35601 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
35602 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
35603 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
35604
35605 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
35606 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
35607 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
35608 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
35609 @code{jit-reader-load}.
35610
35611 @item jit-reader-unload
35612 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
35613
35614 @end table
35615
35616 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35617 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35618 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
35619
35620 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
35621 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
35622
35623 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
35624 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
35625 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
35626 the system include directory.
35627
35628 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
35629 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
35630 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
35631
35632 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
35633 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
35634
35635 @findex gdb_init_reader
35636 @smallexample
35637 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
35638 @end smallexample
35639
35640 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
35641
35642 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
35643 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
35644 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
35645 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
35646 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
35647 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
35648
35649 @smallexample
35650 struct gdb_reader_funcs
35651 @{
35652 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
35653 int reader_version;
35654
35655 /* For use by the reader. */
35656 void *priv_data;
35657
35658 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
35659 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
35660 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
35661 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
35662 @};
35663 @end smallexample
35664
35665 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
35666 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
35667
35668 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
35669 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
35670 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
35671 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
35672 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
35673 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
35674 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
35675 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
35676 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
35677 target's address space.
35678
35679 @node In-Process Agent
35680 @chapter In-Process Agent
35681 @cindex debugging agent
35682 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
35683 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
35684 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
35685 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
35686 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
35687 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
35688 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
35689 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
35690 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
35691 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
35692 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
35693 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
35694 behavior without interrupting it.
35695
35696 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
35697 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
35698 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
35699 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
35700 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
35701 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
35702 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
35703 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
35704 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
35705
35706 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
35707 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
35708 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
35709 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
35710
35711 @anchor{Control Agent}
35712 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
35713 debugging with the following commands:
35714
35715 @table @code
35716 @kindex set agent on
35717 @item set agent on
35718 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
35719 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
35720 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
35721 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
35722 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
35723 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
35724
35725 @kindex set agent off
35726 @item set agent off
35727 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
35728 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
35729
35730 @kindex show agent
35731 @item show agent
35732 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
35733 the in-process agent.
35734 @end table
35735
35736 @menu
35737 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
35738 @end menu
35739
35740 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
35741 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
35742 @cindex in-process agent protocol
35743
35744 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
35745 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
35746 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
35747 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
35748 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
35749 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
35750 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
35751 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
35752 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
35753
35754 @menu
35755 * IPA Protocol Objects::
35756 * IPA Protocol Commands::
35757 @end menu
35758
35759 @node IPA Protocol Objects
35760 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
35761 @cindex ipa protocol objects
35762
35763 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
35764 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
35765
35766 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
35767 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
35768 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
35769 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
35770
35771 @enumerate
35772 @item
35773 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
35774 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
35775 @item
35776 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
35777 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
35778 the other one.
35779 @end enumerate
35780
35781 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
35782
35783 @enumerate
35784 @item
35785 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
35786 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
35787 @anchor{agent expression object}
35788 @item
35789 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
35790 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
35791 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
35792 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
35793 @item
35794 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35795 @anchor{tracepoint object}
35796
35797 @end enumerate
35798
35799 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
35800 object:
35801
35802 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
35803 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
35804 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
35805 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
35806 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
35807 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
35808 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35809 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
35810 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
35811 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
35812 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
35813 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
35814 memory address for collecting.
35815 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
35816 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35817 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
35818 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35819 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
35820 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35821 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
35822 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
35823 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
35824 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
35825 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
35826 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
35827 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
35828 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
35829 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
35830 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
35831 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
35832 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
35833 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
35834 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
35835 @ref{agent expression object}
35836 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
35837 @ref{agent expression object}
35838 @item actions @tab variable
35839 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
35840 @end multitable
35841
35842 @node IPA Protocol Commands
35843 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
35844 @cindex ipa protocol commands
35845
35846 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
35847 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
35848
35849 @table @samp
35850
35851 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
35852 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
35853 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
35854 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
35855 in IPA finally.
35856
35857 Replies:
35858 @table @samp
35859 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
35860 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
35861 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
35862 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
35863 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
35864 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
35865 @item E @var{NN}
35866 for an error
35867
35868 @end table
35869
35870 @item close
35871 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
35872 is about to kill inferiors.
35873
35874 @item qTfSTM
35875 @xref{qTfSTM}.
35876 @item qTsSTM
35877 @xref{qTsSTM}.
35878 @item qTSTMat
35879 @xref{qTSTMat}.
35880 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
35881 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
35882
35883 Replies:
35884 @table @samp
35885 @item E @var{NN}
35886 for an error
35887 @end table
35888 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
35889 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
35890 @end table
35891
35892 @node GDB Bugs
35893 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
35894 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
35895 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
35896
35897 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
35898
35899 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
35900 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
35901 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
35902 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
35903
35904 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
35905 information that enables us to fix the bug.
35906
35907 @menu
35908 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
35909 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
35910 @end menu
35911
35912 @node Bug Criteria
35913 @section Have You Found a Bug?
35914 @cindex bug criteria
35915
35916 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
35917
35918 @itemize @bullet
35919 @cindex fatal signal
35920 @cindex debugger crash
35921 @cindex crash of debugger
35922 @item
35923 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
35924 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
35925
35926 @cindex error on valid input
35927 @item
35928 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
35929 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
35930 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
35931
35932 @cindex invalid input
35933 @item
35934 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
35935 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
35936 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
35937 for traditional practice''.
35938
35939 @item
35940 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
35941 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
35942 @end itemize
35943
35944 @node Bug Reporting
35945 @section How to Report Bugs
35946 @cindex bug reports
35947 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
35948
35949 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
35950 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
35951 contact that organization first.
35952
35953 You can find contact information for many support companies and
35954 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
35955 distribution.
35956 @c should add a web page ref...
35957
35958 @ifset BUGURL
35959 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
35960 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35961 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
35962 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
35963 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
35964 be used.
35965
35966 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
35967 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
35968 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
35969 @samp{bug-gdb}.
35970
35971 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
35972 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
35973 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
35974 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
35975 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
35976 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
35977 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
35978 bug reports to the mailing list.
35979 @end ifset
35980 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
35981 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35982 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
35983 @end ifclear
35984 @end ifset
35985
35986 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
35987 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
35988 fact or leave it out, state it!
35989
35990 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
35991 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
35992 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
35993 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
35994 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
35995 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
35996 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
35997 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
35998 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
35999
36000 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
36001 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
36002 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
36003 self-contained.
36004
36005 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
36006 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
36007 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
36008 bugs properly.
36009
36010 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
36011
36012 @itemize @bullet
36013 @item
36014 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
36015 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
36016 version}.
36017
36018 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
36019 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
36020
36021 @item
36022 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
36023 version number.
36024
36025 @item
36026 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
36027 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
36028 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
36029 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
36030
36031 @item
36032 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
36033 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
36034
36035 @item
36036 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
36037 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
36038 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
36039 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
36040 those compilers.
36041
36042 @item
36043 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
36044 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
36045 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
36046 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
36047
36048 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
36049 and then we might not encounter the bug.
36050
36051 @item
36052 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
36053 reproduce the bug.
36054
36055 @item
36056 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
36057 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
36058
36059 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
36060 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
36061 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
36062 a chance to make a mistake.
36063
36064 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
36065 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
36066 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
36067 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
36068 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
36069 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
36070 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
36071 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
36072
36073 @pindex script
36074 @cindex recording a session script
36075 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
36076 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
36077 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
36078 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
36079
36080 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
36081 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
36082
36083 @item
36084 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
36085 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
36086 it by context, not by line number.
36087
36088 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
36089 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
36090
36091 @end itemize
36092
36093 Here are some things that are not necessary:
36094
36095 @itemize @bullet
36096 @item
36097 A description of the envelope of the bug.
36098
36099 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
36100 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
36101 changes will not affect it.
36102
36103 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
36104 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
36105 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
36106 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
36107
36108 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
36109 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
36110 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
36111 less time, and so on.
36112
36113 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
36114 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
36115
36116 @item
36117 A patch for the bug.
36118
36119 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
36120 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
36121 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
36122 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
36123
36124 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
36125 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
36126 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
36127 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
36128
36129 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
36130 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
36131 help us to understand.
36132
36133 @item
36134 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
36135
36136 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
36137 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
36138 @end itemize
36139
36140 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
36141 @c and consists of the two following files:
36142 @c rluser.texi
36143 @c hsuser.texi
36144 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
36145 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
36146 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
36147 @include rluser.texi
36148 @include hsuser.texi
36149 @end ifclear
36150
36151 @node In Memoriam
36152 @appendix In Memoriam
36153
36154 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
36155 contributors:
36156
36157 @table @code
36158 @item Fred Fish
36159 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
36160 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
36161 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
36162
36163 @item Michael Snyder
36164 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
36165 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
36166 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
36167 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
36168 @end table
36169
36170 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
36171 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36172
36173 @node Formatting Documentation
36174 @appendix Formatting Documentation
36175
36176 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36177 @cindex reference card
36178 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36179 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36180 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36181 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36182 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36183 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36184
36185 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36186 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36187
36188 @smallexample
36189 make refcard.dvi
36190 @end smallexample
36191
36192 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36193 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36194 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36195 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36196 your @sc{dvi} output program.
36197
36198 @cindex documentation
36199
36200 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36201 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36202 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36203 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36204 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36205 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36206
36207 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36208 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36209 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36210 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36211 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36212 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36213 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36214 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36215
36216 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36217 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36218 @code{makeinfo}.
36219
36220 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36221 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36222 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36223
36224 @smallexample
36225 cd gdb
36226 make gdb.info
36227 @end smallexample
36228
36229 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36230 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36231 Texinfo definitions file.
36232
36233 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36234 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36235 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36236 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36237 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36238 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36239 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36240
36241 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36242 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36243 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36244 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36245 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36246 directory.
36247
36248 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36249 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36250 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36251 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36252
36253 @smallexample
36254 make gdb.dvi
36255 @end smallexample
36256
36257 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36258
36259 @node Installing GDB
36260 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36261 @cindex installation
36262
36263 @menu
36264 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36265 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36266 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36267 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36268 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36269 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36270 @end menu
36271
36272 @node Requirements
36273 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36274 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36275
36276 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36277 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36278
36279 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36280 @table @asis
36281 @item ISO C90 compiler
36282 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36283 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36284
36285 @end table
36286
36287 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36288 @table @asis
36289 @item Expat
36290 @anchor{Expat}
36291 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36292 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36293 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36294 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36295 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36296 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36297
36298 Expat is used for:
36299
36300 @itemize @bullet
36301 @item
36302 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36303 @item
36304 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36305 @item
36306 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36307 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36308 @item
36309 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36310 @item
36311 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36312 @item
36313 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36314 @end itemize
36315
36316 @item zlib
36317 @cindex compressed debug sections
36318 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36319 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36320 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36321 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36322 information in such binaries.
36323
36324 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36325 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36326 @url{http://zlib.net}.
36327
36328 @item iconv
36329 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36330 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36331 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36332 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36333
36334 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36335 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36336 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36337 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36338
36339 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36340 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36341 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36342
36343 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36344 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36345 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36346 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36347 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36348 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36349 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36350 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36351 @end table
36352
36353 @node Running Configure
36354 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36355 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36356 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36357 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36358 build the @code{gdb} program.
36359 @iftex
36360 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36361 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36362 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36363 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36364 @end iftex
36365
36366 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36367 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36368 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36369
36370 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36371 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36372
36373 @table @code
36374 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36375 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36376
36377 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36378 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36379
36380 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36381 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36382
36383 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36384 @sc{gnu} include files
36385
36386 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36387 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36388
36389 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36390 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36391
36392 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36393 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36394
36395 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36396 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36397
36398 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36399 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36400 @end table
36401
36402 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36403 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36404 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36405
36406 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36407 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36408 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36409 argument.
36410
36411 For example:
36412
36413 @smallexample
36414 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36415 ./configure @var{host}
36416 make
36417 @end smallexample
36418
36419 @noindent
36420 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36421 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36422 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36423 correct value by examining your system.)
36424
36425 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36426 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36427 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36428 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36429
36430 @need 750
36431 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36432 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36433 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36434
36435 @smallexample
36436 sh configure @var{host}
36437 @end smallexample
36438
36439 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36440 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36441 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36442 @file{configure}
36443 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36444 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36445
36446 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36447 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36448 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36449 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36450 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36451 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36452 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36453 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36454 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36455
36456 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36457 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36458 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36459 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36460 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36461
36462 @node Separate Objdir
36463 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36464
36465 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
36466 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
36467 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
36468 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
36469 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
36470 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
36471 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
36472 program specified there.
36473
36474 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
36475 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
36476 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
36477 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
36478 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
36479 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
36480
36481 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
36482 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
36483
36484 @smallexample
36485 @group
36486 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36487 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
36488 cd ../gdb-sun4
36489 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
36490 make
36491 @end group
36492 @end smallexample
36493
36494 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
36495 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
36496 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
36497 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
36498 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
36499 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
36500
36501 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
36502 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
36503 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
36504 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
36505 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36506
36507 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
36508 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
36509 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
36510 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
36511 You specify a cross-debugging target by
36512 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
36513
36514 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
36515 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
36516 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
36517
36518 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
36519 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
36520 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
36521 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
36522 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
36523
36524 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
36525 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
36526 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
36527 with each other.
36528
36529 @node Config Names
36530 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
36531
36532 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
36533 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
36534 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
36535 of information in the following pattern:
36536
36537 @smallexample
36538 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
36539 @end smallexample
36540
36541 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
36542 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
36543 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
36544
36545 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
36546 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
36547 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
36548 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
36549 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
36550 abbreviations---for example:
36551
36552 @smallexample
36553 % sh config.sub i386-linux
36554 i386-pc-linux-gnu
36555 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
36556 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
36557 % sh config.sub hp9k700
36558 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
36559 % sh config.sub sun4
36560 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
36561 % sh config.sub sun3
36562 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
36563 % sh config.sub i986v
36564 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
36565 @end smallexample
36566
36567 @noindent
36568 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
36569 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
36570
36571 @node Configure Options
36572 @section @file{configure} Options
36573
36574 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
36575 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
36576 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
36577 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
36578
36579 @smallexample
36580 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
36581 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36582 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36583 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
36584 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
36585 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
36586 @var{host}
36587 @end smallexample
36588
36589 @noindent
36590 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
36591 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
36592 @samp{--}.
36593
36594 @table @code
36595 @item --help
36596 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
36597
36598 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
36599 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
36600 @file{@var{dir}}.
36601
36602 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
36603 Configure the source to install programs under directory
36604 @file{@var{dir}}.
36605
36606 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
36607 @need 2000
36608 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
36609 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
36610 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
36611 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
36612 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
36613 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
36614 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
36615 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
36616 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
36617 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
36618 @var{dirname}.
36619
36620 @item --norecursion
36621 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
36622 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
36623
36624 @item --target=@var{target}
36625 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
36626 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
36627 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
36628
36629 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
36630
36631 @item @var{host} @dots{}
36632 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
36633
36634 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
36635 @end table
36636
36637 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
36638 needed for special purposes only.
36639
36640 @node System-wide configuration
36641 @section System-wide configuration and settings
36642 @cindex system-wide init file
36643
36644 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
36645 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
36646 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
36647
36648 Here is the corresponding configure option:
36649
36650 @table @code
36651 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
36652 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
36653 @var{file}.
36654 @end table
36655
36656 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
36657 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
36658
36659 @itemize @bullet
36660 @item
36661 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
36662 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
36663 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
36664 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
36665 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
36666 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
36667
36668 @item
36669 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
36670 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
36671 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36672 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36673 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
36674 @end itemize
36675
36676 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
36677 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
36678 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
36679 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
36680 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
36681 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
36682 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
36683 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
36684 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
36685 reread.
36686
36687 @menu
36688 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36689 @end menu
36690
36691 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
36692 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36693 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
36694
36695 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
36696 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
36697 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
36698 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
36699 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
36700 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
36701
36702 The following scripts are currently available:
36703 @itemize @bullet
36704
36705 @item @file{elinos.py}
36706 @pindex elinos.py
36707 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
36708 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
36709 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
36710 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
36711 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
36712 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
36713
36714 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
36715 @pindex wrs-linux.py
36716 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
36717 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
36718 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
36719 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
36720
36721 @end itemize
36722
36723 @node Maintenance Commands
36724 @appendix Maintenance Commands
36725 @cindex maintenance commands
36726 @cindex internal commands
36727
36728 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
36729 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
36730 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
36731 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
36732 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
36733
36734 @table @code
36735 @kindex maint agent
36736 @kindex maint agent-eval
36737 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36738 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36739 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
36740 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
36741 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
36742 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
36743 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
36744 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
36745 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
36746 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
36747 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
36748 addition and return the sum.
36749 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
36750 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
36751
36752 @kindex maint agent-printf
36753 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
36754 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
36755 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
36756 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
36757 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
36758
36759 @kindex maint info breakpoints
36760 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
36761 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
36762 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
36763 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
36764 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
36765 is shown:
36766
36767 @table @code
36768 @item breakpoint
36769 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
36770
36771 @item watchpoint
36772 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
36773
36774 @item longjmp
36775 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
36776 @code{longjmp} calls.
36777
36778 @item longjmp resume
36779 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
36780
36781 @item until
36782 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
36783
36784 @item finish
36785 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
36786
36787 @item shlib events
36788 Shared library events.
36789
36790 @end table
36791
36792 @kindex maint info bfds
36793 @item maint info bfds
36794 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
36795 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
36796
36797 @kindex set displaced-stepping
36798 @kindex show displaced-stepping
36799 @cindex displaced stepping support
36800 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
36801 @item set displaced-stepping
36802 @itemx show displaced-stepping
36803 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
36804 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
36805 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
36806 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
36807 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
36808
36809 @table @code
36810 @item set displaced-stepping on
36811 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
36812 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
36813
36814 @item set displaced-stepping off
36815 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
36816 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
36817
36818 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
36819 @item set displaced-stepping auto
36820 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
36821 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
36822 architecture supports displaced stepping.
36823 @end table
36824
36825 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
36826 @item maint check-psymtabs
36827 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
36828 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
36829
36830 @kindex maint check-symtabs
36831 @item maint check-symtabs
36832 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
36833
36834 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
36835 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
36836 Expand symbol tables.
36837 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
36838 names matching @var{regexp}.
36839
36840 @kindex maint cplus first_component
36841 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
36842 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
36843
36844 @kindex maint cplus namespace
36845 @item maint cplus namespace
36846 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
36847
36848 @kindex maint demangle
36849 @item maint demangle @var{name}
36850 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
36851
36852 @kindex maint deprecate
36853 @kindex maint undeprecate
36854 @cindex deprecated commands
36855 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
36856 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
36857 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
36858 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
36859 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
36860 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
36861 the replacement as part of the warning.
36862
36863 @kindex maint dump-me
36864 @item maint dump-me
36865 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
36866 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
36867 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
36868 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
36869
36870 @kindex maint internal-error
36871 @kindex maint internal-warning
36872 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36873 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36874 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
36875 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
36876 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
36877 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
36878 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
36879 @value{GDBN} session.
36880
36881 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
36882 used as the text of the error or warning message.
36883
36884 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
36885
36886 @smallexample
36887 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
36888 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
36889 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
36890 debugging may prove unreliable.
36891 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36892 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36893 (@value{GDBP})
36894 @end smallexample
36895
36896 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
36897 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
36898
36899 @kindex maint set internal-error
36900 @kindex maint show internal-error
36901 @kindex maint set internal-warning
36902 @kindex maint show internal-warning
36903 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36904 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
36905 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36906 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
36907 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
36908 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
36909 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
36910 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
36911 described in the table below.
36912
36913 @table @samp
36914 @item quit
36915 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36916 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36917
36918 @item corefile
36919 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36920 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36921 @end table
36922
36923 @kindex maint packet
36924 @item maint packet @var{text}
36925 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
36926 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
36927 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
36928 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
36929 checksum.
36930
36931 @kindex maint print architecture
36932 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36933 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
36934 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
36935
36936 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
36937 @item maint print c-tdesc
36938 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
36939 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
36940 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
36941
36942 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
36943 @item maint print dummy-frames
36944 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
36945
36946 @smallexample
36947 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
36948 @dots{}
36949 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
36950 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
36951 58 return (a + b);
36952 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
36953 @dots{}
36954 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
36955 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
36956 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
36957 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
36958 (@value{GDBP})
36959 @end smallexample
36960
36961 Takes an optional file parameter.
36962
36963 @kindex maint print registers
36964 @kindex maint print raw-registers
36965 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
36966 @kindex maint print register-groups
36967 @kindex maint print remote-registers
36968 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36969 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36970 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36971 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36972 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36973 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
36974
36975 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
36976 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
36977 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
36978 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
36979 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
36980 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
36981 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
36982 and offsets in the `G' packets.
36983
36984 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
36985 write the information.
36986
36987 @kindex maint print reggroups
36988 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36989 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
36990 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
36991 information.
36992
36993 The register groups info looks like this:
36994
36995 @smallexample
36996 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
36997 Group Type
36998 general user
36999 float user
37000 all user
37001 vector user
37002 system user
37003 save internal
37004 restore internal
37005 @end smallexample
37006
37007 @kindex flushregs
37008 @item flushregs
37009 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
37010
37011 @kindex maint print objfiles
37012 @cindex info for known object files
37013 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
37014 Print a dump of all known object files.
37015 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
37016 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
37017 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
37018
37019 @kindex maint print section-scripts
37020 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
37021 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
37022 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
37023 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
37024 matching @var{regexp}.
37025 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
37026 and the full path if known.
37027 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
37028
37029 @kindex maint print statistics
37030 @cindex bcache statistics
37031 @item maint print statistics
37032 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
37033 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
37034 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
37035 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
37036 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
37037 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
37038 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
37039 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
37040 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
37041 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
37042 lengths.
37043
37044 @kindex maint print target-stack
37045 @cindex target stack description
37046 @item maint print target-stack
37047 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
37048 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
37049 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
37050 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
37051 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
37052 address.
37053
37054 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
37055 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
37056
37057 @kindex maint print type
37058 @cindex type chain of a data type
37059 @item maint print type @var{expr}
37060 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
37061 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
37062 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
37063 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
37064 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
37065
37066 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37067 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37068 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37069 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37070 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
37071 information.
37072
37073 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
37074 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
37075 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
37076 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
37077 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
37078 always see the disassembly form.
37079
37080 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
37081
37082 @smallexample
37083 (gdb) info addr argc
37084 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
37085 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
37086 @end smallexample
37087
37088 For more information on these expressions, see
37089 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
37090
37091 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37092 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37093 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37094 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37095 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
37096
37097 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
37098 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
37099 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
37100 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
37101 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
37102 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
37103 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
37104 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
37105 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
37106
37107 @kindex maint set profile
37108 @kindex maint show profile
37109 @cindex profiling GDB
37110 @item maint set profile
37111 @itemx maint show profile
37112 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
37113
37114 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
37115 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
37116 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
37117 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
37118 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
37119 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
37120 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
37121
37122 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
37123 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
37124
37125 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
37126 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
37127 @cindex hardware debug registers
37128 @item maint set show-debug-regs
37129 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
37130 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
37131 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
37132 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
37133 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
37134 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
37135
37136 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
37137 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
37138 @item maint set show-all-tib
37139 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
37140 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
37141 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
37142 command.
37143
37144 @kindex maint set per-command
37145 @kindex maint show per-command
37146 @item maint set per-command
37147 @itemx maint show per-command
37148 @cindex resources used by commands
37149
37150 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
37151 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
37152
37153 @table @code
37154 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
37155 @itemx maint show per-command space
37156 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
37157 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
37158 took, following the command's own output.
37159 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37160 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37161
37162 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
37163 @itemx maint show per-command time
37164 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
37165 for each command.
37166 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
37167 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
37168 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
37169 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
37170 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37171 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37172 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37173 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37174 spent by the program been debugged.
37175 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37176 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37177
37178 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37179 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
37180 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37181 for each command.
37182 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37183
37184 @enumerate a
37185 @item
37186 number of symbol tables
37187 @item
37188 number of primary symbol tables
37189 @item
37190 number of blocks in the blockvector
37191 @end enumerate
37192 @end table
37193
37194 @kindex maint space
37195 @cindex memory used by commands
37196 @item maint space @var{value}
37197 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37198 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37199
37200 @kindex maint time
37201 @cindex time of command execution
37202 @item maint time @var{value}
37203 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37204 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37205
37206 @kindex maint translate-address
37207 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37208 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37209 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37210 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37211 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37212 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37213 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37214
37215 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37216 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37217 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37218
37219 @end table
37220
37221 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37222 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37223
37224 @table @code
37225 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37226 @kindex set watchdog
37227 @cindex watchdog timer
37228 @cindex timeout for commands
37229 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37230 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37231 reports and error and the command is aborted.
37232
37233 @item show watchdog
37234 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37235 @end table
37236
37237 @node Remote Protocol
37238 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37239
37240 @menu
37241 * Overview::
37242 * Packets::
37243 * Stop Reply Packets::
37244 * General Query Packets::
37245 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37246 * Tracepoint Packets::
37247 * Host I/O Packets::
37248 * Interrupts::
37249 * Notification Packets::
37250 * Remote Non-Stop::
37251 * Packet Acknowledgment::
37252 * Examples::
37253 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37254 * Library List Format::
37255 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37256 * Memory Map Format::
37257 * Thread List Format::
37258 * Traceframe Info Format::
37259 * Branch Trace Format::
37260 @end menu
37261
37262 @node Overview
37263 @section Overview
37264
37265 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37266 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37267 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37268 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37269
37270 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37271 transmitted and received data, respectively.
37272
37273 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37274 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37275 @cindex remote serial protocol
37276 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37277 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37278 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37279 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37280 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37281
37282 @smallexample
37283 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37284 @end smallexample
37285 @noindent
37286
37287 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37288 @noindent
37289 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37290 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37291 eight bit unsigned checksum).
37292
37293 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37294 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37295
37296 @smallexample
37297 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37298 @end smallexample
37299
37300 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37301 @noindent
37302 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37303 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37304 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37305
37306 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37307 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37308 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37309 retransmission):
37310
37311 @smallexample
37312 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37313 <- @code{+}
37314 @end smallexample
37315 @noindent
37316
37317 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37318 once a connection is established.
37319 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37320
37321 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37322 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37323 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37324 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37325 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37326 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37327 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37328
37329 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37330 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37331 exceptions).
37332
37333 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
37334 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37335 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37336 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37337
37338 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37339 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37340 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37341
37342 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
37343 @anchor{Binary Data}
37344 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37345 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37346 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37347 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37348 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37349 binary data.
37350
37351 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37352 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37353 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37354 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37355 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37356 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37357 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37358 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37359 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37360 (described next).
37361
37362 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37363 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37364 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37365 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37366 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37367 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37368 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37369 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37370 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37371 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37372 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
37373 3}} more times.
37374
37375 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37376 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37377 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37378 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37379 @samp{0*"00}.
37380
37381 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37382 error number. That number is not well defined.
37383
37384 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37385 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37386 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37387 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37388 on that response.
37389
37390 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37391 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37392 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37393 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37394 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37395 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37396
37397 @node Packets
37398 @section Packets
37399
37400 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37401 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37402 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37403 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37404
37405 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37406 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37407 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37408 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37409 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37410 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37411 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37412 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37413 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37414 @var{baz}.
37415
37416 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37417 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
37418 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37419 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37420 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37421 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37422 pick any thread.
37423
37424 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37425 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37426 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37427 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37428 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37429 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37430 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37431 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37432 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37433 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37434 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37435 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37436 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37437
37438 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37439 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37440 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37441 more information.
37442
37443 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37444 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37445
37446 Here are the packet descriptions.
37447
37448 @table @samp
37449
37450 @item !
37451 @cindex @samp{!} packet
37452 @anchor{extended mode}
37453 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37454 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37455 debugged.
37456
37457 Reply:
37458 @table @samp
37459 @item OK
37460 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37461 @end table
37462
37463 @item ?
37464 @cindex @samp{?} packet
37465 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
37466 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
37467 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
37468
37469 Reply:
37470 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37471
37472 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
37473 @cindex @samp{A} packet
37474 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
37475 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
37476 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
37477
37478 Reply:
37479 @table @samp
37480 @item OK
37481 The arguments were set.
37482 @item E @var{NN}
37483 An error occurred.
37484 @end table
37485
37486 @item b @var{baud}
37487 @cindex @samp{b} packet
37488 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
37489 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
37490
37491 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
37492 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
37493 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
37494
37495 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
37496 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
37497 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
37498 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
37499 of view, nothing actually happened.}
37500
37501 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
37502 @cindex @samp{B} packet
37503 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
37504 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
37505
37506 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
37507 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
37508
37509 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
37510 @anchor{bc}
37511 @item bc
37512 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
37513 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37514
37515 Reply:
37516 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37517
37518 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
37519 @anchor{bs}
37520 @item bs
37521 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
37522 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37523
37524 Reply:
37525 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37526
37527 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37528 @cindex @samp{c} packet
37529 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
37530 resume at current address.
37531
37532 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37533 packet}.
37534
37535 Reply:
37536 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37537
37538 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37539 @cindex @samp{C} packet
37540 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
37541 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
37542
37543 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37544 packet}.
37545
37546 Reply:
37547 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37548
37549 @item d
37550 @cindex @samp{d} packet
37551 Toggle debug flag.
37552
37553 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
37554 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
37555
37556 @item D
37557 @itemx D;@var{pid}
37558 @cindex @samp{D} packet
37559 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
37560 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
37561 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
37562
37563 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
37564 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
37565 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
37566 big-endian hex string.
37567
37568 Reply:
37569 @table @samp
37570 @item OK
37571 for success
37572 @item E @var{NN}
37573 for an error
37574 @end table
37575
37576 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
37577 @cindex @samp{F} packet
37578 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
37579 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
37580 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
37581
37582 @item g
37583 @anchor{read registers packet}
37584 @cindex @samp{g} packet
37585 Read general registers.
37586
37587 Reply:
37588 @table @samp
37589 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37590 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
37591 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
37592 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
37593 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
37594 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
37595 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
37596
37597 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
37598 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
37599 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
37600 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
37601 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
37602 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
37603 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
37604 have been collected, and both have zero value:
37605
37606 @smallexample
37607 -> @code{g}
37608 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
37609 @end smallexample
37610
37611 @item E @var{NN}
37612 for an error.
37613 @end table
37614
37615 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
37616 @cindex @samp{G} packet
37617 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
37618 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
37619
37620 Reply:
37621 @table @samp
37622 @item OK
37623 for success
37624 @item E @var{NN}
37625 for an error
37626 @end table
37627
37628 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
37629 @cindex @samp{H} packet
37630 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
37631 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
37632 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
37633 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
37634 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
37635 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
37636 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37637
37638 Reply:
37639 @table @samp
37640 @item OK
37641 for success
37642 @item E @var{NN}
37643 for an error
37644 @end table
37645
37646 @c FIXME: JTC:
37647 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
37648 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
37649 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
37650 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
37651 @c described. For example:
37652 @c
37653 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37654 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
37655 @c otherwise returns current registers.
37656 @c
37657 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37658 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
37659 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
37660
37661 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
37662 @anchor{cycle step packet}
37663 @cindex @samp{i} packet
37664 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
37665 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
37666 step starting at that address.
37667
37668 @item I
37669 @cindex @samp{I} packet
37670 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
37671 step packet}.
37672
37673 @item k
37674 @cindex @samp{k} packet
37675 Kill request.
37676
37677 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
37678 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
37679 thread?)}.
37680
37681 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
37682 @cindex @samp{m} packet
37683 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37684 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
37685
37686 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
37687 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
37688 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
37689 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
37690 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
37691 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
37692 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
37693 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
37694
37695 Reply:
37696 @table @samp
37697 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37698 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
37699 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
37700 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
37701 @item E @var{NN}
37702 @var{NN} is errno
37703 @end table
37704
37705 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37706 @cindex @samp{M} packet
37707 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37708 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
37709 hexadecimal number.
37710
37711 Reply:
37712 @table @samp
37713 @item OK
37714 for success
37715 @item E @var{NN}
37716 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
37717 written).
37718 @end table
37719
37720 @item p @var{n}
37721 @cindex @samp{p} packet
37722 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
37723 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
37724 register value is encoded.
37725
37726 Reply:
37727 @table @samp
37728 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37729 the register's value
37730 @item E @var{NN}
37731 for an error
37732 @item @w{}
37733 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
37734 @end table
37735
37736 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
37737 @anchor{write register packet}
37738 @cindex @samp{P} packet
37739 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
37740 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
37741 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
37742
37743 Reply:
37744 @table @samp
37745 @item OK
37746 for success
37747 @item E @var{NN}
37748 for an error
37749 @end table
37750
37751 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37752 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37753 @cindex @samp{q} packet
37754 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
37755 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
37756 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
37757
37758 @item r
37759 @cindex @samp{r} packet
37760 Reset the entire system.
37761
37762 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
37763
37764 @item R @var{XX}
37765 @cindex @samp{R} packet
37766 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
37767 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37768
37769 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
37770
37771 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37772 @cindex @samp{s} packet
37773 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
37774 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
37775
37776 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37777 packet}.
37778
37779 Reply:
37780 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37781
37782 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37783 @anchor{step with signal packet}
37784 @cindex @samp{S} packet
37785 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
37786 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
37787
37788 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37789 packet}.
37790
37791 Reply:
37792 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37793
37794 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
37795 @cindex @samp{t} packet
37796 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
37797 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
37798 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
37799
37800 @item T @var{thread-id}
37801 @cindex @samp{T} packet
37802 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37803
37804 Reply:
37805 @table @samp
37806 @item OK
37807 thread is still alive
37808 @item E @var{NN}
37809 thread is dead
37810 @end table
37811
37812 @item v
37813 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
37814 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
37815
37816 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
37817 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
37818 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
37819 The process ID is a
37820 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
37821 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
37822 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
37823
37824 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
37825 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
37826 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
37827 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
37828 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
37829 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
37830 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
37831 @c stopping or restarting threads.
37832
37833 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37834
37835 Reply:
37836 @table @samp
37837 @item E @var{nn}
37838 for an error
37839 @item @r{Any stop packet}
37840 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37841 @item OK
37842 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
37843 @end table
37844
37845 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
37846 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
37847 @anchor{vCont packet}
37848 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
37849 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
37850 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
37851 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
37852 in their current state in non-stop mode.
37853 Specifying multiple
37854 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
37855 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37856
37857 Currently supported actions are:
37858
37859 @table @samp
37860 @item c
37861 Continue.
37862 @item C @var{sig}
37863 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37864 @item s
37865 Step.
37866 @item S @var{sig}
37867 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37868 @item t
37869 Stop.
37870 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
37871 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
37872 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
37873 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
37874 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
37875 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
37876
37877 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
37878 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
37879 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
37880 jumps to @var{start}).
37881
37882 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
37883 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
37884 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
37885
37886 @end table
37887
37888 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
37889 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
37890 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
37891
37892 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
37893 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
37894 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
37895 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
37896 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
37897 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
37898 as an implementation detail.
37899
37900 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
37901 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
37902 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
37903 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
37904 @var{thread-id}.
37905
37906 Reply:
37907 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37908
37909 @item vCont?
37910 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
37911 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
37912
37913 Reply:
37914 @table @samp
37915 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
37916 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
37917 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
37918 @item @w{}
37919 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
37920 @end table
37921
37922 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
37923 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
37924 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
37925 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
37926
37927 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
37928 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
37929 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
37930 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
37931 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
37932 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
37933 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
37934 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
37935 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37936 packet is received.
37937
37938 Reply:
37939 @table @samp
37940 @item OK
37941 for success
37942 @item E @var{NN}
37943 for an error
37944 @end table
37945
37946 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37947 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
37948 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
37949 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
37950 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
37951 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
37952 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
37953 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
37954 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
37955 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
37956 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
37957 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
37958
37959
37960 Reply:
37961 @table @samp
37962 @item OK
37963 for success
37964 @item E.memtype
37965 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
37966 @item E @var{NN}
37967 for an error
37968 @end table
37969
37970 @item vFlashDone
37971 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
37972 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
37973 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
37974 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
37975 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
37976 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37977 request is completed.
37978
37979 @item vKill;@var{pid}
37980 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
37981 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
37982 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
37983 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
37984 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
37985
37986 Reply:
37987 @table @samp
37988 @item E @var{nn}
37989 for an error
37990 @item OK
37991 for success
37992 @end table
37993
37994 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
37995 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
37996 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
37997 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
37998 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
37999 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
38000 state.
38001
38002 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
38003
38004 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38005
38006 Reply:
38007 @table @samp
38008 @item E @var{nn}
38009 for an error
38010 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38011 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38012 @end table
38013
38014 @item vStopped
38015 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
38016 @xref{Notification Packets}.
38017
38018 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38019 @anchor{X packet}
38020 @cindex @samp{X} packet
38021 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
38022 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
38023 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38024
38025 Reply:
38026 @table @samp
38027 @item OK
38028 for success
38029 @item E @var{NN}
38030 for an error
38031 @end table
38032
38033 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38034 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38035 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
38036 @cindex @samp{z} packet
38037 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
38038 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
38039 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
38040
38041 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
38042 separately.
38043
38044 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
38045 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
38046 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
38047 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
38048 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
38049 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
38050
38051 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38052 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38053 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
38054 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
38055 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
38056 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
38057
38058 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
38059 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
38060 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
38061 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
38062 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
38063 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
38064 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
38065 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
38066 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
38067 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
38068
38069 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
38070 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
38071
38072 @table @samp
38073
38074 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38075 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38076 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38077
38078 @end table
38079
38080 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
38081 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
38082 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
38083 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
38084 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
38085 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
38086 separators. Each expression has the following form:
38087
38088 @table @samp
38089
38090 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38091 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38092 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38093
38094 @end table
38095
38096 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
38097
38098 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
38099 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
38100 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
38101 target, is not defined.}
38102
38103 Reply:
38104 @table @samp
38105 @item OK
38106 success
38107 @item @w{}
38108 not supported
38109 @item E @var{NN}
38110 for an error
38111 @end table
38112
38113 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38114 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38115 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
38116 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
38117 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
38118 address @var{addr}.
38119
38120 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
38121 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
38122 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
38123
38124 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
38125 movement.}
38126
38127 Reply:
38128 @table @samp
38129 @item OK
38130 success
38131 @item @w{}
38132 not supported
38133 @item E @var{NN}
38134 for an error
38135 @end table
38136
38137 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38138 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38139 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
38140 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
38141 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38142 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38143
38144 Reply:
38145 @table @samp
38146 @item OK
38147 success
38148 @item @w{}
38149 not supported
38150 @item E @var{NN}
38151 for an error
38152 @end table
38153
38154 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38155 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38156 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
38157 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
38158 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38159 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38160
38161 Reply:
38162 @table @samp
38163 @item OK
38164 success
38165 @item @w{}
38166 not supported
38167 @item E @var{NN}
38168 for an error
38169 @end table
38170
38171 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38172 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38173 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
38174 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38175 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38176 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38177
38178 Reply:
38179 @table @samp
38180 @item OK
38181 success
38182 @item @w{}
38183 not supported
38184 @item E @var{NN}
38185 for an error
38186 @end table
38187
38188 @end table
38189
38190 @node Stop Reply Packets
38191 @section Stop Reply Packets
38192 @cindex stop reply packets
38193
38194 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38195 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38196 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38197 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38198 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38199 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38200 @value{GDBN} source code.
38201
38202 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38203 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38204 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38205 components.
38206
38207 @table @samp
38208
38209 @item S @var{AA}
38210 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38211 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38212 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38213
38214 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38215 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38216 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38217 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38218 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38219 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38220 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38221 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38222
38223 @itemize @bullet
38224 @item
38225 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38226 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38227 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38228 two-digit hex number.
38229
38230 @item
38231 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38232 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38233
38234 @item
38235 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38236 the core on which the stop event was detected.
38237
38238 @item
38239 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38240 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38241 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38242 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38243
38244 @item
38245 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38246 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38247 future.
38248 @end itemize
38249
38250 The currently defined stop reasons are:
38251
38252 @table @samp
38253 @item watch
38254 @itemx rwatch
38255 @itemx awatch
38256 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38257 hex.
38258
38259 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
38260 @item library
38261 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38262 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38263 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38264
38265 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
38266 @item replaylog
38267 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38268 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38269 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38270 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38271 for more information.
38272 @end table
38273
38274 @item W @var{AA}
38275 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38276 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38277 applicable to certain targets.
38278
38279 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38280 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38281 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38282 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38283
38284 @item X @var{AA}
38285 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38286 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38287
38288 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38289 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38290 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38291 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38292
38293 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38294 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38295 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38296 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38297 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38298
38299 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38300 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38301 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38302 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38303 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38304 system calls.
38305
38306 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38307 this very system call.
38308
38309 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38310 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38311 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38312 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38313 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38314 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38315
38316 @end table
38317
38318 @node General Query Packets
38319 @section General Query Packets
38320 @cindex remote query requests
38321
38322 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38323 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38324 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38325 sending information to and from the stub.
38326
38327 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38328 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38329 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38330 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38331 conventions:
38332
38333 @itemize @bullet
38334 @item
38335 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38336 @item
38337 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38338 letter.
38339 @item
38340 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38341 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38342 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38343 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38344 @end itemize
38345
38346 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38347 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38348 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38349 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38350 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38351 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38352 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38353 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38354 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38355 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38356 packet.}.
38357
38358 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38359 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38360 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38361 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38362 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38363
38364 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38365
38366 @table @samp
38367
38368 @item QAgent:1
38369 @itemx QAgent:0
38370 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38371 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38372
38373 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38374 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38375 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38376 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38377 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38378 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38379 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38380 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38381 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38382 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38383 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38384
38385 @item qC
38386 @cindex current thread, remote request
38387 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
38388 Return the current thread ID.
38389
38390 Reply:
38391 @table @samp
38392 @item QC @var{thread-id}
38393 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38394 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38395 @item @r{(anything else)}
38396 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38397 @end table
38398
38399 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38400 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38401 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38402 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38403 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38404 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38405 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38406
38407 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38408 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38409 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38410 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38411 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38412 detect trailing zeros.
38413
38414 Reply:
38415 @table @samp
38416 @item E @var{NN}
38417 An error (such as memory fault)
38418 @item C @var{crc32}
38419 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38420 @end table
38421
38422 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38423 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38424 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38425 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38426 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38427 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38428 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38429 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38430 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38431 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38432 randomization.
38433
38434 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38435
38436 Reply:
38437 @table @samp
38438 @item OK
38439 The request succeeded.
38440
38441 @item E @var{nn}
38442 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38443
38444 @item @w{}
38445 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38446 by the stub.
38447 @end table
38448
38449 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38450 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38451 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38452 address space randomization.
38453
38454 @item qfThreadInfo
38455 @itemx qsThreadInfo
38456 @cindex list active threads, remote request
38457 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38458 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38459 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38460 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38461 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38462 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38463 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38464 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
38465
38466 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
38467
38468 Reply:
38469 @table @samp
38470 @item m @var{thread-id}
38471 A single thread ID
38472 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
38473 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
38474 @item l
38475 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38476 @end table
38477
38478 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38479 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
38480 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
38481 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
38482 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
38483 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
38484 fields.
38485
38486 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
38487 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
38488 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
38489 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
38490 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
38491
38492 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
38493 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38494
38495 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
38496 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
38497 information associated with the variable.)
38498
38499 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
38500 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
38501 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
38502 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
38503 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
38504 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
38505
38506 Reply:
38507 @table @samp
38508 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38509 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
38510 local storage requested.
38511
38512 @item E @var{nn}
38513 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38514
38515 @item @w{}
38516 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38517 @end table
38518
38519 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
38520 @cindex get thread information block address
38521 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
38522 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
38523
38524 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
38525
38526 Reply:
38527 @table @samp
38528 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38529 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
38530 thread information block.
38531
38532 @item E @var{nn}
38533 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
38534 address could not be retrieved.
38535
38536 @item @w{}
38537 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38538 @end table
38539
38540 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
38541 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
38542 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
38543 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
38544 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
38545 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
38546 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
38547
38548 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
38549
38550 Reply:
38551 @table @samp
38552 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
38553 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
38554 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
38555 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
38556 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
38557 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
38558 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
38559 @end table
38560
38561 @item qOffsets
38562 @cindex section offsets, remote request
38563 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
38564 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
38565 image.
38566
38567 Reply:
38568 @table @samp
38569 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
38570 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
38571 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
38572 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
38573 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
38574 segments by the supplied offsets.
38575
38576 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
38577 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
38578 to the @code{Bss} section.}
38579
38580 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
38581 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
38582 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
38583 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
38584 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
38585 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
38586 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
38587 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
38588 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
38589 @end table
38590
38591 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
38592 @cindex thread information, remote request
38593 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
38594 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
38595 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
38596 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
38597
38598 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
38599 (see below).
38600
38601 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
38602
38603 @item QNonStop:1
38604 @itemx QNonStop:0
38605 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
38606 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
38607 @anchor{QNonStop}
38608 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
38609 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
38610
38611 Reply:
38612 @table @samp
38613 @item OK
38614 The request succeeded.
38615
38616 @item E @var{nn}
38617 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38618
38619 @item @w{}
38620 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
38621 the stub.
38622 @end table
38623
38624 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38625 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38626 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
38627 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
38628
38629 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38630 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
38631 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38632 @anchor{QPassSignals}
38633 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
38634 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38635 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38636 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
38637 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
38638 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
38639 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
38640 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
38641 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
38642
38643 Reply:
38644 @table @samp
38645 @item OK
38646 The request succeeded.
38647
38648 @item E @var{nn}
38649 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38650
38651 @item @w{}
38652 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
38653 the stub.
38654 @end table
38655
38656 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
38657 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
38658 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38659 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38660
38661 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38662 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
38663 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
38664 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
38665 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
38666 Others should be silently discarded.
38667
38668 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
38669 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
38670 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
38671 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
38672 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
38673 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
38674 signals.
38675
38676 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
38677 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
38678
38679 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38680 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38681 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
38682 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
38683 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
38684
38685 Reply:
38686 @table @samp
38687 @item OK
38688 The request succeeded.
38689
38690 @item E @var{nn}
38691 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38692
38693 @item @w{}
38694 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
38695 by the stub.
38696 @end table
38697
38698 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
38699 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
38700 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38701 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38702
38703 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
38704 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
38705 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
38706 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
38707 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
38708 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
38709 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
38710 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
38711 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
38712
38713 Reply:
38714 @table @samp
38715 @item OK
38716 A command response with no output.
38717 @item @var{OUTPUT}
38718 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
38719 @item E @var{NN}
38720 Indicate a badly formed request.
38721 @item @w{}
38722 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
38723 @end table
38724
38725 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
38726 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38727 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
38728 packets.)
38729
38730 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
38731 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
38732 @ifnotinfo
38733 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
38734 @end ifnotinfo
38735 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
38736 @anchor{qSearch memory}
38737 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
38738 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
38739 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
38740
38741 Reply:
38742 @table @samp
38743 @item 0
38744 The pattern was not found.
38745 @item 1,address
38746 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
38747 @item E @var{NN}
38748 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
38749 @item @w{}
38750 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
38751 @end table
38752
38753 @item QStartNoAckMode
38754 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
38755 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
38756 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
38757 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
38758
38759 Reply:
38760 @table @samp
38761 @item OK
38762 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
38763 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
38764 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
38765 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
38766 @item @w{}
38767 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
38768 @end table
38769
38770 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
38771 @cindex supported packets, remote query
38772 @cindex features of the remote protocol
38773 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
38774 @anchor{qSupported}
38775 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
38776 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
38777 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
38778 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
38779 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
38780 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
38781 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
38782 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
38783 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
38784 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
38785 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
38786 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
38787 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
38788 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
38789
38790 Reply:
38791 @table @samp
38792 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
38793 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
38794 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
38795 possible forms).
38796 @item @w{}
38797 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
38798 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
38799 @end table
38800
38801 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
38802 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
38803 are:
38804
38805 @table @samp
38806 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
38807 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
38808 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
38809 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
38810 @item @var{name}+
38811 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
38812 need an associated value.
38813 @item @var{name}-
38814 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
38815 @item @var{name}?
38816 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
38817 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
38818 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
38819 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
38820 @end table
38821
38822 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
38823 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
38824 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
38825 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
38826 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
38827
38828 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
38829 are defined:
38830
38831 @table @samp
38832 @item multiprocess
38833 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
38834 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
38835 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
38836 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
38837 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
38838
38839 @item xmlRegisters
38840 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
38841 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
38842 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
38843 description.
38844
38845 @item qRelocInsn
38846 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
38847 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38848 instruction reply packet}).
38849 @end table
38850
38851 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
38852 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
38853 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
38854 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
38855 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
38856 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
38857 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
38858 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
38859 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
38860 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
38861 all the features it supports.
38862
38863 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
38864 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
38865
38866 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
38867 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
38868 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
38869 form response.
38870
38871 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
38872 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
38873 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
38874 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
38875
38876 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
38877 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
38878 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
38879 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
38880 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
38881
38882 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
38883
38884 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
38885 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
38886 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
38887 @item Feature Name
38888 @tab Value Required
38889 @tab Default
38890 @tab Probe Allowed
38891
38892 @item @samp{PacketSize}
38893 @tab Yes
38894 @tab @samp{-}
38895 @tab No
38896
38897 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
38898 @tab No
38899 @tab @samp{-}
38900 @tab Yes
38901
38902 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38903 @tab No
38904 @tab @samp{-}
38905 @tab Yes
38906
38907 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
38908 @tab No
38909 @tab @samp{-}
38910 @tab Yes
38911
38912 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38913 @tab No
38914 @tab @samp{-}
38915 @tab Yes
38916
38917 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
38918 @tab No
38919 @tab @samp{-}
38920 @tab Yes
38921
38922 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
38923 @tab No
38924 @tab @samp{-}
38925 @tab No
38926
38927 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38928 @tab No
38929 @tab @samp{-}
38930 @tab Yes
38931
38932 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
38933 @tab No
38934 @tab @samp{-}
38935 @tab Yes
38936
38937 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
38938 @tab No
38939 @tab @samp{-}
38940 @tab Yes
38941
38942 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
38943 @tab No
38944 @tab @samp{-}
38945 @tab Yes
38946
38947 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
38948 @tab No
38949 @tab @samp{-}
38950 @tab Yes
38951
38952 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
38953 @tab No
38954 @tab @samp{-}
38955 @tab Yes
38956
38957 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
38958 @tab No
38959 @tab @samp{-}
38960 @tab Yes
38961
38962 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38963 @tab No
38964 @tab @samp{-}
38965 @tab Yes
38966
38967 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38968 @tab No
38969 @tab @samp{-}
38970 @tab Yes
38971
38972 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38973 @tab No
38974 @tab @samp{-}
38975 @tab Yes
38976
38977 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
38978 @tab Yes
38979 @tab @samp{-}
38980 @tab Yes
38981
38982 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
38983 @tab Yes
38984 @tab @samp{-}
38985 @tab Yes
38986
38987 @item @samp{QNonStop}
38988 @tab No
38989 @tab @samp{-}
38990 @tab Yes
38991
38992 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
38993 @tab No
38994 @tab @samp{-}
38995 @tab Yes
38996
38997 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
38998 @tab No
38999 @tab @samp{-}
39000 @tab Yes
39001
39002 @item @samp{multiprocess}
39003 @tab No
39004 @tab @samp{-}
39005 @tab No
39006
39007 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
39008 @tab No
39009 @tab @samp{-}
39010 @tab No
39011
39012 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
39013 @tab No
39014 @tab @samp{-}
39015 @tab No
39016
39017 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
39018 @tab No
39019 @tab @samp{-}
39020 @tab No
39021
39022 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
39023 @tab No
39024 @tab @samp{-}
39025 @tab No
39026
39027 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
39028 @tab No
39029 @tab @samp{-}
39030 @tab No
39031
39032 @item @samp{QAgent}
39033 @tab No
39034 @tab @samp{-}
39035 @tab No
39036
39037 @item @samp{QAllow}
39038 @tab No
39039 @tab @samp{-}
39040 @tab No
39041
39042 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
39043 @tab No
39044 @tab @samp{-}
39045 @tab No
39046
39047 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
39048 @tab No
39049 @tab @samp{-}
39050 @tab No
39051
39052 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
39053 @tab No
39054 @tab @samp{-}
39055 @tab No
39056
39057 @item @samp{tracenz}
39058 @tab No
39059 @tab @samp{-}
39060 @tab No
39061
39062 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
39063 @tab No
39064 @tab @samp{-}
39065 @tab No
39066
39067 @end multitable
39068
39069 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
39070
39071 @table @samp
39072 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
39073 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
39074 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
39075 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
39076 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
39077 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
39078 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
39079 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
39080 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
39081 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
39082
39083 @item qXfer:auxv:read
39084 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
39085 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
39086
39087 @item qXfer:btrace:read
39088 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39089 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
39090
39091 @item qXfer:features:read
39092 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
39093 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
39094
39095 @item qXfer:libraries:read
39096 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
39097 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
39098
39099 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
39100 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39101 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39102
39103 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
39104 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
39105 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39106 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39107
39108 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
39109 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
39110 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
39111
39112 @item qXfer:sdata:read
39113 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
39114 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
39115
39116 @item qXfer:spu:read
39117 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
39118 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
39119
39120 @item qXfer:spu:write
39121 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
39122 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
39123
39124 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
39125 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
39126 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
39127
39128 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
39129 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
39130 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
39131
39132 @item qXfer:threads:read
39133 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39134 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
39135
39136 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
39137 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39138 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
39139
39140 @item qXfer:uib:read
39141 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39142 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
39143
39144 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
39145 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39146 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
39147
39148 @item QNonStop
39149 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
39150 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
39151
39152 @item QPassSignals
39153 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39154 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
39155
39156 @item QStartNoAckMode
39157 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
39158 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
39159
39160 @item multiprocess
39161 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
39162 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
39163 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
39164 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
39165 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
39166 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
39167 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
39168 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
39169 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
39170 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39171 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39172
39173 @item qXfer:osdata:read
39174 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39175 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39176
39177 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
39178 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39179 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39180 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39181
39182 @item ConditionalTracepoints
39183 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39184 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39185
39186 @item ReverseContinue
39187 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39188 (@pxref{bc}).
39189
39190 @item ReverseStep
39191 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39192 (@pxref{bs}).
39193
39194 @item TracepointSource
39195 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39196 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39197
39198 @item QAgent
39199 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39200
39201 @item QAllow
39202 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39203
39204 @item QDisableRandomization
39205 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39206
39207 @item StaticTracepoint
39208 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39209 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39210
39211 @item InstallInTrace
39212 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39213 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39214
39215 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
39216 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39217 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39218 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39219
39220 @item QTBuffer:size
39221 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39222 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39223
39224 @item tracenz
39225 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39226 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39227 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39228
39229 @item BreakpointCommands
39230 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39231 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39232 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39233
39234 @item Qbtrace:off
39235 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39236
39237 @item Qbtrace:bts
39238 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39239
39240 @end table
39241
39242 @item qSymbol::
39243 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39244 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39245 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39246 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39247
39248 Reply:
39249 @table @samp
39250 @item OK
39251 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39252 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39253 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39254 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39255 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39256 below.
39257 @end table
39258
39259 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39260 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39261
39262 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39263 target has previously requested.
39264
39265 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39266 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39267 will be empty.
39268
39269 Reply:
39270 @table @samp
39271 @item OK
39272 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39273 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39274 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39275 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39276 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39277 @end table
39278
39279 @item qTBuffer
39280 @itemx QTBuffer
39281 @itemx QTDisconnected
39282 @itemx QTDP
39283 @itemx QTDPsrc
39284 @itemx QTDV
39285 @itemx qTfP
39286 @itemx qTfV
39287 @itemx QTFrame
39288 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
39289
39290 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39291
39292 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39293 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39294 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39295 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39296 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39297 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39298 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39299 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39300 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39301 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39302 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39303
39304 Reply:
39305 @table @samp
39306 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39307 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39308 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39309 the thread's attributes.
39310 @end table
39311
39312 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39313 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39314 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39315 packets.)
39316
39317 @item QTNotes
39318 @itemx qTP
39319 @itemx QTSave
39320 @itemx qTsP
39321 @itemx qTsV
39322 @itemx QTStart
39323 @itemx QTStop
39324 @itemx QTEnable
39325 @itemx QTDisable
39326 @itemx QTinit
39327 @itemx QTro
39328 @itemx qTStatus
39329 @itemx qTV
39330 @itemx qTfSTM
39331 @itemx qTsSTM
39332 @itemx qTSTMat
39333 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39334
39335 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39336 @cindex read special object, remote request
39337 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39338 @anchor{qXfer read}
39339 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39340 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39341 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39342 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39343 additional details about what data to access.
39344
39345 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39346 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39347 formats, listed below.
39348
39349 @table @samp
39350 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39351 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39352 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39353 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39354
39355 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39356 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39357
39358 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39359 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39360
39361 Return a description of the current branch trace.
39362 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39363 packet may have one of the following values:
39364
39365 @table @code
39366 @item all
39367 Returns all available branch trace.
39368
39369 @item new
39370 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39371 the last read request.
39372 @end table
39373
39374 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39375 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39376
39377 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39378 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
39379 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39380 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39381 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39382
39383 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39384 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39385
39386 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39387 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
39388 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39389 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39390 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39391
39392 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39393 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39394 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39395
39396 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39397 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39398
39399 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39400 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39401 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39402 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39403 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39404 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39405 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39406 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39407
39408 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39409 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39410
39411 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39412 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39413
39414 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39415 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39416 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39417 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39418
39419 @table @code
39420 @item start=@var{address}
39421 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39422 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39423 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39424 chosen as the starting point.
39425
39426 @item prev=@var{address}
39427 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39428 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39429 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39430 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39431 exists prior to the starting point.
39432
39433 @end table
39434
39435 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39436 ignored.
39437
39438 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39439 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39440 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39441 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39442 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39443
39444 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39445 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39446
39447 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39448 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39449
39450 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39451 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39452 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39453 Action Lists}.
39454
39455 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39456 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39457 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39458
39459 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39460 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39461 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39462 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39463 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39464
39465 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39466 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39467 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39468
39469 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39470 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
39471 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39472 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
39473 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39474 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39475 in that context to be accessed.
39476
39477 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39478 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39479 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39480
39481 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39482 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
39483 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
39484 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39485 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39486
39487 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39488 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39489
39490 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39491 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
39492
39493 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
39494 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
39495 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39496
39497 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39498 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39499
39500 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39501 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
39502
39503 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
39504 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
39505
39506 This packet is not probed by default.
39507
39508 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39509 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
39510 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
39511 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
39512 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
39513
39514 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39515 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39516
39517 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39518 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
39519 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
39520 @xref{Operating System Information}.
39521
39522 @end table
39523
39524 Reply:
39525 @table @samp
39526 @item m @var{data}
39527 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
39528 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
39529 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
39530 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
39531 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
39532 request.
39533
39534 @item l @var{data}
39535 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
39536 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
39537 than the @var{length} in the request.
39538
39539 @item l
39540 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
39541 There is no more data to be read.
39542
39543 @item E00
39544 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39545
39546 @item E @var{nn}
39547 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
39548 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39549
39550 @item @w{}
39551 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
39552 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
39553 @end table
39554
39555 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39556 @cindex write data into object, remote request
39557 @anchor{qXfer write}
39558 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
39559 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
39560 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
39561 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
39562 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
39563 to access.
39564
39565 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39566 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39567 formats, listed below.
39568
39569 @table @samp
39570 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39571 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
39572 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
39573 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39574 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
39575
39576 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39577 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39578 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39579
39580 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39581 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
39582 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39583 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
39584 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39585 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39586 in that context to be accessed.
39587
39588 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39589 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39590 @end table
39591
39592 Reply:
39593 @table @samp
39594 @item @var{nn}
39595 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
39596 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
39597
39598 @item E00
39599 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39600
39601 @item E @var{nn}
39602 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
39603 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39604
39605 @item @w{}
39606 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
39607 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
39608 @end table
39609
39610 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
39611 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
39612 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
39613 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
39614 must respond with an empty packet.
39615
39616 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
39617 @cindex query attached, remote request
39618 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
39619 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
39620 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
39621 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
39622 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
39623 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
39624 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
39625
39626 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
39627 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
39628 the @code{quit} command.
39629
39630 Reply:
39631 @table @samp
39632 @item 1
39633 The remote server attached to an existing process.
39634 @item 0
39635 The remote server created a new process.
39636 @item E @var{NN}
39637 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39638 @end table
39639
39640 @item Qbtrace:bts
39641 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
39642
39643 Reply:
39644 @table @samp
39645 @item OK
39646 Branch tracing has been enabled.
39647 @item E.errtext
39648 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39649 @end table
39650
39651 @item Qbtrace:off
39652 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
39653
39654 Reply:
39655 @table @samp
39656 @item OK
39657 Branch tracing has been disabled.
39658 @item E.errtext
39659 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39660 @end table
39661
39662 @end table
39663
39664 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39665 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39666
39667 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
39668 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
39669 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
39670
39671 @menu
39672 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
39673 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
39674 @end menu
39675
39676 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
39677 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
39678
39679 @menu
39680 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
39681 @end menu
39682
39683 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
39684 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
39685 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
39686
39687 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39688
39689 @table @r
39690
39691 @item 2
39692 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
39693
39694 @item 3
39695 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
39696
39697 @item 4
39698 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
39699
39700 @end table
39701
39702 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
39703 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
39704
39705 @menu
39706 * MIPS Register packet Format::
39707 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
39708 @end menu
39709
39710 @node MIPS Register packet Format
39711 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
39712 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
39713
39714 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
39715 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
39716 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
39717 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
39718 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
39719 most-significant -- least-significant.
39720
39721 @table @r
39722
39723 @item MIPS32
39724 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
39725 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
39726 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
39727
39728 @item MIPS64
39729 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
39730 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
39731 as @code{MIPS32}.
39732
39733 @end table
39734
39735 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
39736 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
39737 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
39738
39739 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39740
39741 @table @r
39742
39743 @item 2
39744 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
39745
39746 @item 3
39747 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39748
39749 @item 4
39750 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
39751
39752 @item 5
39753 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39754
39755 @end table
39756
39757 @node Tracepoint Packets
39758 @section Tracepoint Packets
39759 @cindex tracepoint packets
39760 @cindex packets, tracepoint
39761
39762 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
39763 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
39764
39765 @table @samp
39766
39767 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
39768 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
39769 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
39770 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
39771 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
39772 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
39773 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
39774 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
39775 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
39776 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
39777 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
39778 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
39779 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
39780 actions.
39781
39782 Replies:
39783 @table @samp
39784 @item OK
39785 The packet was understood and carried out.
39786 @item qRelocInsn
39787 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39788 @item @w{}
39789 The packet was not recognized.
39790 @end table
39791
39792 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
39793 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
39794 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
39795 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
39796 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
39797 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
39798 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
39799
39800 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
39801 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
39802 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
39803 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
39804 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
39805 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
39806 tracepoint actions.
39807
39808 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
39809 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
39810 following forms:
39811
39812 @table @samp
39813
39814 @item R @var{mask}
39815 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
39816 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
39817 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
39818 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
39819 not fit in a 32-bit word.
39820
39821 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
39822 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
39823 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
39824 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
39825 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
39826 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
39827 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
39828
39829 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
39830 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
39831 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
39832 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
39833 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
39834 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
39835 packet).
39836
39837 @end table
39838
39839 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
39840 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
39841 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
39842 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
39843 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
39844 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
39845 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
39846 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
39847
39848 Replies:
39849 @table @samp
39850 @item OK
39851 The packet was understood and carried out.
39852 @item qRelocInsn
39853 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39854 @item @w{}
39855 The packet was not recognized.
39856 @end table
39857
39858 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
39859 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
39860 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
39861 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
39862 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
39863 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
39864 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
39865 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
39866
39867 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
39868 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
39869 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
39870 fit in a single packet.
39871 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
39872 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
39873
39874 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
39875 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
39876 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
39877 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
39878
39879 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
39880 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
39881 query packets.
39882
39883 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
39884 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
39885 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
39886 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
39887 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
39888 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
39889 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
39890 be found.
39891
39892 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
39893 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
39894 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
39895 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
39896 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
39897 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
39898 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
39899 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
39900 mentioned in expressions.
39901
39902 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
39903 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
39904 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
39905 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
39906 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
39907
39908 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
39909 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
39910 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
39911 one of the following forms:
39912
39913 @table @samp
39914 @item F @var{f}
39915 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
39916 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
39917 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
39918
39919 @item T @var{t}
39920 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
39921 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
39922
39923 @end table
39924
39925 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
39926 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39927 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
39928 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
39929
39930 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
39931 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39932 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
39933 is a hexadecimal number.
39934
39935 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
39936 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39937 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
39938 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
39939 numbers.
39940
39941 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
39942 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
39943 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
39944
39945 @item qTMinFTPILen
39946 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
39947 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
39948 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
39949 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
39950 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
39951 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
39952 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
39953 arrange for that.
39954
39955 Replies:
39956
39957 @table @samp
39958 @item 0
39959 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
39960 @item @var{length}
39961 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
39962 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
39963 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
39964 @item E
39965 An error has occurred.
39966 @item @w{}
39967 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
39968 @end table
39969
39970 @item QTStart
39971 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
39972 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
39973 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
39974 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39975 instruction reply packet}).
39976
39977 @item QTStop
39978 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
39979 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
39980
39981 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39982 @anchor{QTEnable}
39983 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
39984 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39985 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
39986 of data from it will resume.
39987
39988 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39989 @anchor{QTDisable}
39990 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
39991 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39992 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
39993 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
39994
39995 @item QTinit
39996 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
39997 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
39998
39999 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
40000 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
40001 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
40002 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
40003 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
40004
40005 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
40006 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
40007 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
40008 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
40009
40010 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
40011 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
40012 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
40013 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
40014 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
40015 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
40016
40017 @item qTStatus
40018 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
40019 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
40020
40021 The reply has the form:
40022
40023 @table @samp
40024
40025 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
40026 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
40027 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
40028 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
40029
40030 @end table
40031
40032 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
40033 explanations as one of the optional fields:
40034
40035 @table @samp
40036
40037 @item tnotrun:0
40038 No trace has been run yet.
40039
40040 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
40041 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
40042 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
40043 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
40044 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
40045
40046 @item tfull:0
40047 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
40048
40049 @item tdisconnected:0
40050 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
40051
40052 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
40053 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
40054
40055 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
40056 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
40057 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
40058 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
40059 @var{text} is hex encoded.
40060
40061 @item tunknown:0
40062 The trace stopped for some other reason.
40063
40064 @end table
40065
40066 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
40067 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
40068 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
40069 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
40070 trace.
40071
40072 @table @samp
40073
40074 @item tframes:@var{n}
40075 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
40076
40077 @item tcreated:@var{n}
40078 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
40079 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
40080
40081 @item tsize:@var{n}
40082 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
40083
40084 @item tfree:@var{n}
40085 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
40086
40087 @item circular:@var{n}
40088 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
40089 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
40090 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
40091 and may fill up.
40092
40093 @item disconn:@var{n}
40094 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
40095 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
40096 that the trace run will stop.
40097
40098 @end table
40099
40100 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
40101 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
40102 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
40103 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
40104 address @var{addr}.
40105
40106 Replies:
40107 @table @samp
40108 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
40109 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
40110 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
40111 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
40112 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
40113
40114 @end table
40115
40116 @item qTV:@var{var}
40117 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
40118 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
40119 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
40120
40121 Replies:
40122 @table @samp
40123 @item V@var{value}
40124 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
40125 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
40126 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
40127 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
40128 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
40129 program is running.
40130
40131 @item U
40132 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
40133 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
40134 was not collected.
40135 @end table
40136
40137 @item qTfP
40138 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
40139 @itemx qTsP
40140 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
40141 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
40142 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
40143 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
40144 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
40145 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
40146
40147 @item qTfV
40148 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
40149 @itemx qTsV
40150 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
40151 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
40152 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
40153 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
40154 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
40155 trace state variables.
40156
40157 @item qTfSTM
40158 @itemx qTsSTM
40159 @anchor{qTfSTM}
40160 @anchor{qTsSTM}
40161 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
40162 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
40163 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
40164 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
40165 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
40166 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
40167
40168 Reply:
40169 @table @samp
40170 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40171 A single marker
40172 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40173 a comma-separated list of markers
40174 @item l
40175 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40176 @item E @var{nn}
40177 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40178 @item @w{}
40179 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40180 stub.
40181 @end table
40182
40183 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
40184 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40185
40186 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40187 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40188 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40189 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40190 @dfn{last}).
40191
40192 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40193 @anchor{qTSTMat}
40194 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40195 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40196 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40197 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40198 tracepoint markers.
40199
40200 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
40201 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40202 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40203 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40204 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40205 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40206
40207 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40208 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40209 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40210 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40211 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40212 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40213 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40214 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40215 available.
40216
40217 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40218 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40219 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40220
40221 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40222 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40223 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40224 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40225 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40226 use whatever size it prefers.
40227
40228 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40229 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40230 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40231 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40232 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40233
40234 @end table
40235
40236 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40237 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40238 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40239 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40240 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40241 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40242 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40243 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40244 it had executed in the original location.
40245
40246 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40247 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40248 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40249 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40250 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40251 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40252 format of the request is:
40253
40254 @table @samp
40255 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40256
40257 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40258 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40259 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40260 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40261 memory starting at @var{to}.
40262 @end table
40263
40264 Replies:
40265 @table @samp
40266 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40267 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40268 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40269 @item E @var{NN}
40270 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40271 relocating the instruction.
40272 @end table
40273
40274 @node Host I/O Packets
40275 @section Host I/O Packets
40276 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40277 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40278
40279 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40280 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40281 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40282 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40283 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40284 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40285 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40286 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40287 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40288 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40289
40290 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40291 its arguments. They have this format:
40292
40293 @table @samp
40294
40295 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40296 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40297 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40298 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40299 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40300 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40301 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40302 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40303 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40304
40305 @end table
40306
40307 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40308
40309 @table @samp
40310
40311 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40312 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40313 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40314 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40315 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40316 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40317 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40318 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40319 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40320 @var{attachment}.
40321
40322 @item @w{}
40323 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40324
40325 @end table
40326
40327 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40328
40329 @table @samp
40330 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40331 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40332 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40333 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40334 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40335 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40336 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40337
40338 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40339 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40340 -1 if an error occurs.
40341
40342 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40343 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40344 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40345 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40346 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40347 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40348 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40349 @var{count} was zero.
40350
40351 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40352 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40353 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40354 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40355 some characters were escaped.
40356
40357 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40358 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40359 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40360 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40361 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40362 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40363 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40364 error occurred.
40365
40366 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40367 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40368 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40369
40370 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40371 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40372 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40373
40374 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40375 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40376 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40377 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40378 some characters were escaped.
40379
40380 @end table
40381
40382 @node Interrupts
40383 @section Interrupts
40384 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40385
40386 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40387 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40388 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40389 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40390
40391 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40392 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40393 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40394 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40395 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40396
40397 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40398 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40399 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40400 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40401 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40402 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40403 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40404 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40405
40406 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40407 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40408 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40409
40410 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40411 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40412 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40413 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40414 currently-executing threads and processes.
40415 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40416 running program, it should send one of the stop
40417 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40418 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40419 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40420 Interrupts received while the
40421 program is stopped are discarded.
40422
40423 @node Notification Packets
40424 @section Notification Packets
40425 @cindex notification packets
40426 @cindex packets, notification
40427
40428 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40429 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40430 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40431 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40432 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40433 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40434 is not a problem.
40435
40436 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40437 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40438 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40439 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40440 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40441 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40442 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40443
40444 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40445 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40446
40447 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40448 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40449 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40450 not they understand it.
40451
40452 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40453 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40454 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40455 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40456 recipients.
40457
40458 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40459 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40460 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40461 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40462 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40463
40464 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
40465 @table @samp
40466 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
40467 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
40468 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
40469 carrying the specific information about the notification.
40470 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
40471 @item @var{ack}
40472 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
40473 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
40474 @end table
40475
40476 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
40477 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
40478
40479 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
40480 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
40481 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
40482 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
40483 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
40484 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
40485 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
40486 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
40487 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
40488 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
40489
40490 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
40491 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
40492 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
40493 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
40494 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
40495 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
40496
40497 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
40498 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
40499 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
40500 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
40501 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
40502
40503 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
40504 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
40505 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
40506 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
40507 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
40508 normally.
40509
40510 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
40511 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
40512 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
40513 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
40514 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
40515 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
40516 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
40517 the process shall be repeated.
40518
40519 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
40520 following example:
40521 @smallexample
40522 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
40523 @code{...}
40524 -> @code{vStopped}
40525 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
40526 -> @code{vStopped}
40527 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
40528 -> @code{vStopped}
40529 <- @code{OK}
40530 @end smallexample
40531
40532 The following notifications are defined:
40533 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
40534
40535 @item Notification
40536 @tab Ack
40537 @tab Event
40538 @tab Description
40539
40540 @item Stop
40541 @tab vStopped
40542 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
40543 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
40544 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
40545 @value{GDBN}.
40546 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
40547
40548 @end multitable
40549
40550 @node Remote Non-Stop
40551 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
40552
40553 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
40554 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
40555 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
40556 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40557
40558 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
40559 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
40560 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
40561 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
40562 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
40563 probe the target state after a mode change.
40564
40565 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
40566 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
40567 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
40568 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
40569 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
40570 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
40571 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
40572 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
40573 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
40574 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
40575 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
40576
40577 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
40578 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
40579 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
40580 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
40581 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
40582 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
40583 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
40584 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
40585 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
40586 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
40587 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
40588 @samp{OK}.
40589
40590 @node Packet Acknowledgment
40591 @section Packet Acknowledgment
40592
40593 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40594 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40595 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
40596 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
40597 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
40598 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
40599 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
40600
40601 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
40602 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
40603 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
40604 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
40605 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
40606
40607 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
40608 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
40609 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
40610 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
40611
40612 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
40613 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
40614 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
40615 @pxref{qSupported}.
40616 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
40617 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
40618 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
40619 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
40620 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
40621 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
40622 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
40623
40624 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
40625 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
40626 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
40627 connection.
40628 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
40629 new connection is established,
40630 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
40631 for the current connection, once disabled.
40632
40633 @node Examples
40634 @section Examples
40635
40636 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
40637 does not get any direct output:
40638
40639 @smallexample
40640 -> @code{R00}
40641 <- @code{+}
40642 @emph{target restarts}
40643 -> @code{?}
40644 <- @code{+}
40645 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40646 -> @code{+}
40647 @end smallexample
40648
40649 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
40650
40651 @smallexample
40652 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
40653 <- @code{+}
40654 -> @code{s}
40655 <- @code{+}
40656 @emph{time passes}
40657 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40658 -> @code{+}
40659 -> @code{g}
40660 <- @code{+}
40661 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
40662 -> @code{+}
40663 @end smallexample
40664
40665 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40666 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40667 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
40668
40669 @menu
40670 * File-I/O Overview::
40671 * Protocol Basics::
40672 * The F Request Packet::
40673 * The F Reply Packet::
40674 * The Ctrl-C Message::
40675 * Console I/O::
40676 * List of Supported Calls::
40677 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
40678 * Constants::
40679 * File-I/O Examples::
40680 @end menu
40681
40682 @node File-I/O Overview
40683 @subsection File-I/O Overview
40684 @cindex file-i/o overview
40685
40686 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
40687 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
40688 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
40689 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
40690 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
40691 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
40692
40693 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
40694 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
40695 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
40696 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
40697 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
40698
40699 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
40700 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
40701 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
40702 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
40703 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
40704 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
40705 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
40706
40707 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
40708 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
40709 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
40710 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
40711 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
40712
40713 @smallexample
40714 (@value{GDBP}) continue
40715 <- target requests 'system call X'
40716 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
40717 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
40718 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
40719 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
40720 @end smallexample
40721
40722 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
40723 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
40724 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
40725 system are not supported by this protocol.
40726
40727 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
40728
40729 @node Protocol Basics
40730 @subsection Protocol Basics
40731 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
40732
40733 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
40734 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
40735 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
40736 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
40737 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
40738 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
40739 to call the appropriate host system call:
40740
40741 @itemize @bullet
40742 @item
40743 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
40744
40745 @item
40746 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
40747 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
40748 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
40749 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
40750
40751 @end itemize
40752
40753 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
40754
40755 @itemize @bullet
40756 @item
40757 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
40758 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
40759 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
40760 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
40761 packet.
40762
40763 @item
40764 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
40765 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
40766
40767 @item
40768 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
40769
40770 @item
40771 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
40772
40773 @item
40774 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
40775 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
40776 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
40777 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
40778 packet.
40779
40780 @end itemize
40781
40782 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
40783 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
40784
40785 @itemize @bullet
40786 @item
40787 Return value.
40788
40789 @item
40790 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
40791
40792 @item
40793 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
40794
40795 @end itemize
40796
40797 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
40798 the latest continue or step action.
40799
40800 @node The F Request Packet
40801 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
40802 @cindex file-i/o request packet
40803 @cindex @code{F} request packet
40804
40805 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
40806
40807 @table @samp
40808 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
40809
40810 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
40811 This is just the name of the function.
40812
40813 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
40814 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
40815 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
40816 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
40817 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
40818 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
40819 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
40820
40821 @end table
40822
40823
40824
40825 @node The F Reply Packet
40826 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
40827 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
40828 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
40829
40830 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
40831
40832 @table @samp
40833
40834 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
40835
40836 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
40837
40838 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
40839 representation.
40840 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
40841
40842 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
40843 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
40844 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
40845
40846 @smallexample
40847 F0,0,C
40848 @end smallexample
40849
40850 @noindent
40851 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
40852
40853 @smallexample
40854 F-1,4,C
40855 @end smallexample
40856
40857 @noindent
40858 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
40859
40860 @end table
40861
40862
40863 @node The Ctrl-C Message
40864 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
40865 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
40866
40867 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
40868 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
40869 the target should behave as if it had
40870 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
40871 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
40872 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
40873 packet.
40874
40875 It's important for the target to know in which
40876 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
40877
40878 @itemize @bullet
40879 @item
40880 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
40881
40882 @item
40883 The system call on the host has been finished.
40884
40885 @end itemize
40886
40887 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
40888 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
40889 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
40890 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
40891 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
40892 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
40893
40894 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
40895 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
40896 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
40897 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
40898 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
40899 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
40900 or the full action has been completed.
40901
40902 @node Console I/O
40903 @subsection Console I/O
40904 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
40905
40906 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
40907 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
40908 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
40909 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
40910 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
40911 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
40912 conditions is met:
40913
40914 @itemize @bullet
40915 @item
40916 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
40917 @code{read}
40918 system call is treated as finished.
40919
40920 @item
40921 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
40922 newline.
40923
40924 @item
40925 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
40926 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
40927
40928 @end itemize
40929
40930 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
40931 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
40932 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
40933 is stopped at the user's request.
40934
40935
40936 @node List of Supported Calls
40937 @subsection List of Supported Calls
40938 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
40939
40940 @menu
40941 * open::
40942 * close::
40943 * read::
40944 * write::
40945 * lseek::
40946 * rename::
40947 * unlink::
40948 * stat/fstat::
40949 * gettimeofday::
40950 * isatty::
40951 * system::
40952 @end menu
40953
40954 @node open
40955 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
40956 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
40957
40958 @table @asis
40959 @item Synopsis:
40960 @smallexample
40961 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
40962 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
40963 @end smallexample
40964
40965 @item Request:
40966 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
40967
40968 @noindent
40969 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40970
40971 @table @code
40972 @item O_CREAT
40973 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
40974 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
40975 are concerned.
40976
40977 @item O_EXCL
40978 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
40979 an error and open() fails.
40980
40981 @item O_TRUNC
40982 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
40983 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
40984 truncated to zero length.
40985
40986 @item O_APPEND
40987 The file is opened in append mode.
40988
40989 @item O_RDONLY
40990 The file is opened for reading only.
40991
40992 @item O_WRONLY
40993 The file is opened for writing only.
40994
40995 @item O_RDWR
40996 The file is opened for reading and writing.
40997 @end table
40998
40999 @noindent
41000 Other bits are silently ignored.
41001
41002
41003 @noindent
41004 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41005
41006 @table @code
41007 @item S_IRUSR
41008 User has read permission.
41009
41010 @item S_IWUSR
41011 User has write permission.
41012
41013 @item S_IRGRP
41014 Group has read permission.
41015
41016 @item S_IWGRP
41017 Group has write permission.
41018
41019 @item S_IROTH
41020 Others have read permission.
41021
41022 @item S_IWOTH
41023 Others have write permission.
41024 @end table
41025
41026 @noindent
41027 Other bits are silently ignored.
41028
41029
41030 @item Return value:
41031 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
41032 occurred.
41033
41034 @item Errors:
41035
41036 @table @code
41037 @item EEXIST
41038 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
41039
41040 @item EISDIR
41041 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
41042
41043 @item EACCES
41044 The requested access is not allowed.
41045
41046 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41047 @var{pathname} was too long.
41048
41049 @item ENOENT
41050 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41051
41052 @item ENODEV
41053 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
41054
41055 @item EROFS
41056 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
41057 write access was requested.
41058
41059 @item EFAULT
41060 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
41061
41062 @item ENOSPC
41063 No space on device to create the file.
41064
41065 @item EMFILE
41066 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
41067
41068 @item ENFILE
41069 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
41070 has been reached.
41071
41072 @item EINTR
41073 The call was interrupted by the user.
41074 @end table
41075
41076 @end table
41077
41078 @node close
41079 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
41080 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
41081
41082 @table @asis
41083 @item Synopsis:
41084 @smallexample
41085 int close(int fd);
41086 @end smallexample
41087
41088 @item Request:
41089 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
41090
41091 @item Return value:
41092 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
41093
41094 @item Errors:
41095
41096 @table @code
41097 @item EBADF
41098 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
41099
41100 @item EINTR
41101 The call was interrupted by the user.
41102 @end table
41103
41104 @end table
41105
41106 @node read
41107 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
41108 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
41109
41110 @table @asis
41111 @item Synopsis:
41112 @smallexample
41113 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
41114 @end smallexample
41115
41116 @item Request:
41117 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41118
41119 @item Return value:
41120 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
41121 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
41122 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
41123
41124 @item Errors:
41125
41126 @table @code
41127 @item EBADF
41128 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41129 reading.
41130
41131 @item EFAULT
41132 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41133
41134 @item EINTR
41135 The call was interrupted by the user.
41136 @end table
41137
41138 @end table
41139
41140 @node write
41141 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
41142 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
41143
41144 @table @asis
41145 @item Synopsis:
41146 @smallexample
41147 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
41148 @end smallexample
41149
41150 @item Request:
41151 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41152
41153 @item Return value:
41154 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
41155 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
41156 is returned.
41157
41158 @item Errors:
41159
41160 @table @code
41161 @item EBADF
41162 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41163 writing.
41164
41165 @item EFAULT
41166 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41167
41168 @item EFBIG
41169 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
41170 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41171
41172 @item ENOSPC
41173 No space on device to write the data.
41174
41175 @item EINTR
41176 The call was interrupted by the user.
41177 @end table
41178
41179 @end table
41180
41181 @node lseek
41182 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41183 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41184
41185 @table @asis
41186 @item Synopsis:
41187 @smallexample
41188 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41189 @end smallexample
41190
41191 @item Request:
41192 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41193
41194 @var{flag} is one of:
41195
41196 @table @code
41197 @item SEEK_SET
41198 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41199
41200 @item SEEK_CUR
41201 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41202 bytes.
41203
41204 @item SEEK_END
41205 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41206 bytes.
41207 @end table
41208
41209 @item Return value:
41210 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41211 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41212 value of -1 is returned.
41213
41214 @item Errors:
41215
41216 @table @code
41217 @item EBADF
41218 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41219
41220 @item ESPIPE
41221 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41222
41223 @item EINVAL
41224 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
41225
41226 @item EINTR
41227 The call was interrupted by the user.
41228 @end table
41229
41230 @end table
41231
41232 @node rename
41233 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41234 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41235
41236 @table @asis
41237 @item Synopsis:
41238 @smallexample
41239 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41240 @end smallexample
41241
41242 @item Request:
41243 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41244
41245 @item Return value:
41246 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41247
41248 @item Errors:
41249
41250 @table @code
41251 @item EISDIR
41252 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41253 directory.
41254
41255 @item EEXIST
41256 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41257
41258 @item EBUSY
41259 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41260 process.
41261
41262 @item EINVAL
41263 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41264 of itself.
41265
41266 @item ENOTDIR
41267 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41268 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41269 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41270
41271 @item EFAULT
41272 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41273
41274 @item EACCES
41275 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41276
41277 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41278
41279 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41280
41281 @item ENOENT
41282 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41283
41284 @item EROFS
41285 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41286
41287 @item ENOSPC
41288 The device containing the file has no room for the new
41289 directory entry.
41290
41291 @item EINTR
41292 The call was interrupted by the user.
41293 @end table
41294
41295 @end table
41296
41297 @node unlink
41298 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41299 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41300
41301 @table @asis
41302 @item Synopsis:
41303 @smallexample
41304 int unlink(const char *pathname);
41305 @end smallexample
41306
41307 @item Request:
41308 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41309
41310 @item Return value:
41311 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41312
41313 @item Errors:
41314
41315 @table @code
41316 @item EACCES
41317 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41318
41319 @item EPERM
41320 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41321
41322 @item EBUSY
41323 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41324 being used by another process.
41325
41326 @item EFAULT
41327 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41328
41329 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41330 @var{pathname} was too long.
41331
41332 @item ENOENT
41333 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41334
41335 @item ENOTDIR
41336 A component of the path is not a directory.
41337
41338 @item EROFS
41339 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41340
41341 @item EINTR
41342 The call was interrupted by the user.
41343 @end table
41344
41345 @end table
41346
41347 @node stat/fstat
41348 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41349 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41350 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41351
41352 @table @asis
41353 @item Synopsis:
41354 @smallexample
41355 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41356 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41357 @end smallexample
41358
41359 @item Request:
41360 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41361 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41362
41363 @item Return value:
41364 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41365
41366 @item Errors:
41367
41368 @table @code
41369 @item EBADF
41370 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41371
41372 @item ENOENT
41373 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41374 path is an empty string.
41375
41376 @item ENOTDIR
41377 A component of the path is not a directory.
41378
41379 @item EFAULT
41380 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41381
41382 @item EACCES
41383 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41384
41385 @item ENAMETOOLONG
41386 @var{pathname} was too long.
41387
41388 @item EINTR
41389 The call was interrupted by the user.
41390 @end table
41391
41392 @end table
41393
41394 @node gettimeofday
41395 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41396 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41397
41398 @table @asis
41399 @item Synopsis:
41400 @smallexample
41401 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41402 @end smallexample
41403
41404 @item Request:
41405 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41406
41407 @item Return value:
41408 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41409
41410 @item Errors:
41411
41412 @table @code
41413 @item EINVAL
41414 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41415
41416 @item EFAULT
41417 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41418 @end table
41419
41420 @end table
41421
41422 @node isatty
41423 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41424 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41425
41426 @table @asis
41427 @item Synopsis:
41428 @smallexample
41429 int isatty(int fd);
41430 @end smallexample
41431
41432 @item Request:
41433 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41434
41435 @item Return value:
41436 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41437
41438 @item Errors:
41439
41440 @table @code
41441 @item EINTR
41442 The call was interrupted by the user.
41443 @end table
41444
41445 @end table
41446
41447 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
41448 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41449 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41450 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41451 needed.
41452
41453
41454 @node system
41455 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
41456 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
41457
41458 @table @asis
41459 @item Synopsis:
41460 @smallexample
41461 int system(const char *command);
41462 @end smallexample
41463
41464 @item Request:
41465 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
41466
41467 @item Return value:
41468 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
41469 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
41470 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
41471 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
41472 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
41473 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
41474 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
41475
41476 @item Errors:
41477
41478 @table @code
41479 @item EINTR
41480 The call was interrupted by the user.
41481 @end table
41482
41483 @end table
41484
41485 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
41486 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
41487 the host is simplified before it's returned
41488 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
41489 is discarded, and the return value consists
41490 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
41491
41492 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
41493 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
41494 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
41495
41496 @table @code
41497 @item set remote system-call-allowed
41498 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
41499 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
41500 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
41501
41502 @item show remote system-call-allowed
41503 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
41504 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
41505 protocol.
41506 @end table
41507
41508 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41509 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41510 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41511
41512 @menu
41513 * Integral Datatypes::
41514 * Pointer Values::
41515 * Memory Transfer::
41516 * struct stat::
41517 * struct timeval::
41518 @end menu
41519
41520 @node Integral Datatypes
41521 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
41522 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41523
41524 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
41525 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
41526 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
41527
41528 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
41529 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
41530
41531 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
41532
41533 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
41534 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
41535
41536 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
41537
41538 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
41539 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
41540 byte order.
41541
41542 @node Pointer Values
41543 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
41544 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
41545
41546 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
41547 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
41548 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
41549 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
41550
41551 @smallexample
41552 @code{1aaf/12}
41553 @end smallexample
41554
41555 @noindent
41556 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
41557 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
41558 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
41559 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
41560
41561 @smallexample
41562 @code{123456/d}
41563 @end smallexample
41564
41565 @node Memory Transfer
41566 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
41567 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
41568
41569 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
41570 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
41571 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
41572 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
41573 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
41574 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
41575 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
41576
41577
41578 @node struct stat
41579 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
41580 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
41581
41582 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
41583 is defined as follows:
41584
41585 @smallexample
41586 struct stat @{
41587 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
41588 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
41589 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
41590 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
41591 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
41592 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
41593 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
41594 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
41595 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
41596 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
41597 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
41598 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
41599 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
41600 @};
41601 @end smallexample
41602
41603 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41604 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41605 structure is of size 64 bytes.
41606
41607 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
41608 range of values.
41609
41610 @table @code
41611
41612 @item st_dev
41613 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
41614
41615 @item st_ino
41616 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41617
41618 @item st_mode
41619 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
41620 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
41621
41622 @item st_uid
41623 @itemx st_gid
41624 @itemx st_rdev
41625 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41626
41627 @item st_atime
41628 @itemx st_mtime
41629 @itemx st_ctime
41630 These values have a host and file system dependent
41631 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
41632 support exact timing values.
41633 @end table
41634
41635 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
41636 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
41637 continuing.
41638
41639 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
41640 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
41641 get truncated on the target.
41642
41643 @node struct timeval
41644 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
41645 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
41646
41647 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
41648 is defined as follows:
41649
41650 @smallexample
41651 struct timeval @{
41652 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
41653 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
41654 @};
41655 @end smallexample
41656
41657 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41658 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41659 structure is of size 8 bytes.
41660
41661 @node Constants
41662 @subsection Constants
41663 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
41664
41665 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
41666 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
41667 values before and after the call as needed.
41668
41669 @menu
41670 * Open Flags::
41671 * mode_t Values::
41672 * Errno Values::
41673 * Lseek Flags::
41674 * Limits::
41675 @end menu
41676
41677 @node Open Flags
41678 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
41679 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
41680
41681 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
41682
41683 @smallexample
41684 O_RDONLY 0x0
41685 O_WRONLY 0x1
41686 O_RDWR 0x2
41687 O_APPEND 0x8
41688 O_CREAT 0x200
41689 O_TRUNC 0x400
41690 O_EXCL 0x800
41691 @end smallexample
41692
41693 @node mode_t Values
41694 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
41695 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
41696
41697 All values are given in octal representation.
41698
41699 @smallexample
41700 S_IFREG 0100000
41701 S_IFDIR 040000
41702 S_IRUSR 0400
41703 S_IWUSR 0200
41704 S_IXUSR 0100
41705 S_IRGRP 040
41706 S_IWGRP 020
41707 S_IXGRP 010
41708 S_IROTH 04
41709 S_IWOTH 02
41710 S_IXOTH 01
41711 @end smallexample
41712
41713 @node Errno Values
41714 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
41715 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
41716
41717 All values are given in decimal representation.
41718
41719 @smallexample
41720 EPERM 1
41721 ENOENT 2
41722 EINTR 4
41723 EBADF 9
41724 EACCES 13
41725 EFAULT 14
41726 EBUSY 16
41727 EEXIST 17
41728 ENODEV 19
41729 ENOTDIR 20
41730 EISDIR 21
41731 EINVAL 22
41732 ENFILE 23
41733 EMFILE 24
41734 EFBIG 27
41735 ENOSPC 28
41736 ESPIPE 29
41737 EROFS 30
41738 ENAMETOOLONG 91
41739 EUNKNOWN 9999
41740 @end smallexample
41741
41742 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
41743 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
41744
41745 @node Lseek Flags
41746 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
41747 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
41748
41749 @smallexample
41750 SEEK_SET 0
41751 SEEK_CUR 1
41752 SEEK_END 2
41753 @end smallexample
41754
41755 @node Limits
41756 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
41757 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
41758
41759 All values are given in decimal representation.
41760
41761 @smallexample
41762 INT_MIN -2147483648
41763 INT_MAX 2147483647
41764 UINT_MAX 4294967295
41765 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
41766 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
41767 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
41768 @end smallexample
41769
41770 @node File-I/O Examples
41771 @subsection File-I/O Examples
41772 @cindex file-i/o examples
41773
41774 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41775 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
41776
41777 @smallexample
41778 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
41779 @emph{request memory read from target}
41780 -> @code{m1234,6}
41781 <- XXXXXX
41782 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
41783 -> @code{F6}
41784 @end smallexample
41785
41786 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41787 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
41788
41789 @smallexample
41790 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41791 @emph{request memory write to target}
41792 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41793 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
41794 -> @code{F6}
41795 @end smallexample
41796
41797 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
41798 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
41799
41800 @smallexample
41801 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41802 -> @code{F-1,9}
41803 @end smallexample
41804
41805 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
41806 host is called:
41807
41808 @smallexample
41809 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41810 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
41811 <- @code{T02}
41812 @end smallexample
41813
41814 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
41815 host is called:
41816
41817 @smallexample
41818 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41819 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41820 <- @code{T02}
41821 @end smallexample
41822
41823 @node Library List Format
41824 @section Library List Format
41825 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41826
41827 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
41828 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
41829 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
41830 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
41831 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
41832 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
41833 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
41834 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
41835 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
41836 are loaded.
41837
41838 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
41839 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
41840 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
41841 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
41842
41843 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
41844 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
41845 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
41846 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
41847 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
41848 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
41849
41850 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41851 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41852
41853 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
41854 offset, looks like this:
41855
41856 @smallexample
41857 <library-list>
41858 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
41859 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
41860 </library>
41861 </library-list>
41862 @end smallexample
41863
41864 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
41865 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
41866
41867 @smallexample
41868 <library-list>
41869 <library name="sharedlib.o">
41870 <section address="0x10000000"/>
41871 <section address="0x20000000"/>
41872 <section address="0x30000000"/>
41873 </library>
41874 </library-list>
41875 @end smallexample
41876
41877 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
41878
41879 @smallexample
41880 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
41881 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
41882 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41883 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
41884 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41885 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
41886 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41887 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
41888 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41889 @end smallexample
41890
41891 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
41892 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
41893 section for each library.
41894
41895 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41896 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41897 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41898
41899 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
41900 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
41901 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
41902 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
41903
41904 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
41905 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
41906 target, the following parameters are reported:
41907
41908 @itemize @minus
41909 @item
41910 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
41911 @code{struct link_map}.
41912 @item
41913 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
41914 (Thread Local Storage) access.
41915 @item
41916 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
41917 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
41918 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
41919 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
41920 @item
41921 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
41922 @end itemize
41923
41924 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
41925 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
41926 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
41927
41928 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41929 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41930
41931 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
41932 looks like this:
41933
41934 @smallexample
41935 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
41936 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
41937 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
41938 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
41939 l_ld="0x152350"/>
41940 </library-list-svr>
41941 @end smallexample
41942
41943 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
41944
41945 @smallexample
41946 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
41947 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
41948 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41949 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
41950 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
41951 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41952 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
41953 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
41954 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
41955 @end smallexample
41956
41957 @node Memory Map Format
41958 @section Memory Map Format
41959 @cindex memory map format
41960
41961 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
41962 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
41963 memory map.
41964
41965 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
41966 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
41967 lists memory regions.
41968
41969 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41970 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
41971
41972 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41973
41974 @smallexample
41975 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41976 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
41977 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41978 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
41979 <memory-map>
41980 region...
41981 </memory-map>
41982 @end smallexample
41983
41984 Each region can be either:
41985
41986 @itemize
41987
41988 @item
41989 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
41990 bytes from there:
41991
41992 @smallexample
41993 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41994 @end smallexample
41995
41996
41997 @item
41998 A region of read-only memory:
41999
42000 @smallexample
42001 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42002 @end smallexample
42003
42004
42005 @item
42006 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
42007 bytes in length:
42008
42009 @smallexample
42010 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
42011 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
42012 </memory>
42013 @end smallexample
42014
42015 @end itemize
42016
42017 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
42018 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
42019 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
42020
42021 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
42022
42023 @smallexample
42024 <!-- ................................................... -->
42025 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
42026 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
42027 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
42028 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
42029 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
42030 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
42031 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
42032 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
42033 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
42034 and its type, or device. -->
42035 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
42036 start CDATA #REQUIRED
42037 length CDATA #REQUIRED
42038 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
42039 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
42040 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
42041 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42042 @end smallexample
42043
42044 @node Thread List Format
42045 @section Thread List Format
42046 @cindex thread list format
42047
42048 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
42049 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
42050 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
42051 the following structure:
42052
42053 @smallexample
42054 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42055 <threads>
42056 <thread id="id" core="0">
42057 ... description ...
42058 </thread>
42059 </threads>
42060 @end smallexample
42061
42062 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
42063 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
42064 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
42065 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
42066 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
42067
42068 @node Traceframe Info Format
42069 @section Traceframe Info Format
42070 @cindex traceframe info format
42071
42072 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
42073 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
42074 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
42075 collected in a traceframe.
42076
42077 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
42078 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
42079
42080 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42081 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42082
42083 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42084
42085 @smallexample
42086 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42087 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
42088 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42089 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
42090 <traceframe-info>
42091 block...
42092 </traceframe-info>
42093 @end smallexample
42094
42095 Each traceframe block can be either:
42096
42097 @itemize
42098
42099 @item
42100 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
42101 @var{length} bytes from there:
42102
42103 @smallexample
42104 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42105 @end smallexample
42106
42107 @item
42108 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
42109 collected:
42110
42111 @smallexample
42112 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
42113 @end smallexample
42114
42115 @end itemize
42116
42117 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
42118
42119 @smallexample
42120 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
42121 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42122
42123 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
42124 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
42125 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
42126 <!ELEMENT tvar>
42127 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
42128 @end smallexample
42129
42130 @node Branch Trace Format
42131 @section Branch Trace Format
42132 @cindex branch trace format
42133
42134 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
42135 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
42136 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
42137 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
42138
42139 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
42140 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
42141
42142 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42143 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42144
42145 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42146
42147 @smallexample
42148 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42149 <!DOCTYPE btrace
42150 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
42151 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
42152 <btrace>
42153 block...
42154 </btrace>
42155 @end smallexample
42156
42157 @itemize
42158
42159 @item
42160 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
42161 and ending at @var{end}:
42162
42163 @smallexample
42164 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
42165 @end smallexample
42166
42167 @end itemize
42168
42169 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
42170
42171 @smallexample
42172 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42173 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42174
42175 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42176 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42177 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42178 @end smallexample
42179
42180 @include agentexpr.texi
42181
42182 @node Target Descriptions
42183 @appendix Target Descriptions
42184 @cindex target descriptions
42185
42186 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42187 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42188 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42189 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42190 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42191 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42192 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42193
42194 @itemize @bullet
42195 @item
42196 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42197 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42198 @item
42199 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42200 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42201 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42202 @item
42203 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42204 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42205 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42206 @end itemize
42207
42208 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42209 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42210 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42211 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42212 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42213
42214 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42215 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42216
42217 @menu
42218 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42219 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42220 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42221 descriptions.
42222 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42223 @end menu
42224
42225 @node Retrieving Descriptions
42226 @section Retrieving Descriptions
42227
42228 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42229 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42230 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42231 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42232 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42233 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42234 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42235 Format}.
42236
42237 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42238 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42239 specify a file are:
42240
42241 @table @code
42242 @cindex set tdesc filename
42243 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42244 Read the target description from @var{path}.
42245
42246 @cindex unset tdesc filename
42247 @item unset tdesc filename
42248 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42249 will use the description supplied by the current target.
42250
42251 @cindex show tdesc filename
42252 @item show tdesc filename
42253 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42254 @end table
42255
42256
42257 @node Target Description Format
42258 @section Target Description Format
42259 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
42260
42261 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42262 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42263 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42264 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42265 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42266 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42267 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42268
42269 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42270 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42271 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42272 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42273 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42274
42275 Here is a simple target description:
42276
42277 @smallexample
42278 <target version="1.0">
42279 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42280 </target>
42281 @end smallexample
42282
42283 @noindent
42284 This minimal description only says that the target uses
42285 the x86-64 architecture.
42286
42287 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42288 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42289 are explained further below.
42290
42291 @smallexample
42292 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42293 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42294 <target version="1.0">
42295 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42296 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42297 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42298 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42299 </target>
42300 @end smallexample
42301
42302 @noindent
42303 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42304 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42305 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42306 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42307 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42308 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42309 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42310 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42311 the version mismatch.
42312
42313 @subsection Inclusion
42314 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42315 @cindex XInclude
42316 @ifnotinfo
42317 @cindex <xi:include>
42318 @end ifnotinfo
42319
42320 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42321 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42322 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42323 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42324 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42325
42326 @smallexample
42327 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42328 @end smallexample
42329
42330 @noindent
42331 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42332 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42333 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42334 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42335 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42336 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42337 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42338 original description.
42339
42340 @subsection Architecture
42341 @cindex <architecture>
42342
42343 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42344
42345 @smallexample
42346 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42347 @end smallexample
42348
42349 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42350 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42351
42352 @subsection OS ABI
42353 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
42354
42355 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42356 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42357
42358 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42359
42360 @smallexample
42361 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42362 @end smallexample
42363
42364 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42365 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42366
42367 @subsection Compatible Architecture
42368 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
42369
42370 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42371 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42372
42373 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42374
42375 @smallexample
42376 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42377 @end smallexample
42378
42379 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42380 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42381
42382 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42383 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42384 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42385 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42386 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42387 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42388 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42389
42390 @smallexample
42391 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42392 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42393 @end smallexample
42394
42395 @subsection Features
42396 @cindex <feature>
42397
42398 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42399 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42400 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42401 has this form:
42402
42403 @smallexample
42404 <feature name="@var{name}">
42405 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42406 @var{reg}@dots{}
42407 </feature>
42408 @end smallexample
42409
42410 @noindent
42411 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42412 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42413 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42414 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42415
42416 @subsection Types
42417
42418 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42419 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42420 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42421 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42422 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42423
42424 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42425 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42426 Types must be defined before they are used.
42427
42428 @cindex <vector>
42429 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42430 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42431 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42432 @var{count}:
42433
42434 @smallexample
42435 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42436 @end smallexample
42437
42438 @cindex <union>
42439 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42440 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42441 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42442 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42443
42444 @smallexample
42445 <union id="@var{id}">
42446 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42447 @dots{}
42448 </union>
42449 @end smallexample
42450
42451 @cindex <struct>
42452 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42453 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42454 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42455 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42456 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42457 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42458 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42459 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42460
42461 @smallexample
42462 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42463 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42464 @dots{}
42465 </struct>
42466 @end smallexample
42467
42468 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
42469 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
42470
42471 @smallexample
42472 <struct id="@var{id}">
42473 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42474 @dots{}
42475 </struct>
42476 @end smallexample
42477
42478 @cindex <flags>
42479 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
42480 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
42481 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
42482 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
42483 are supported.
42484
42485 @smallexample
42486 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42487 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42488 @dots{}
42489 </flags>
42490 @end smallexample
42491
42492 @subsection Registers
42493 @cindex <reg>
42494
42495 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
42496
42497 @smallexample
42498 <reg name="@var{name}"
42499 bitsize="@var{size}"
42500 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
42501 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
42502 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
42503 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
42504 @end smallexample
42505
42506 @noindent
42507 The components are as follows:
42508
42509 @table @var
42510
42511 @item name
42512 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
42513
42514 @item bitsize
42515 The register's size, in bits.
42516
42517 @item regnum
42518 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
42519 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
42520 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
42521 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
42522 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
42523 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
42524 in order of increasing register number.
42525
42526 @item save-restore
42527 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
42528 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
42529 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
42530 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
42531 ABI.
42532
42533 @item type
42534 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
42535 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
42536 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
42537 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
42538 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
42539 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
42540
42541 @item group
42542 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
42543 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
42544 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
42545 in @code{info registers}.
42546
42547 @end table
42548
42549 @node Predefined Target Types
42550 @section Predefined Target Types
42551 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
42552
42553 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
42554 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
42555 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
42556 types. The currently supported types are:
42557
42558 @table @code
42559
42560 @item int8
42561 @itemx int16
42562 @itemx int32
42563 @itemx int64
42564 @itemx int128
42565 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42566
42567 @item uint8
42568 @itemx uint16
42569 @itemx uint32
42570 @itemx uint64
42571 @itemx uint128
42572 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42573
42574 @item code_ptr
42575 @itemx data_ptr
42576 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42577 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42578 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42579 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42580 may be marked as data pointers.
42581
42582 @item ieee_single
42583 Single precision IEEE floating point.
42584
42585 @item ieee_double
42586 Double precision IEEE floating point.
42587
42588 @item arm_fpa_ext
42589 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
42590
42591 @item i387_ext
42592 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
42593
42594 @item i386_eflags
42595 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
42596
42597 @item i386_mxcsr
42598 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
42599
42600 @end table
42601
42602 @node Standard Target Features
42603 @section Standard Target Features
42604 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
42605
42606 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
42607 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
42608 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
42609 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
42610 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
42611 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
42612 can recognize them.
42613
42614 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
42615 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
42616 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
42617 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
42618 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
42619 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
42620 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
42621 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
42622
42623 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
42624 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
42625 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
42626
42627 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
42628 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
42629 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
42630 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
42631
42632 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
42633 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
42634 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
42635
42636 @menu
42637 * AArch64 Features::
42638 * ARM Features::
42639 * i386 Features::
42640 * MIPS Features::
42641 * M68K Features::
42642 * Nios II Features::
42643 * PowerPC Features::
42644 * S/390 and System z Features::
42645 * TIC6x Features::
42646 @end menu
42647
42648
42649 @node AArch64 Features
42650 @subsection AArch64 Features
42651 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
42652
42653 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
42654 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
42655 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42656
42657 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42658 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
42659 and @samp{fpcr}.
42660
42661 @node ARM Features
42662 @subsection ARM Features
42663 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
42664
42665 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
42666 ARM targets.
42667 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
42668 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42669
42670 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
42671 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
42672 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
42673 and @samp{xpsr}.
42674
42675 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
42676 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
42677
42678 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
42679 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
42680 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
42681 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
42682
42683 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
42684 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
42685 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
42686 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
42687 halves of the double-precision registers.
42688
42689 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
42690 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
42691 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
42692 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
42693 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
42694 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
42695
42696 @node i386 Features
42697 @subsection i386 Features
42698 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
42699
42700 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
42701 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42702
42703 @itemize @minus
42704 @item
42705 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
42706 @item
42707 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
42708 @item
42709 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
42710 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
42711 @item
42712 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
42713 @item
42714 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
42715 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
42716 @end itemize
42717
42718 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
42719
42720 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
42721 describe registers:
42722
42723 @itemize @minus
42724 @item
42725 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
42726 @item
42727 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
42728 @item
42729 @samp{mxcsr}
42730 @end itemize
42731
42732 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
42733 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
42734 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
42735
42736 @itemize @minus
42737 @item
42738 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
42739 @item
42740 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
42741 @end itemize
42742
42743 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
42744 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
42745
42746 @node MIPS Features
42747 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
42748 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
42749
42750 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
42751 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
42752 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
42753 on the target.
42754
42755 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
42756 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
42757 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42758
42759 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
42760 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
42761 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
42762 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42763
42764 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
42765 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
42766 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
42767 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42768
42769 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
42770 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
42771 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
42772
42773 @node M68K Features
42774 @subsection M68K Features
42775 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
42776
42777 @table @code
42778 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
42779 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
42780 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
42781 One of those features must be always present.
42782 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
42783 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
42784 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
42785 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
42786
42787 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
42788 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
42789 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
42790 @samp{fpiaddr}.
42791 @end table
42792
42793 @node Nios II Features
42794 @subsection Nios II Features
42795 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
42796
42797 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
42798 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
42799 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
42800 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
42801 @samp{mpuacc}).
42802
42803 @node PowerPC Features
42804 @subsection PowerPC Features
42805 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
42806
42807 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
42808 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42809 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
42810 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42811
42812 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
42813 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
42814
42815 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
42816 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
42817 and @samp{vrsave}.
42818
42819 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
42820 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
42821 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
42822 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
42823 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
42824 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
42825
42826 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
42827 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
42828 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
42829 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
42830 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
42831 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
42832 user.
42833
42834 @node S/390 and System z Features
42835 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
42836 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
42837 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
42838
42839 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
42840 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
42841 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
42842 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
42843 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
42844 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
42845 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
42846 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
42847 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
42848
42849 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
42850 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
42851 @samp{fpc}.
42852
42853 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
42854 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
42855
42856 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
42857 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
42858 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
42859 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
42860 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
42861 32-bit wide.
42862
42863 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
42864 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
42865 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
42866
42867 @node TIC6x Features
42868 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
42869 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
42870 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
42871 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
42872 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
42873 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
42874
42875 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
42876 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
42877 through @samp{B31}.
42878
42879 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
42880 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
42881
42882 @node Operating System Information
42883 @appendix Operating System Information
42884 @cindex operating system information
42885
42886 @menu
42887 * Process list::
42888 @end menu
42889
42890 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
42891 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
42892 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
42893 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
42894 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
42895 on a different aspect of target.
42896
42897 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
42898 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
42899 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
42900 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
42901
42902 @node Process list
42903 @appendixsection Process list
42904 @cindex operating system information, process list
42905
42906 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
42907 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
42908 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
42909 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
42910
42911 An example document is:
42912
42913 @smallexample
42914 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42915 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
42916 <osdata type="processes">
42917 <item>
42918 <column name="pid">1</column>
42919 <column name="user">root</column>
42920 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
42921 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
42922 </item>
42923 </osdata>
42924 @end smallexample
42925
42926 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
42927 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
42928 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
42929 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
42930 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
42931 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
42932 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
42933
42934 @node Trace File Format
42935 @appendix Trace File Format
42936 @cindex trace file format
42937
42938 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
42939 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
42940
42941 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
42942 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
42943 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
42944 in the future.
42945
42946 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
42947 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
42948 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
42949 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
42950 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
42951 of this section.
42952
42953 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
42954
42955 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
42956 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
42957 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
42958 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
42959 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
42960 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
42961 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
42962 endianness.
42963
42964 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
42965
42966 @table @code
42967 @item R @var{bytes}
42968 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
42969 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
42970 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
42971 hexadecimal encoding.
42972
42973 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
42974 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
42975 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
42976 @var{length} bytes.
42977
42978 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
42979 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
42980 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
42981
42982 @end table
42983
42984 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
42985 of blocks.
42986
42987 @node Index Section Format
42988 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
42989 @cindex .gdb_index section format
42990 @cindex index section format
42991
42992 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
42993 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
42994 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
42995 description.
42996
42997 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
42998 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
42999 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
43000 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
43001 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
43002 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
43003
43004 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
43005
43006 @enumerate
43007 @item
43008 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
43009 unless otherwise noted:
43010
43011 @enumerate
43012 @item
43013 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
43014 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
43015 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
43016 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
43017 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
43018 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
43019 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
43020
43021 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
43022 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
43023 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
43024 currently not flagged as deprecated.
43025
43026 @item
43027 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
43028
43029 @item
43030 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
43031 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
43032 to the next offset.
43033
43034 @item
43035 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
43036
43037 @item
43038 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
43039
43040 @item
43041 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
43042 @end enumerate
43043
43044 @item
43045 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
43046 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
43047 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
43048 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
43049 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
43050 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
43051 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
43052 CU indices.
43053
43054 @item
43055 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
43056 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
43057 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
43058 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
43059
43060 @item
43061 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
43062 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
43063
43064 @enumerate
43065 @item
43066 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
43067
43068 @item
43069 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
43070 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
43071
43072 @item
43073 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
43074 @end enumerate
43075
43076 @item
43077 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
43078 the hash table is always a power of 2.
43079
43080 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
43081 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
43082 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
43083 constant pool.
43084
43085 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
43086 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
43087 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
43088
43089 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
43090 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
43091 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
43092 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
43093 index version:
43094
43095 @table @asis
43096 @item Version 4
43097 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
43098
43099 @item Versions 5 to 7
43100 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
43101 @end table
43102
43103 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
43104
43105 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
43106 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
43107 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
43108 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
43109 collision.
43110
43111 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
43112 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
43113 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
43114 the code.
43115
43116 @item
43117 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
43118 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
43119 strings.
43120
43121 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
43122 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
43123 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
43124 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
43125 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
43126 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
43127
43128 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
43129 @end enumerate
43130
43131 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
43132 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
43133 CU index+attributes value for each use.
43134
43135 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
43136 (bit 0 = LSB):
43137
43138 @table @asis
43139
43140 @item Bits 0-23
43141 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
43142 @item Bits 24-27
43143 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
43144 @item Bits 28-30
43145 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
43146
43147 @table @asis
43148 @item 0
43149 This value is reserved and should not be used.
43150 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
43151 with previous versions of the index.
43152 @item 1
43153 The symbol is a type.
43154 @item 2
43155 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
43156 @item 3
43157 The symbol is a function.
43158 @item 4
43159 Any other kind of symbol.
43160 @item 5,6,7
43161 These values are reserved.
43162 @end table
43163
43164 @item Bit 31
43165 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
43166
43167 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
43168 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
43169 @value{GDBN} sources.
43170
43171 @end table
43172
43173 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
43174 global/static attributes in the index.
43175
43176 @smallexample
43177 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
43178 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
43179 switch (die->tag)
43180 @{
43181 case DW_TAG_typedef:
43182 case DW_TAG_base_type:
43183 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
43184 kind = TYPE;
43185 is_static = 1;
43186 break;
43187 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
43188 kind = VARIABLE;
43189 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43190 break;
43191 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
43192 kind = FUNCTION;
43193 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
43194 break;
43195 case DW_TAG_constant:
43196 kind = VARIABLE;
43197 is_static = ! is_external;
43198 break;
43199 case DW_TAG_variable:
43200 kind = VARIABLE;
43201 is_static = ! is_external;
43202 break;
43203 case DW_TAG_namespace:
43204 kind = TYPE;
43205 is_static = 0;
43206 break;
43207 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43208 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43209 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43210 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43211 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43212 kind = TYPE;
43213 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43214 break;
43215 default:
43216 assert (0);
43217 @}
43218 @end smallexample
43219
43220 @node Man Pages
43221 @appendix Manual pages
43222 @cindex Man pages
43223
43224 @menu
43225 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43226 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43227 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43228 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43229 @end menu
43230
43231 @node gdb man
43232 @heading gdb man
43233
43234 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43235
43236 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43237 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43238 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43239 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43240 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43241 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43242 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43243 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43244 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43245 @c man end
43246
43247 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43248 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43249 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43250 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43251
43252 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43253 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43254
43255 @itemize @bullet
43256 @item
43257 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43258
43259 @item
43260 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43261
43262 @item
43263 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43264
43265 @item
43266 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43267 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43268 @end itemize
43269
43270 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43271 Modula-2.
43272
43273 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43274 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43275 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43276 by using the command @code{help}.
43277
43278 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43279 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43280 executable program as the argument:
43281
43282 @smallexample
43283 gdb program
43284 @end smallexample
43285
43286 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43287
43288 @smallexample
43289 gdb program core
43290 @end smallexample
43291
43292 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43293 to debug a running process:
43294
43295 @smallexample
43296 gdb program 1234
43297 gdb -p 1234
43298 @end smallexample
43299
43300 @noindent
43301 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43302 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43303 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43304
43305 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43306
43307 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43308 @table @env
43309 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
43310 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43311
43312 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43313 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43314
43315 @item bt
43316 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43317
43318 @item print @var{expr}
43319 Display the value of an expression.
43320
43321 @item c
43322 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43323
43324 @item next
43325 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43326 function calls in the line.
43327
43328 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43329 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43330
43331 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43332 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43333
43334 @item step
43335 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43336 function calls in the line.
43337
43338 @item help [@var{name}]
43339 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43340 about using @value{GDBN}.
43341
43342 @item quit
43343 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43344 @end table
43345
43346 @ifset man
43347 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43348 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43349 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43350 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43351 @end ifset
43352 @c man end
43353
43354 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43355 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43356 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43357 encountered with no
43358 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43359 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43360 Many options have
43361 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43362 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43363 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43364 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43365 more usual convention.)
43366
43367 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43368 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43369 option is used.
43370
43371 @table @env
43372 @item -help
43373 @itemx -h
43374 List all options, with brief explanations.
43375
43376 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43377 @itemx -s @var{file}
43378 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43379
43380 @item -write
43381 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43382
43383 @item -exec=@var{file}
43384 @itemx -e @var{file}
43385 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43386 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43387 dump.
43388
43389 @item -se=@var{file}
43390 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43391 file.
43392
43393 @item -core=@var{file}
43394 @itemx -c @var{file}
43395 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43396
43397 @item -command=@var{file}
43398 @itemx -x @var{file}
43399 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43400
43401 @item -ex @var{command}
43402 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43403
43404 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43405 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43406 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43407
43408 @item -nh
43409 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43410
43411 @item -nx
43412 @itemx -n
43413 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43414
43415 @item -quiet
43416 @itemx -q
43417 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43418 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43419
43420 @item -batch
43421 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43422 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43423 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43424 commands in the command files.
43425
43426 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43427 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43428 more useful, the message
43429
43430 @smallexample
43431 Program exited normally.
43432 @end smallexample
43433
43434 @noindent
43435 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43436 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43437
43438 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43439 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43440 instead of the current directory.
43441
43442 @item -fullname
43443 @itemx -f
43444 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43445 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43446 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43447 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43448 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43449 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43450 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43451 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43452
43453 @item -b @var{bps}
43454 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43455 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43456
43457 @item -tty=@var{device}
43458 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43459 @end table
43460 @c man end
43461
43462 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43463 @ifset man
43464 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43465 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43466 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43467
43468 @smallexample
43469 info gdb
43470 @end smallexample
43471
43472 @noindent
43473 should give you access to the complete manual.
43474
43475 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43476 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43477 @end ifset
43478 @c man end
43479
43480 @node gdbserver man
43481 @heading gdbserver man
43482
43483 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43484 @format
43485 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43486 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43487
43488 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43489
43490 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43491 @c man end
43492 @end format
43493
43494 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43495 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43496 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43497
43498 @ifclear man
43499 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43500 @end ifclear
43501 @ifset man
43502 Usage (server (target) side):
43503 @end ifset
43504
43505 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43506 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43507 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43508 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43509
43510 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43511 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43512 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43513
43514 @smallexample
43515 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43516 @end smallexample
43517
43518 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43519
43520 @smallexample
43521 @ifset man
43522 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43523 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43524 @end ifset
43525 @ifclear man
43526 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43527 @end ifclear
43528 @end smallexample
43529
43530 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43531 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43532 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43533
43534 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43535
43536 @smallexample
43537 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43538 @end smallexample
43539
43540 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43541 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43542 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
43543 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43544 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43545 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43546 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43547 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43548 print an error message and exit.
43549
43550 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43551 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43552
43553 @smallexample
43554 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43555 @end smallexample
43556
43557 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43558 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43559
43560 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43561 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43562 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43563 the program you want to debug.
43564
43565 @smallexample
43566 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43567 @end smallexample
43568
43569 @ifclear man
43570 @subheading Usage (host side)
43571 @end ifclear
43572 @ifset man
43573 Usage (host side):
43574 @end ifset
43575
43576 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43577 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43578 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43579 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43580 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43581 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43582 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43583 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43584 descriptor. For example:
43585
43586 @smallexample
43587 @ifset man
43588 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43589 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
43590 @end ifset
43591 @ifclear man
43592 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
43593 @end ifclear
43594 @end smallexample
43595
43596 @noindent
43597 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
43598
43599 @smallexample
43600 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
43601 @end smallexample
43602
43603 @noindent
43604 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
43605 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
43606 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
43607 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
43608 `Connection refused'.
43609
43610 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
43611 described in
43612 @ifset man
43613 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
43614 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
43615 @end ifset
43616 @ifclear man
43617 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
43618 @end ifclear
43619 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
43620
43621 @smallexample
43622 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
43623 @end smallexample
43624
43625 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
43626 case.
43627 @c man end
43628
43629 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
43630 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
43631
43632 @itemize @bullet
43633
43634 @item
43635 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
43636
43637 @smallexample
43638 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43639 @end smallexample
43640
43641 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
43642 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
43643 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
43644 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
43645 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
43646 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
43647 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43648
43649 @item
43650 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
43651 program:
43652
43653 @smallexample
43654 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43655 @end smallexample
43656
43657 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
43658 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
43659 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
43660 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43661
43662 @item
43663 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
43664
43665 @smallexample
43666 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43667 @end smallexample
43668
43669 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
43670 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
43671 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
43672 debug several processes in the same session.
43673 @end itemize
43674
43675 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
43676
43677 @table @env
43678
43679 @item --help
43680 List all options, with brief explanations.
43681
43682 @item --version
43683 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
43684
43685 @item --attach
43686 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
43687
43688 @smallexample
43689 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43690 @end smallexample
43691
43692 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43693 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43694
43695 @item --multi
43696 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43697 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
43698 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
43699 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
43700
43701 @smallexample
43702 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43703 @end smallexample
43704
43705 @item --debug
43706 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
43707 process.
43708 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43709 the developers.
43710
43711 @item --remote-debug
43712 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
43713 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43714 the developers.
43715
43716 @item --wrapper
43717 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
43718 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
43719 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
43720 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
43721
43722 @item --once
43723 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
43724 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
43725 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
43726 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
43727
43728 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
43729
43730 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
43731 @c QDisableRandomization.
43732
43733 @end table
43734 @c man end
43735
43736 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
43737 @ifset man
43738 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43739 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43740 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43741
43742 @smallexample
43743 info gdb
43744 @end smallexample
43745
43746 should give you access to the complete manual.
43747
43748 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43749 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43750 @end ifset
43751 @c man end
43752
43753 @node gcore man
43754 @heading gcore
43755
43756 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
43757
43758 @format
43759 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
43760 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
43761 @c man end
43762 @end format
43763
43764 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
43765 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
43766 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
43767 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
43768 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
43769 running without any change.
43770 @c man end
43771
43772 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
43773 @table @env
43774 @item -o @var{filename}
43775 The optional argument
43776 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
43777 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
43778 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
43779 @end table
43780 @c man end
43781
43782 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
43783 @ifset man
43784 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43785 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43786 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43787
43788 @smallexample
43789 info gdb
43790 @end smallexample
43791
43792 @noindent
43793 should give you access to the complete manual.
43794
43795 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43796 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43797 @end ifset
43798 @c man end
43799
43800 @node gdbinit man
43801 @heading gdbinit
43802
43803 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
43804
43805 @format
43806 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
43807 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43808 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43809 @end ifset
43810
43811 ~/.gdbinit
43812
43813 ./.gdbinit
43814 @c man end
43815 @end format
43816
43817 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
43818 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
43819 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
43820 described in
43821 @ifset man
43822 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
43823 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
43824 @end ifset
43825 @ifclear man
43826 @ref{Sequences}.
43827 @end ifclear
43828
43829 Please read more in
43830 @ifset man
43831 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
43832 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
43833 @end ifset
43834 @ifclear man
43835 @ref{Startup}.
43836 @end ifclear
43837
43838 @table @env
43839 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43840 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43841 @end ifset
43842 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43843 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
43844 @end ifclear
43845 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43846 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
43847 See more in
43848 @ifset man
43849 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
43850 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
43851 @end ifset
43852 @ifclear man
43853 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
43854 @end ifclear
43855
43856 @item ~/.gdbinit
43857 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43858 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
43859
43860 @item ./.gdbinit
43861 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
43862 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
43863 See more in
43864 @ifset man
43865 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
43866 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
43867 @end ifset
43868 @ifclear man
43869 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
43870 @end ifclear
43871 @end table
43872 @c man end
43873
43874 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
43875 @ifset man
43876 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
43877
43878 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43879 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43880 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43881
43882 @smallexample
43883 info gdb
43884 @end smallexample
43885
43886 should give you access to the complete manual.
43887
43888 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43889 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43890 @end ifset
43891 @c man end
43892
43893 @include gpl.texi
43894
43895 @node GNU Free Documentation License
43896 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
43897 @include fdl.texi
43898
43899 @node Concept Index
43900 @unnumbered Concept Index
43901
43902 @printindex cp
43903
43904 @node Command and Variable Index
43905 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
43906
43907 @printindex fn
43908
43909 @tex
43910 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
43911 % meantime:
43912 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
43913 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
43914 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
43915 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
43916 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
43917 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
43918 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
43919 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
43920 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
43921 \page\colophon
43922 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
43923 @end tex
43924
43925 @bye