2009-10-22 Michael Snyder <msnyder@vmware.com>
[binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @syncodeindex ky cp
24 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Ninth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102 @insertcopying
103 @page
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
107 @end titlepage
108 @page
109
110 @ifnottex
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 @end ifset
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
169 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
170 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
171 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
172 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
173 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
174 @value{GDBN}
175 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
176 the operating system
177 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
178 how you can copy and share GDB
179 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
180 * Index:: Index
181 @end menu
182
183 @end ifnottex
184
185 @contents
186
187 @node Summary
188 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
189
190 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
191 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
192 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
193
194 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
195 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
196
197 @itemize @bullet
198 @item
199 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
200
201 @item
202 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
203
204 @item
205 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
206
207 @item
208 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
209 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
210 @end itemize
211
212 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
213 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
214 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
215
216 @cindex Modula-2
217 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
218 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
219
220 @cindex Pascal
221 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
222 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
223 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
224 syntax.
225
226 @cindex Fortran
227 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
228 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
229 underscore.
230
231 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
232 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
233
234 @menu
235 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
236 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
237 @end menu
238
239 @node Free Software
240 @unnumberedsec Free Software
241
242 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
243 General Public License
244 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
245 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
246 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
247 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
248 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
249 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
250
251 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
252 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
253 from anyone else.
254
255 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
256
257 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
258 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
259 include with the free software. Many of our most important
260 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
261 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
262 when an important free software package does not come with a free
263 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
264 gaps today.
265
266 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
267 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
268 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
269 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
270 them from the free software world.
271
272 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
273 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
274 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
275 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
276 contract to make it non-free.
277
278 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
279 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
280 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
281 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
282 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
283 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
284 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
285
286 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
287 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
288 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
289 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
290
291 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
292 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
293 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
294 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
295 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
296 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
297 community.
298
299 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
300 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
301 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
302 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
303 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
304 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
305 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
306 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
307 of the manual.
308
309 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
310 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
311 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
312 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
313 manual to replace it.
314
315 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
316 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
317 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
318 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
319 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
320 the free software community.
321
322 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
323 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
324 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
325 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
326 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
327 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
328 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
329 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
330 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
331
332 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
333 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
334 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
335 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
336 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
337 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
338 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
339 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
340
341 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
342 published by other publishers, at
343 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
344
345 @node Contributors
346 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
347
348 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
349 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
350 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
351 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
352 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
353 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
354 blow-by-blow account.
355
356 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
357
358 @quotation
359 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
360 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
361 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
362 @end quotation
363
364 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
365 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
366 releases:
367 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
368 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
369 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
370 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
371 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
372 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
373 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
374 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
375 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
376
377 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
378 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
379
380 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
381 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
382 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
383 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
384 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
385
386 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
387 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
388 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
389
390 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
391 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
392
393 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
394
395 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
396 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
397 support.
398 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
399 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
400 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
401 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
402 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
403 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
404 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
405 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
406 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
407 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
408 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
409 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
410 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
411 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
412 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
413 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
414
415 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
416
417 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
418 libraries.
419
420 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
421 about several machine instruction sets.
422
423 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
424 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
425 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
426 and RDI targets, respectively.
427
428 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
429 command-line editing and command history.
430
431 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
432 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
433
434 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
435 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
436 symbols.
437
438 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
439 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
440
441 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
442
443 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
444 processors.
445
446 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
447
448 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
449
450 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
451
452 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
453 watchpoints.
454
455 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
456
457 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
458
459 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
460 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
461
462 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
463 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
464 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
465 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
466 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
467 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
468 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
469
470 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
471 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
472
473 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
474 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
475 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
476 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
477 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
478 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
479 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
480 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
481 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
482 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
483 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
484 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
485 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
486 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
487 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
488
489 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
490 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
491
492 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
493 Hat.
494
495 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
496 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
497 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
498 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
499 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
500 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
501
502 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
503 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
504 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
505 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
506 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
507 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
508 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
509 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
510 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
511 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
512 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
513 Weigand.
514
515 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
516 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
517 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
518 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
519
520 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
521 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
522
523 @node Sample Session
524 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
525
526 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
527 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
528 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
529
530 @iftex
531 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
532 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
533 @end iftex
534
535 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
536 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
537
538 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
539 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
540 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
541 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
542 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
543 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
544 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
545 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
546 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
547
548 @smallexample
549 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
550 $ @b{./m4}
551 @b{define(foo,0000)}
552
553 @b{foo}
554 0000
555 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
556
557 @b{bar}
558 0000
559 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
560
561 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
562 @b{baz}
563 @b{Ctrl-d}
564 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
565 @end smallexample
566
567 @noindent
568 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
569
570 @smallexample
571 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
572 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
573 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
574 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
575 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
576 the conditions.
577 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
578 for details.
579
580 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
581 (@value{GDBP})
582 @end smallexample
583
584 @noindent
585 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
586 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
587 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
588 that examples fit in this manual.
589
590 @smallexample
591 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
592 @end smallexample
593
594 @noindent
595 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
596 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
597 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
598 @code{break} command.
599
600 @smallexample
601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
602 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
603 @end smallexample
604
605 @noindent
606 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
607 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
608 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
609
610 @smallexample
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
612 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
613 @b{define(foo,0000)}
614
615 @b{foo}
616 0000
617 @end smallexample
618
619 @noindent
620 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
621 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
622 context where it stops.
623
624 @smallexample
625 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
626
627 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
628 at builtin.c:879
629 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
630 @end smallexample
631
632 @noindent
633 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
634 the next line of the current function.
635
636 @smallexample
637 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
638 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
639 : nil,
640 @end smallexample
641
642 @noindent
643 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
644 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
645 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
646 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
647
648 @smallexample
649 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
650 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
651 at input.c:530
652 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
653 @end smallexample
654
655 @noindent
656 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
657 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
658 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
659 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
660 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
661 stack frame for each active subroutine.
662
663 @smallexample
664 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
665 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
666 at input.c:530
667 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
668 at builtin.c:882
669 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
670 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
671 at macro.c:71
672 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
673 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
674 @end smallexample
675
676 @noindent
677 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
678 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
679 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
680
681 @smallexample
682 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
683 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
685 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
686 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
687 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
688 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
689 : xstrdup(rq);
690 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
691 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
692 @end smallexample
693
694 @noindent
695 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
696 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
697 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
698 (@code{print}) to see their values.
699
700 @smallexample
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
702 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
704 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
705 @end smallexample
706
707 @noindent
708 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
709 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
710 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
711
712 @smallexample
713 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
714 533 xfree(rquote);
715 534
716 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
717 : xstrdup (lq);
718 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
719 : xstrdup (rq);
720 537
721 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
722 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
723 540 @}
724 541
725 542 void
726 @end smallexample
727
728 @noindent
729 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
730 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
731
732 @smallexample
733 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
734 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
735 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
736 540 @}
737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
738 $3 = 9
739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
740 $4 = 7
741 @end smallexample
742
743 @noindent
744 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
745 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
746 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
747 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
748 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
749 assignments.
750
751 @smallexample
752 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
753 $5 = 7
754 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
755 $6 = 9
756 @end smallexample
757
758 @noindent
759 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
760 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
761 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
762 example that caused trouble initially:
763
764 @smallexample
765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
766 Continuing.
767
768 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
769
770 baz
771 0000
772 @end smallexample
773
774 @noindent
775 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
776 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
777 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
778
779 @smallexample
780 @b{Ctrl-d}
781 Program exited normally.
782 @end smallexample
783
784 @noindent
785 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
786 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
787 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
788
789 @smallexample
790 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
791 @end smallexample
792
793 @node Invocation
794 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
795
796 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
797 The essentials are:
798 @itemize @bullet
799 @item
800 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
801 @item
802 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
803 @end itemize
804
805 @menu
806 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
807 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
808 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
809 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
810 @end menu
811
812 @node Invoking GDB
813 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
814
815 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
816 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
817
818 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
819 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
820
821 The command-line options described here are designed
822 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
823 options may effectively be unavailable.
824
825 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
826 specifying an executable program:
827
828 @smallexample
829 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
830 @end smallexample
831
832 @noindent
833 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
834 specified:
835
836 @smallexample
837 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
838 @end smallexample
839
840 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
841 to debug a running process:
842
843 @smallexample
844 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
845 @end smallexample
846
847 @noindent
848 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
849 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
850
851 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
852 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
853 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
854 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
855 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
856
857 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
858 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
859 option processing.
860 @smallexample
861 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
862 @end smallexample
863 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
864 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
865
866 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
867 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
868
869 @smallexample
870 @value{GDBP} -silent
871 @end smallexample
872
873 @noindent
874 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
875 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
876
877 @noindent
878 Type
879
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} -help
882 @end smallexample
883
884 @noindent
885 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
886 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
887
888 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
889 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
890 @samp{-x} option is used.
891
892
893 @menu
894 * File Options:: Choosing files
895 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
896 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
897 @end menu
898
899 @node File Options
900 @subsection Choosing Files
901
902 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
903 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
904 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
905 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
906 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
907 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
908 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
909 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
910 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
911 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
912 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
913 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
914 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
915
916 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
917 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
918 argument and ignore it.
919
920 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
921 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
922 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
923 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
924 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
925
926 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
927 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
928 @c it.
929
930 @table @code
931 @item -symbols @var{file}
932 @itemx -s @var{file}
933 @cindex @code{--symbols}
934 @cindex @code{-s}
935 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
936
937 @item -exec @var{file}
938 @itemx -e @var{file}
939 @cindex @code{--exec}
940 @cindex @code{-e}
941 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
942 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
943
944 @item -se @var{file}
945 @cindex @code{--se}
946 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
947 file.
948
949 @item -core @var{file}
950 @itemx -c @var{file}
951 @cindex @code{--core}
952 @cindex @code{-c}
953 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
954
955 @item -pid @var{number}
956 @itemx -p @var{number}
957 @cindex @code{--pid}
958 @cindex @code{-p}
959 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
960
961 @item -command @var{file}
962 @itemx -x @var{file}
963 @cindex @code{--command}
964 @cindex @code{-x}
965 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
966 Files,, Command files}.
967
968 @item -eval-command @var{command}
969 @itemx -ex @var{command}
970 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
971 @cindex @code{-ex}
972 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
973
974 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
975 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
976
977 @smallexample
978 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
979 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
980 @end smallexample
981
982 @item -directory @var{directory}
983 @itemx -d @var{directory}
984 @cindex @code{--directory}
985 @cindex @code{-d}
986 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
987
988 @item -r
989 @itemx -readnow
990 @cindex @code{--readnow}
991 @cindex @code{-r}
992 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
993 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
994 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
995
996 @end table
997
998 @node Mode Options
999 @subsection Choosing Modes
1000
1001 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1002 batch mode or quiet mode.
1003
1004 @table @code
1005 @item -nx
1006 @itemx -n
1007 @cindex @code{--nx}
1008 @cindex @code{-n}
1009 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1010 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1011 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1012 Files}.
1013
1014 @item -quiet
1015 @itemx -silent
1016 @itemx -q
1017 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1018 @cindex @code{--silent}
1019 @cindex @code{-q}
1020 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1021 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1022
1023 @item -batch
1024 @cindex @code{--batch}
1025 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1026 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1027 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1028 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1029 in the command files.
1030
1031 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1032 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1033 make this more useful, the message
1034
1035 @smallexample
1036 Program exited normally.
1037 @end smallexample
1038
1039 @noindent
1040 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1041 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1042 mode.
1043
1044 @item -batch-silent
1045 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1046 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1047 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1048 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1049 for an interactive session.
1050
1051 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1052 messages, for example.
1053
1054 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1055 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1056
1057 @item -return-child-result
1058 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1059 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1060 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1061
1062 @itemize @bullet
1063 @item
1064 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1065 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1066 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1067 @item
1068 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1069 @item
1070 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1071 the exit code will be -1.
1072 @end itemize
1073
1074 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1075 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1076 interface.
1077
1078 @item -nowindows
1079 @itemx -nw
1080 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1081 @cindex @code{-nw}
1082 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1083 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1084 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1085
1086 @item -windows
1087 @itemx -w
1088 @cindex @code{--windows}
1089 @cindex @code{-w}
1090 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1091 used if possible.
1092
1093 @item -cd @var{directory}
1094 @cindex @code{--cd}
1095 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1096 instead of the current directory.
1097
1098 @item -fullname
1099 @itemx -f
1100 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1101 @cindex @code{-f}
1102 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1103 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1104 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1105 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1106 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1107 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1108 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1109 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1110 frame.
1111
1112 @item -epoch
1113 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1114 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1115 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1116 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1117 separate window.
1118
1119 @item -annotate @var{level}
1120 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1121 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1122 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1123 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1124 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1125 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1126 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1127 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1128 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1129
1130 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1131 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1132
1133 @item --args
1134 @cindex @code{--args}
1135 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1136 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1137 This option stops option processing.
1138
1139 @item -baud @var{bps}
1140 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1141 @cindex @code{--baud}
1142 @cindex @code{-b}
1143 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1144 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1145
1146 @item -l @var{timeout}
1147 @cindex @code{-l}
1148 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1149 for remote debugging.
1150
1151 @item -tty @var{device}
1152 @itemx -t @var{device}
1153 @cindex @code{--tty}
1154 @cindex @code{-t}
1155 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1156 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1157
1158 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1159 @item -tui
1160 @cindex @code{--tui}
1161 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1162 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1163 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1164 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1165 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1166 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1167 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1168
1169 @c @item -xdb
1170 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1171 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1172 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1173 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1174 @c systems.
1175
1176 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1177 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1178 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1179 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1180 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1181 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1182
1183 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1184 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1185 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1186 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1187 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1188 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1189
1190 @item -write
1191 @cindex @code{--write}
1192 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1193 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1194 (@pxref{Patching}).
1195
1196 @item -statistics
1197 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1198 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1199 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1200
1201 @item -version
1202 @cindex @code{--version}
1203 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1204 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1205
1206 @end table
1207
1208 @node Startup
1209 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1210 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1211
1212 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1213
1214 @enumerate
1215 @item
1216 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1217 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1218
1219 @item
1220 @cindex init file
1221 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1222 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1223 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1224 that file.
1225
1226 @item
1227 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1228 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1229 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1230 that file.
1231
1232 @item
1233 Processes command line options and operands.
1234
1235 @item
1236 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1237 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1238 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1239 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1240 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1241 @value{GDBN}.
1242
1243 @item
1244 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1245 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1246
1247 @item
1248 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1249 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1250 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1251 @end enumerate
1252
1253 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1254 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1255 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1256 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1257 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1258 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1259
1260 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1261 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1262
1263 @cindex init file name
1264 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1265 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1266 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1267 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1268 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1269 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1270 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1271 the file to the standard name.
1272
1273
1274 @node Quitting GDB
1275 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1276 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1277 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1278
1279 @table @code
1280 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1281 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1282 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1283 @itemx q
1284 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1285 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1286 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1287 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1288 error code.
1289 @end table
1290
1291 @cindex interrupt
1292 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1293 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1294 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1295 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1296 until a time when it is safe.
1297
1298 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1299 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1300 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1301
1302 @node Shell Commands
1303 @section Shell Commands
1304
1305 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1306 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1307 just use the @code{shell} command.
1308
1309 @table @code
1310 @kindex shell
1311 @cindex shell escape
1312 @item shell @var{command string}
1313 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1314 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1315 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1316 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1317 @end table
1318
1319 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1320 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1321 @value{GDBN}:
1322
1323 @table @code
1324 @kindex make
1325 @cindex calling make
1326 @item make @var{make-args}
1327 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1328 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1329 @end table
1330
1331 @node Logging Output
1332 @section Logging Output
1333 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1334 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1335
1336 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1337 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1338
1339 @table @code
1340 @kindex set logging
1341 @item set logging on
1342 Enable logging.
1343 @item set logging off
1344 Disable logging.
1345 @cindex logging file name
1346 @item set logging file @var{file}
1347 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1348 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1349 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1350 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1351 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1352 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1353 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1354 @kindex show logging
1355 @item show logging
1356 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1357 @end table
1358
1359 @node Commands
1360 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1361
1362 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1363 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1364 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1365 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1366 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1367
1368 @menu
1369 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1370 * Completion:: Command completion
1371 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1372 @end menu
1373
1374 @node Command Syntax
1375 @section Command Syntax
1376
1377 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1378 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1379 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1380 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1381 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1382 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1383
1384 @cindex abbreviation
1385 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1386 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1387 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1388 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1389 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1390 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1391 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1392
1393 @cindex repeating commands
1394 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1395 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1396 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1397 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1398 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1399 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1400 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1401
1402 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1403 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1404 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1405
1406 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1407 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1408 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1409 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1410 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1411
1412 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1413 @cindex comment
1414 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1415 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1416 Files,,Command Files}).
1417
1418 @cindex repeating command sequences
1419 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1420 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1421 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1422 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1423 for editing.
1424
1425 @node Completion
1426 @section Command Completion
1427
1428 @cindex completion
1429 @cindex word completion
1430 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1431 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1432 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1433 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1434
1435 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1436 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1437 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1438 enter it). For example, if you type
1439
1440 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1441 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1442 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1443 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1444 @smallexample
1445 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1446 @end smallexample
1447
1448 @noindent
1449 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1450 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1451
1452 @smallexample
1453 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1454 @end smallexample
1455
1456 @noindent
1457 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1458 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1459 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1460 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1461 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1462 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1463
1464 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1465 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1466 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1467 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1468 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1469 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1470 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1471 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1472 example:
1473
1474 @smallexample
1475 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1476 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1477 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1478 make_abs_section make_function_type
1479 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1480 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1481 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1482 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1483 @end smallexample
1484
1485 @noindent
1486 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1487 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1488 command.
1489
1490 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1491 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1492 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1493 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1494 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1495
1496 @cindex quotes in commands
1497 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1498 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1499 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1500 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1501 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1502 @value{GDBN} commands.
1503
1504 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1505 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1506 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1507 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1508 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1509 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1510 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1511 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1512 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1513 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1514 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1515
1516 @smallexample
1517 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1518 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1519 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1520 @end smallexample
1521
1522 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1523 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1524 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1525 place:
1526
1527 @smallexample
1528 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1529 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1530 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1531 @end smallexample
1532
1533 @noindent
1534 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1535 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1536 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1537
1538 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1539 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1540 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1541 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1542
1543 @cindex completion of structure field names
1544 @cindex structure field name completion
1545 @cindex completion of union field names
1546 @cindex union field name completion
1547 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1548 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1549 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1550 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1551 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1552 left-hand-side:
1553
1554 @smallexample
1555 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1556 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1557 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1558 @end smallexample
1559
1560 @noindent
1561 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1562 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1563 follows:
1564
1565 @smallexample
1566 struct ui_file
1567 @{
1568 int *magic;
1569 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1570 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1571 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1572 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1573 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1574 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1575 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1576 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1577 void *to_data;
1578 @}
1579 @end smallexample
1580
1581
1582 @node Help
1583 @section Getting Help
1584 @cindex online documentation
1585 @kindex help
1586
1587 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1588 using the command @code{help}.
1589
1590 @table @code
1591 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1592 @item help
1593 @itemx h
1594 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1595 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1596
1597 @smallexample
1598 (@value{GDBP}) help
1599 List of classes of commands:
1600
1601 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1602 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1603 data -- Examining data
1604 files -- Specifying and examining files
1605 internals -- Maintenance commands
1606 obscure -- Obscure features
1607 running -- Running the program
1608 stack -- Examining the stack
1609 status -- Status inquiries
1610 support -- Support facilities
1611 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1612 stopping the program
1613 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1614
1615 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1616 commands in that class.
1617 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1618 documentation.
1619 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1620 (@value{GDBP})
1621 @end smallexample
1622 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1623
1624 @item help @var{class}
1625 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1626 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1627 help display for the class @code{status}:
1628
1629 @smallexample
1630 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1631 Status inquiries.
1632
1633 List of commands:
1634
1635 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1636 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1637 info -- Generic command for showing things
1638 about the program being debugged
1639 show -- Generic command for showing things
1640 about the debugger
1641
1642 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1643 documentation.
1644 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1645 (@value{GDBP})
1646 @end smallexample
1647
1648 @item help @var{command}
1649 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1650 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1651
1652 @kindex apropos
1653 @item apropos @var{args}
1654 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1655 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1656 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1657
1658 @smallexample
1659 apropos reload
1660 @end smallexample
1661
1662 @noindent
1663 results in:
1664
1665 @smallexample
1666 @c @group
1667 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1668 multiple times in one run
1669 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1670 multiple times in one run
1671 @c @end group
1672 @end smallexample
1673
1674 @kindex complete
1675 @item complete @var{args}
1676 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1677 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1678 command you want completed. For example:
1679
1680 @smallexample
1681 complete i
1682 @end smallexample
1683
1684 @noindent results in:
1685
1686 @smallexample
1687 @group
1688 if
1689 ignore
1690 info
1691 inspect
1692 @end group
1693 @end smallexample
1694
1695 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1696 @end table
1697
1698 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1699 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1700 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1701 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1702 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1703 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1704
1705 @c @group
1706 @table @code
1707 @kindex info
1708 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1709 @item info
1710 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1711 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1712 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1713 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1714 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1715 @w{@code{help info}}.
1716
1717 @kindex set
1718 @item set
1719 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1720 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1721 @code{set prompt $}.
1722
1723 @kindex show
1724 @item show
1725 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1726 @value{GDBN} itself.
1727 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1728 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1729 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1730 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1731
1732 @kindex info set
1733 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1734 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1735 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1736 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1737 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1738 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1739 @end table
1740 @c @end group
1741
1742 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1743 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1744
1745 @table @code
1746 @kindex show version
1747 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1748 @item show version
1749 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1750 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1751 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1752 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1753 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1754 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1755 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1756 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1757 @value{GDBN}.
1758
1759 @kindex show copying
1760 @kindex info copying
1761 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1762 @item show copying
1763 @itemx info copying
1764 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1765
1766 @kindex show warranty
1767 @kindex info warranty
1768 @item show warranty
1769 @itemx info warranty
1770 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1771 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1772
1773 @end table
1774
1775 @node Running
1776 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1777
1778 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1779 debugging information when you compile it.
1780
1781 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1782 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1783 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1784 kill a child process.
1785
1786 @menu
1787 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1788 * Starting:: Starting your program
1789 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1790 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1791
1792 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1793 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1794 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1795 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1796
1797 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1798 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1799 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1800 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1801 @end menu
1802
1803 @node Compilation
1804 @section Compiling for Debugging
1805
1806 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1807 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1808 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1809 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1810 and addresses in the executable code.
1811
1812 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1813 the compiler.
1814
1815 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1816 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1817 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1818 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1819 executables containing debugging information.
1820
1821 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1822 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1823 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1824 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1825 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1826
1827 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1828 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1829 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1830
1831 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1832 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1833 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1834 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1835 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1836 provides macro information if you specify the options
1837 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1838 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1839 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1840 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1841 @option{-g} alone.
1842
1843 @need 2000
1844 @node Starting
1845 @section Starting your Program
1846 @cindex starting
1847 @cindex running
1848
1849 @table @code
1850 @kindex run
1851 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1852 @item run
1853 @itemx r
1854 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1855 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1856 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1857 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1858 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1859
1860 @end table
1861
1862 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1863 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1864 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1865 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1866 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1867 message like this one:
1868
1869 @smallexample
1870 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1871 Try "help target" or "continue".
1872 @end smallexample
1873
1874 @noindent
1875 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1876 first (@pxref{load}).
1877
1878 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1879 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1880 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1881 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1882 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1883 divided into four categories:
1884
1885 @table @asis
1886 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1887 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1888 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1889 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1890 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1891 the arguments.
1892 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1893 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1894 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1895
1896 @item The @emph{environment.}
1897 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1898 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1899 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1900 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1901
1902 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1903 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1904 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1905 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1906
1907 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1908 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1909 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1910 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1911 set a different device for your program.
1912 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1913
1914 @cindex pipes
1915 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1916 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1917 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1918 wrong program.
1919 @end table
1920
1921 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1922 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1923 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1924 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1925 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1926
1927 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1928 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1929 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1930 your current breakpoints.
1931
1932 @table @code
1933 @kindex start
1934 @item start
1935 @cindex run to main procedure
1936 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1937 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1938 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1939 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1940 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1941 procedure, depending on the language used.
1942
1943 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1944 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1945 the @samp{run} command.
1946
1947 @cindex elaboration phase
1948 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1949 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1950 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1951 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1952 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1953 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1954 will remain to halt execution.
1955
1956 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1957 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1958 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1959 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1960 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1961
1962 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1963 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1964 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1965 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1966 elaboration code before running your program.
1967
1968 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1969 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1970 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1971 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1972 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1973 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1974 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1975 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1976 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1977 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1978 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1979
1980 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1981 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1982 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1983 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1984
1985 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1986 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1987 environment:
1988
1989 @smallexample
1990 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1991 (@value{GDBP}) run
1992 @end smallexample
1993
1994 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
1995 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
1996
1997 @kindex set disable-randomization
1998 @item set disable-randomization
1999 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2000 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2001 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2002 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2003 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2004
2005 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2006 behavior using
2007
2008 @smallexample
2009 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2010 @end smallexample
2011
2012 @item set disable-randomization off
2013 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2014 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2015 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2016 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2017 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2018 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2019
2020 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2021 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2022 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2023 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2024 a code at its expected addresses.
2025
2026 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2027 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2028 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2029 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2030 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2031 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2032 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2033 a randomly chosen address.
2034
2035 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2036 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2037 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2038 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2039 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2040
2041 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2042 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2043
2044 @item show disable-randomization
2045 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2046 the virtual address space of the started program.
2047
2048 @end table
2049
2050 @node Arguments
2051 @section Your Program's Arguments
2052
2053 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2054 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2055 @code{run} command.
2056 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2057 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2058 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2059 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2060 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2061
2062 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2063 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2064 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2065 the program, not by the shell.
2066
2067 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2068 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2069
2070 @table @code
2071 @kindex set args
2072 @item set args
2073 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2074 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2075 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2076 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2077 it again without arguments.
2078
2079 @kindex show args
2080 @item show args
2081 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2082 @end table
2083
2084 @node Environment
2085 @section Your Program's Environment
2086
2087 @cindex environment (of your program)
2088 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2089 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2090 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2091 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2092 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2093 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2094 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2095
2096 @table @code
2097 @kindex path
2098 @item path @var{directory}
2099 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2100 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2101 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2102 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2103 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2104 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2105 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2106
2107 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2108 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2109 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2110 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2111 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2112 @var{directory} to the search path.
2113 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2114 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2115
2116 @kindex show paths
2117 @item show paths
2118 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2119 environment variable).
2120
2121 @kindex show environment
2122 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2123 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2124 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2125 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2126 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2127
2128 @kindex set environment
2129 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2130 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2131 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2132 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2133 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2134 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2135 null value.
2136 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2137 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2138
2139 For example, this command:
2140
2141 @smallexample
2142 set env USER = foo
2143 @end smallexample
2144
2145 @noindent
2146 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2147 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2148 are not actually required.)
2149
2150 @kindex unset environment
2151 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2152 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2153 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2154 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2155 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2156 @end table
2157
2158 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2159 the shell indicated
2160 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2161 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2162 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2163 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2164 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2165 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2166 @file{.profile}.
2167
2168 @node Working Directory
2169 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2170
2171 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2172 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2173 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2174 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2175 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2176 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2177
2178 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2179 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2180 Specify Files}.
2181
2182 @table @code
2183 @kindex cd
2184 @cindex change working directory
2185 @item cd @var{directory}
2186 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2187
2188 @kindex pwd
2189 @item pwd
2190 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2191 @end table
2192
2193 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2194 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2195 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2196 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2197 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2198 current working directory of the debuggee.
2199
2200 @node Input/Output
2201 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2202
2203 @cindex redirection
2204 @cindex i/o
2205 @cindex terminal
2206 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2207 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2208 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2209 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2210 running your program.
2211
2212 @table @code
2213 @kindex info terminal
2214 @item info terminal
2215 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2216 program is using.
2217 @end table
2218
2219 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2220 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2221
2222 @smallexample
2223 run > outfile
2224 @end smallexample
2225
2226 @noindent
2227 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2228
2229 @kindex tty
2230 @cindex controlling terminal
2231 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2232 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2233 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2234 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2235 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2236
2237 @smallexample
2238 tty /dev/ttyb
2239 @end smallexample
2240
2241 @noindent
2242 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2243 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2244 that as their controlling terminal.
2245
2246 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2247 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2248 terminal.
2249
2250 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2251 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2252 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2253 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2254
2255 @cindex inferior tty
2256 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2257 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2258 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2259 program.
2260
2261 @table @code
2262 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2263 @kindex set inferior-tty
2264 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2265
2266 @item show inferior-tty
2267 @kindex show inferior-tty
2268 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2269 @end table
2270
2271 @node Attach
2272 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2273 @kindex attach
2274 @cindex attach
2275
2276 @table @code
2277 @item attach @var{process-id}
2278 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2279 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2280 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2281 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2282 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2283
2284 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2285 executing the command.
2286 @end table
2287
2288 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2289 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2290 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2291 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2292
2293 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2294 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2295 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2296 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2297 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2298 Specify Files}.
2299
2300 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2301 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2302 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2303 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2304 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2305 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2306 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2307
2308 @table @code
2309 @kindex detach
2310 @item detach
2311 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2312 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2313 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2314 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2315 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2316 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2317 executing the command.
2318 @end table
2319
2320 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2321 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2322 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2323 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2324 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2325 Messages}).
2326
2327 @node Kill Process
2328 @section Killing the Child Process
2329
2330 @table @code
2331 @kindex kill
2332 @item kill
2333 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2334 @end table
2335
2336 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2337 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2338 is running.
2339
2340 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2341 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2342 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2343 outside the debugger.
2344
2345 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2346 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2347 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2348 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2349 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2350 breakpoint settings).
2351
2352 @node Inferiors and Programs
2353 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2354
2355 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2356 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2357 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2358 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2359 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2360 from multiple executables.
2361
2362 @cindex inferior
2363 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2364 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2365 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2366 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2367 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2368 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2369 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2370 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2371 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2372 threads running in it.
2373
2374 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2375 inferiors}}:
2376
2377 @table @code
2378 @kindex info inferiors
2379 @item info inferiors
2380 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2381
2382 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2383
2384 @enumerate
2385 @item
2386 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2387
2388 @item
2389 the target system's inferior identifier
2390
2391 @item
2392 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2393
2394 @end enumerate
2395
2396 @noindent
2397 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2398 indicates the current inferior.
2399
2400 For example,
2401 @end table
2402 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2403
2404 @smallexample
2405 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2406 Num Description Executable
2407 2 process 2307 hello
2408 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2409 @end smallexample
2410
2411 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2412
2413 @table @code
2414 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2415 @item inferior @var{infno}
2416 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2417 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2418 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2419 @end table
2420
2421
2422 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2423 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2424 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2425 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2426 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2427 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2428
2429 @table @code
2430 @kindex add-inferior
2431 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2432 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2433 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2434 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2435 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2436 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2437
2438 @kindex clone-inferior
2439 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2440 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2441 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2442 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2443 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2444
2445 @smallexample
2446 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2447 Num Description Executable
2448 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2449 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2450 Added inferior 2.
2451 1 inferiors added.
2452 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2453 Num Description Executable
2454 2 <null> helloworld
2455 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2456 @end smallexample
2457
2458 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2459
2460 @kindex remove-inferior
2461 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2462 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2463 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2464 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2465
2466 @end table
2467
2468 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2469 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2470 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2471 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2472
2473 @table @code
2474 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2475 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2476 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2477 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2478
2479 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2480 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2481 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2482 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2483 @end table
2484
2485 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2486 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2487 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2488 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2489
2490
2491 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2492 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2493
2494 @table @code
2495 @kindex set print inferior-events
2496 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2497 @item set print inferior-events
2498 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2499 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2500 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2501 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2502 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2503 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2504
2505 @kindex show print inferior-events
2506 @item show print inferior-events
2507 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2508 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2509 @end table
2510
2511 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2512 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2513 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2514
2515
2516 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2517 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2518 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2519 info program-spaces}} command.
2520
2521 @table @code
2522 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2523 @item maint info program-spaces
2524 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2525 @value{GDBN}.
2526
2527 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2528
2529 @enumerate
2530 @item
2531 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2532
2533 @item
2534 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2535 the @code{file} command.
2536
2537 @end enumerate
2538
2539 @noindent
2540 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2541 indicates the current program space.
2542
2543 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2544 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2545 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2546
2547 @smallexample
2548 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2549 Id Executable
2550 2 goodbye
2551 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2552 * 1 hello
2553 @end smallexample
2554
2555 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2556 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2557 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2558 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2559 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2560
2561 @smallexample
2562 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2563 Id Executable
2564 * 1 vfork-test
2565 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2566 @end smallexample
2567
2568 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2569 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2570 @end table
2571
2572 @node Threads
2573 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2574
2575 @cindex threads of execution
2576 @cindex multiple threads
2577 @cindex switching threads
2578 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2579 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2580 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2581 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2582 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2583 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2584 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2585
2586 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2587 programs:
2588
2589 @itemize @bullet
2590 @item automatic notification of new threads
2591 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2592 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2593 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2594 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2595 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2596 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2597 messages on thread start and exit.
2598 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2599 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2600 isn't compatible with the program.
2601 @end itemize
2602
2603 @quotation
2604 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2605 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2606 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2607 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2608 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2609 like this:
2610
2611 @smallexample
2612 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2613 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2614 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2615 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2616 @end smallexample
2617 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2618 @c doesn't support threads"?
2619 @end quotation
2620
2621 @cindex focus of debugging
2622 @cindex current thread
2623 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2624 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2625 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2626 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2627 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2628
2629 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2630 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2631 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2632 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2633 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2634 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2635 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2636 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2637 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2638 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2639
2640 @smallexample
2641 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2642 @end smallexample
2643
2644 @noindent
2645 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2646 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2647 further qualifier.
2648
2649 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2650 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2651 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2652 @c program?
2653 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2654 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2655 @c threads ab initio?
2656
2657 @cindex thread number
2658 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2659 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2660 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2661
2662 @table @code
2663 @kindex info threads
2664 @item info threads
2665 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2666 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2667
2668 @enumerate
2669 @item
2670 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2671
2672 @item
2673 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2674
2675 @item
2676 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2677 @end enumerate
2678
2679 @noindent
2680 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2681 indicates the current thread.
2682
2683 For example,
2684 @end table
2685 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2686
2687 @smallexample
2688 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2689 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2690 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2691 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2692 at threadtest.c:68
2693 @end smallexample
2694
2695 On HP-UX systems:
2696
2697 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2698 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2699 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2700 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2701 thread in your program.
2702
2703 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2704 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2705 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2706 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2707 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2708 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2709 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2710 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2711 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2712 HP-UX, you see
2713
2714 @smallexample
2715 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2716 @end smallexample
2717
2718 @noindent
2719 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2720
2721 @table @code
2722 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2723 @item info threads
2724 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2725 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2726
2727 @enumerate
2728 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2729
2730 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2731
2732 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2733 @end enumerate
2734
2735 @noindent
2736 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2737 indicates the current thread.
2738
2739 For example,
2740 @end table
2741 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2742
2743 @smallexample
2744 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2745 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2746 at quicksort.c:137
2747 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2748 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2749 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2750 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2751 @end smallexample
2752
2753 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2754 Solaris-specific command:
2755
2756 @table @code
2757 @item maint info sol-threads
2758 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2759 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2760 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2761 @end table
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2765 @item thread @var{threadno}
2766 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2767 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2768 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2769 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2770 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2771
2772 @smallexample
2773 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2774 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2775 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2776 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2777 @end smallexample
2778
2779 @noindent
2780 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2781 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2782 threads.
2783
2784 @kindex thread apply
2785 @cindex apply command to several threads
2786 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2787 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2788 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2789 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2790 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2791 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2792 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2793 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2794
2795 @kindex set print thread-events
2796 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2797 @item set print thread-events
2798 @itemx set print thread-events on
2799 @itemx set print thread-events off
2800 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2801 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2802 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2803 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2804 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2805
2806 @kindex show print thread-events
2807 @item show print thread-events
2808 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2809 have started and exited.
2810 @end table
2811
2812 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2813 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2814 programs with multiple threads.
2815
2816 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2817 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2818
2819 @table @code
2820 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2821 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2822 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2823 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2824 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2825 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2826 an empty list.
2827
2828 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2829 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2830 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2831 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2832 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2833 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2834
2835 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2836 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2837 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2838 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2839 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2840 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2841 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2842
2843 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2844 only on some platforms.
2845
2846 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2847 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2848 Display current libthread_db search path.
2849 @end table
2850
2851 @node Forks
2852 @section Debugging Forks
2853
2854 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2855 @cindex multiple processes
2856 @cindex processes, multiple
2857 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2858 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2859 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2860 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2861 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2862 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2863 will cause it to terminate.
2864
2865 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2866 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2867 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2868 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2869 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2870 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2871 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2872 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2873 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2874 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2875
2876 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2877 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2878 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2879 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2880
2881 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2882 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2883
2884 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2885 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2886
2887 @table @code
2888 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2889 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2890 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2891 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2892 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2893
2894 @table @code
2895 @item parent
2896 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2897 unimpeded. This is the default.
2898
2899 @item child
2900 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2901 unimpeded.
2902
2903 @end table
2904
2905 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2906 @item show follow-fork-mode
2907 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2908 @end table
2909
2910 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2911 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2912 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2913
2914 @table @code
2915 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2916 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2917 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2918 retain debugger control over them both.
2919
2920 @table @code
2921 @item on
2922 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2923 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2924 independently. This is the default.
2925
2926 @item off
2927 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2928 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2929 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2930 is held suspended.
2931
2932 @end table
2933
2934 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2935 @item show detach-on-fork
2936 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2937 @end table
2938
2939 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2940 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2941 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2942 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2943 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2944 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2945
2946 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2947 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2948 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2949 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2950 and Programs}.
2951
2952 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2953 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2954 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2955 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2956 the child process's @code{main}.
2957
2958 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2959 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2960
2961 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2962 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2963 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2964 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2965 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2966 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2967 command.
2968
2969 @table @code
2970 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2971 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2972
2973 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2974 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2975
2976 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2977
2978 @table @code
2979 @item new
2980 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2981 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2982 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2983 original inferior.
2984
2985 For example:
2986
2987 @smallexample
2988 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2989 (gdb) info inferior
2990 Id Description Executable
2991 * 1 <null> prog1
2992 (@value{GDBP}) run
2993 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
2994 Program exited normally.
2995 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2996 Id Description Executable
2997 * 2 <null> prog2
2998 1 <null> prog1
2999 @end smallexample
3000
3001 @item same
3002 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3003 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3004 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3005 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3006 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3007
3008 For example:
3009
3010 @smallexample
3011 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3012 Id Description Executable
3013 * 1 <null> prog1
3014 (@value{GDBP}) run
3015 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3016 Program exited normally.
3017 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3018 Id Description Executable
3019 * 1 <null> prog2
3020 @end smallexample
3021
3022 @end table
3023 @end table
3024
3025 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3026 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3027 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3028
3029 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3030 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3031
3032 @cindex checkpoint
3033 @cindex restart
3034 @cindex bookmark
3035 @cindex snapshot of a process
3036 @cindex rewind program state
3037
3038 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3039 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3040 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3041 later.
3042
3043 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3044 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3045 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3046 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3047 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3048
3049 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3050 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3051 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3052 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3053 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3054 start again from there.
3055
3056 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3057 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3058
3059 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3060
3061 @table @code
3062 @kindex checkpoint
3063 @item checkpoint
3064 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3065 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3066 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3067
3068 @kindex info checkpoints
3069 @item info checkpoints
3070 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3071 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3072 listed:
3073
3074 @table @code
3075 @item Checkpoint ID
3076 @item Process ID
3077 @item Code Address
3078 @item Source line, or label
3079 @end table
3080
3081 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3082 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3083 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3084 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3085 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3086 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3087 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3088
3089 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3090 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3091 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3092 the debugger.
3093
3094 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3095 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3096 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3097
3098 @end table
3099
3100 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3101 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3102 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3103 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3104 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3105 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3106 previously read data can be read again.
3107
3108 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3109 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3110 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3111 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3112 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3113 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3114
3115 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3116 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3117 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3118 different execution path this time.
3119
3120 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3121 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3122 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3123 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3124 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3125 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3126 potentially pose a problem.
3127
3128 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3129
3130 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3131 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3132 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3133 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3134 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3135 next.
3136
3137 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3138 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3139 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3140 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3141 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3142
3143 @node Stopping
3144 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3145
3146 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3147 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3148 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3149
3150 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3151 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3152 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3153 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3154 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3155 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3156 explicitly request this information at any time.
3157
3158 @table @code
3159 @kindex info program
3160 @item info program
3161 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3162 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3163 @end table
3164
3165 @menu
3166 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3167 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3168 * Signals:: Signals
3169 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3170 @end menu
3171
3172 @node Breakpoints
3173 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3174
3175 @cindex breakpoints
3176 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3177 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3178 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3179 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3180 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3181 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3182 program.
3183
3184 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3185 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3186 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3187 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3188 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3189 call).
3190
3191 @cindex watchpoints
3192 @cindex data breakpoints
3193 @cindex memory tracing
3194 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3195 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3196 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3197 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3198 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3199 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3200 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3201 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3202 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3203 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3204 same commands.
3205
3206 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3207 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3208 Automatic Display}.
3209
3210 @cindex catchpoints
3211 @cindex breakpoint on events
3212 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3213 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3214 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3215 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3216 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3217 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3218 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3219
3220 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3221 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3222 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3223 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3224 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3225 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3226 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3227 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3228 enable it again.
3229
3230 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3231 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3232 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3233 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3234 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3235 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3236 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3237
3238 @menu
3239 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3240 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3241 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3242 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3243 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3244 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3245 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3246 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3247 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3248 @end menu
3249
3250 @node Set Breaks
3251 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3252
3253 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3254 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3255 @c
3256 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3257
3258 @kindex break
3259 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3260 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3261 @cindex latest breakpoint
3262 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3263 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3264 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3265 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3266 convenience variables.
3267
3268 @table @code
3269 @item break @var{location}
3270 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3271 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3272 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3273 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3274 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3275
3276 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3277 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3278 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3279 that situation.
3280
3281 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3282 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3283 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3284
3285 @item break
3286 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3287 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3288 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3289 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3290 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3291 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3292 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3293 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3294 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3295 inside loops.
3296
3297 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3298 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3299 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3300 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3301 existed when your program stopped.
3302
3303 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3304 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3305 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3306 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3307 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3308 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3309 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3310
3311 @kindex tbreak
3312 @item tbreak @var{args}
3313 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3314 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3315 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3316 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3317
3318 @kindex hbreak
3319 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3320 @item hbreak @var{args}
3321 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3322 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3323 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3324 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3325 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3326 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3327 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3328 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3329 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3330 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3331 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3332 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3333 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3334 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3335 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3336 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3337 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3338 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3339
3340 @kindex thbreak
3341 @item thbreak @var{args}
3342 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3343 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3344 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3345 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3346 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3347 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3348 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3349 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3350
3351 @kindex rbreak
3352 @cindex regular expression
3353 @cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3354 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3355 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3356 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3357 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3358 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3359 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3360 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3361 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3362
3363 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3364 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3365 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3366 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3367 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3368 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3369
3370 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3371 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3372 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3373 classes.
3374
3375 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3376 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3377 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3378
3379 @smallexample
3380 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3381 @end smallexample
3382
3383 @kindex info breakpoints
3384 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3385 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3386 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3387 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3388 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3389 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3390 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3391 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3392
3393 @table @emph
3394 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3395 @item Type
3396 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3397 @item Disposition
3398 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3399 @item Enabled or Disabled
3400 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3401 that are not enabled.
3402 @item Address
3403 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3404 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3405 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3406 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3407 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3408 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3409 @item What
3410 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3411 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3412 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3413 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3414 @end table
3415
3416 @noindent
3417 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3418 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3419 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3420 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3421 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3422 valid location.
3423
3424 @noindent
3425 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3426 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3427 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3428 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3429 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3430
3431 @noindent
3432 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3433 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3434 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3435 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3436 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3437 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3438 @end table
3439
3440 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3441 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3442 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3443 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3444
3445 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3446 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3447 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3448 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3449
3450 @itemize @bullet
3451 @item
3452 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3453 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3454
3455 @item
3456 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3457 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3458
3459 @item
3460 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3461 several places where that function is inlined.
3462 @end itemize
3463
3464 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3465 the relevant locations@footnote{
3466 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3467 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3468 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3469 info with line numbers for them.}.
3470
3471 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3472 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3473 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3474 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3475 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3476 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3477 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3478
3479 For example:
3480
3481 @smallexample
3482 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3483 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3484 stop only if i==1
3485 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3486 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3487 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3488 @end smallexample
3489
3490 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3491 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3492 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3493 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3494 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3495 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3496 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3497 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3498 that belong to that breakpoint.
3499
3500 @cindex pending breakpoints
3501 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3502 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3503 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3504 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3505 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3506 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3507 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3508 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3509 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3510 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3511 is not yet resolved.
3512
3513 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3514 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3515 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3516 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3517 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3518 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3519
3520 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3521 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3522 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3523 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3524
3525 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3526 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3527 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3528
3529 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3530 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3531 address specification to an address:
3532
3533 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3534 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3535 @table @code
3536 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3537 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3538 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3539
3540 @item set breakpoint pending on
3541 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3542 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3543
3544 @item set breakpoint pending off
3545 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3546 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3547 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3548
3549 @item show breakpoint pending
3550 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3551 @end table
3552
3553 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3554 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3555 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3556
3557 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3558 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3559 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3560 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3561 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3562 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3563 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3564 breakpoints.
3565
3566 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3567
3568 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3569 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3570 @table @code
3571 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3572 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3573 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3574 breakpoint must be used.
3575
3576 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3577 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3578 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3579 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3580 @end table
3581
3582 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3583 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3584 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3585 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3586 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3587 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3588 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3589 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3590 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3591
3592 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3593 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3594 @table @code
3595 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3596 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3597 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3598 removed from the target when it stops.
3599
3600 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3601 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3602 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3603 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3604 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3605
3606 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3607 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3608 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3609 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3610 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3611 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3612 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3613 @end table
3614
3615 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3616 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3617 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3618 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3619 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3620 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3621 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3622 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3623
3624
3625 @node Set Watchpoints
3626 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3627
3628 @cindex setting watchpoints
3629 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3630 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3631 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3632 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3633 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3634
3635 @itemize @bullet
3636 @item
3637 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3638
3639 @item
3640 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3641 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3642 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3643
3644 @item
3645 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3646 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3647 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3648 @end itemize
3649
3650 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3651 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3652 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3653 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3654 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3655 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3656 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3657 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3658 the expression changes.
3659
3660 @cindex software watchpoints
3661 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3662 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3663 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3664 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3665 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3666 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3667 culprit.)
3668
3669 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3670 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3671 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3672
3673 @table @code
3674 @kindex watch
3675 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3676 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3677 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3678 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3679 to watch the value of a single variable:
3680
3681 @smallexample
3682 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3683 @end smallexample
3684
3685 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3686 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3687 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3688 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3689 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3690 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3691
3692 @kindex rwatch
3693 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3694 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3695 by the program.
3696
3697 @kindex awatch
3698 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3699 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3700 or written into by the program.
3701
3702 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3703 @item info watchpoints
3704 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3705 it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3706 @end table
3707
3708 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3709 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3710 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3711 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3712 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3713 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3714
3715 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3716 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3717 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3718 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3719 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3720 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3721 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3722 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3723
3724 @table @code
3725 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3726 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3727 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3728
3729 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3730 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3731 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3732 @end table
3733
3734 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3735 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3736 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3737
3738 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3739
3740 @smallexample
3741 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3742 @end smallexample
3743
3744 @noindent
3745 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3746
3747 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3748 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3749 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3750 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3751 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3752 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3753 will print a message like this:
3754
3755 @smallexample
3756 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3757 @end smallexample
3758
3759 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3760 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3761 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3762 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3763 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3764 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3765 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3766 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3767
3768 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3769 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3770 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3771 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3772 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3773 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3774
3775 @smallexample
3776 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3777 @end smallexample
3778
3779 @noindent
3780 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3781
3782 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3783 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3784 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3785 expression with separately allocated resources.
3786
3787 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3788 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3789 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3790
3791 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3792 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3793 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3794 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3795 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3796 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3797 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3798 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3799 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3800
3801 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3802 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3803 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3804 watched expression from every thread.
3805
3806 @quotation
3807 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3808 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3809 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3810 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3811 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3812 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3813 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3814 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3815 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3816 @end quotation
3817
3818 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3819
3820 @node Set Catchpoints
3821 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3822 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3823 @cindex exception handlers
3824 @cindex event handling
3825
3826 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3827 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3828 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3829
3830 @table @code
3831 @kindex catch
3832 @item catch @var{event}
3833 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3834 @table @code
3835 @item throw
3836 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3837 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3838
3839 @item catch
3840 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3841
3842 @item exception
3843 @cindex Ada exception catching
3844 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3845 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3846 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3847 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3848 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3849
3850 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3851 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3852 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3853 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3854 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3855 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3856 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3857 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3858
3859 @item exception unhandled
3860 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3861
3862 @item assert
3863 A failed Ada assertion.
3864
3865 @item exec
3866 @cindex break on fork/exec
3867 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3868 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3869
3870 @item syscall
3871 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @r{...}
3872 @cindex break on a system call.
3873 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3874 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3875 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3876 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3877 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3878 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3879 will be caught.
3880
3881 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3882 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3883 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3884 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3885
3886 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3887 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3888 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3889 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3890
3891 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3892 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3893 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3894 available choices.
3895
3896 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3897 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3898 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3899 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3900 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3901 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3902 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3903 behind the OS upgrades).
3904
3905 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3906 arguments to it:
3907
3908 @smallexample
3909 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3910 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3911 (@value{GDBP}) r
3912 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3913
3914 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3915 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3916 (@value{GDBP}) c
3917 Continuing.
3918
3919 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3920 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3921 (@value{GDBP})
3922 @end smallexample
3923
3924 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3925
3926 @smallexample
3927 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3928 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3929 (@value{GDBP}) r
3930 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3931
3932 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3933 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3934 (@value{GDBP}) c
3935 Continuing.
3936
3937 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3938 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3939 (@value{GDBP})
3940 @end smallexample
3941
3942 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3943 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3944 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3945
3946 @smallexample
3947 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3948 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3949 (@value{GDBP}) r
3950 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3951
3952 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3953 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3954 (@value{GDBP}) c
3955 Continuing.
3956
3957 Program exited normally.
3958 (@value{GDBP})
3959 @end smallexample
3960
3961 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
3962 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
3963 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
3964 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
3965
3966 @smallexample
3967 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
3968 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
3969 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
3970 (@value{GDBP})
3971 @end smallexample
3972
3973 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
3974 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
3975 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
3976 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
3977 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
3978 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
3979
3980 @smallexample
3981 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3982 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
3983 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
3984 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
3985 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3986 (@value{GDBP})
3987 @end smallexample
3988
3989 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
3990
3991 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
3992 number. In this case, you would see something like:
3993
3994 @smallexample
3995 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3996 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
3997 @end smallexample
3998
3999 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4000
4001 @item fork
4002 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4003 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4004
4005 @item vfork
4006 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4007 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4008
4009 @end table
4010
4011 @item tcatch @var{event}
4012 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4013 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4014
4015 @end table
4016
4017 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4018
4019 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4020 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4021
4022 @itemize @bullet
4023 @item
4024 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4025 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4026 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4027 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4028 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4029 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4030 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4031 disabled within interactive calls.
4032
4033 @item
4034 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4035
4036 @item
4037 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4038 @end itemize
4039
4040 @cindex raise exceptions
4041 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4042 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4043 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4044 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4045 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4046 out where the exception was raised.
4047
4048 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4049 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4050 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4051 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4052
4053 @smallexample
4054 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4055 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4056 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4057 @end smallexample
4058
4059 @noindent
4060 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4061 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4062 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4063
4064 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4065 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4066 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4067 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4068 raised.
4069
4070
4071 @node Delete Breaks
4072 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4073
4074 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4075 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4076 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4077 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4078 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4079 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4080
4081 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4082 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4083 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4084 their breakpoint numbers.
4085
4086 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4087 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4088 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4089
4090 @table @code
4091 @kindex clear
4092 @item clear
4093 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4094 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4095 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4096 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4097
4098 @item clear @var{location}
4099 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4100 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4101 most useful ones are listed below:
4102
4103 @table @code
4104 @item clear @var{function}
4105 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4106 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4107
4108 @item clear @var{linenum}
4109 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4110 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4111 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4112 @end table
4113
4114 @cindex delete breakpoints
4115 @kindex delete
4116 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4117 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4118 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4119 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4120 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4121 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4122 @end table
4123
4124 @node Disabling
4125 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4126
4127 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4128 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4129 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4130 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4131 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4132
4133 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4134 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
4135 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
4136 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
4137 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
4138
4139 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4140 affects all of its locations.
4141
4142 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4143 states of enablement:
4144
4145 @itemize @bullet
4146 @item
4147 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4148 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4149 @item
4150 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4151 @item
4152 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4153 disabled.
4154 @item
4155 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4156 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4157 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4158 @end itemize
4159
4160 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4161 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4162
4163 @table @code
4164 @kindex disable
4165 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4166 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4167 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4168 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4169 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4170 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4171 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4172
4173 @kindex enable
4174 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4175 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4176 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4177
4178 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4179 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4180 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4181
4182 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4183 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4184 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4185 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4186 @end table
4187
4188 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4189 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4190 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4191 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4192 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4193 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4194 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4195 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4196 Stepping}.)
4197
4198 @node Conditions
4199 @subsection Break Conditions
4200 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4201 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4202
4203 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4204 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4205 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4206 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4207 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4208 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4209 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4210 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4211
4212 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4213 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4214 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4215 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4216 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4217
4218 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4219 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4220 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4221 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4222 one.
4223
4224 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4225 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4226 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4227 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4228 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4229 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4230 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4231 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4232 conditions for the
4233 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4234 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4235
4236 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4237 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4238 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4239 with the @code{condition} command.
4240
4241 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4242 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4243 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4244 catchpoint.
4245
4246 @table @code
4247 @kindex condition
4248 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4249 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4250 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4251 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4252 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4253 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4254 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4255 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4256 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4257 prints an error message:
4258
4259 @smallexample
4260 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4261 @end smallexample
4262
4263 @noindent
4264 @value{GDBN} does
4265 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4266 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4267 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4268
4269 @item condition @var{bnum}
4270 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4271 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4272 @end table
4273
4274 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4275 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4276 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4277 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4278 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4279 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4280 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4281 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4282 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4283 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4284 your program reaches it.
4285
4286 @table @code
4287 @kindex ignore
4288 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4289 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4290 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4291 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4292 takes no action.
4293
4294 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4295 a count of zero.
4296
4297 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4298 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4299 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4300 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4301
4302 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4303 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4304 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4305
4306 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4307 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4308 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4309 Variables}.
4310 @end table
4311
4312 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4313
4314
4315 @node Break Commands
4316 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4317
4318 @cindex breakpoint commands
4319 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4320 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4321 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4322 enable other breakpoints.
4323
4324 @table @code
4325 @kindex commands
4326 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4327 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
4328 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4329 @itemx end
4330 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
4331 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4332 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4333
4334 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4335 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4336
4337 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
4338 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
4339 recently encountered).
4340 @end table
4341
4342 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4343 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4344
4345 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4346 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4347 that resumes execution.
4348
4349 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4350 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4351 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4352 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4353 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4354
4355 @kindex silent
4356 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4357 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4358 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4359 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4360 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4361 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4362
4363 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4364 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4365 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4366
4367 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4368 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4369
4370 @smallexample
4371 break foo if x>0
4372 commands
4373 silent
4374 printf "x is %d\n",x
4375 cont
4376 end
4377 @end smallexample
4378
4379 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4380 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4381 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4382 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4383 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4384 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4385 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4386
4387 @smallexample
4388 break 403
4389 commands
4390 silent
4391 set x = y + 4
4392 cont
4393 end
4394 @end smallexample
4395
4396 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4397 @node Error in Breakpoints
4398 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4399
4400 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4401 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4402
4403 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4404 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4405 @smallexample
4406 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4407 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4408 @end smallexample
4409
4410 @noindent
4411 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4412 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4413 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4414
4415 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4416 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4417
4418 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4419 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4420 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4421
4422 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4423 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4424 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4425 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4426
4427 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4428 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4429 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4430 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4431 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4432 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4433 first in the bundle.
4434
4435 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4436 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4437 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4438 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4439 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4440 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4441 is hit.
4442
4443 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4444 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4445
4446 @smallexample
4447 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4448 @end smallexample
4449
4450 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4451 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4452 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4453 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4454 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4455 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4456 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4457 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4458
4459 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4460 adjusted breakpoints:
4461
4462 @smallexample
4463 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4464 to 0x00010410.
4465 @end smallexample
4466
4467 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4468 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4469 frequently than expected.
4470
4471 @node Continuing and Stepping
4472 @section Continuing and Stepping
4473
4474 @cindex stepping
4475 @cindex continuing
4476 @cindex resuming execution
4477 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4478 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4479 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4480 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4481 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4482 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4483 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4484 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4485
4486 @table @code
4487 @kindex continue
4488 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4489 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4490 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4491 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4492 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4493 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4494 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4495 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4496 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4497 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4498
4499 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4500 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4501 @code{continue} is ignored.
4502
4503 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4504 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4505 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4506 @code{continue}.
4507 @end table
4508
4509 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4510 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4511 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4512 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4513
4514 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4515 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4516 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4517 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4518 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4519 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4520
4521 @table @code
4522 @kindex step
4523 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4524 @item step
4525 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4526 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4527 abbreviated @code{s}.
4528
4529 @quotation
4530 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4531 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4532 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4533 @c distinction here.
4534 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4535 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4536 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4537 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4538 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4539 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4540 below.
4541 @end quotation
4542
4543 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4544 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4545 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4546 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4547 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4548 called within the line.
4549
4550 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4551 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4552 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4553 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4554 was any debugging information about the routine.
4555
4556 @item step @var{count}
4557 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4558 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4559 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4560
4561 @kindex next
4562 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4563 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4564 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4565 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4566 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4567 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4568 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4569 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4570
4571 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4572
4573
4574 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4575 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4576 @c
4577 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4578 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4579 @c function are executed without stopping.
4580
4581 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4582 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4583 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4584
4585 @kindex set step-mode
4586 @item set step-mode
4587 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4588 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4589 @itemx set step-mode on
4590 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4591 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4592 information rather than stepping over it.
4593
4594 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4595 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4596 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4597
4598 @item set step-mode off
4599 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4600 debug information. This is the default.
4601
4602 @item show step-mode
4603 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4604 source line debug information.
4605
4606 @kindex finish
4607 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4608 @item finish
4609 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4610 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4611 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4612
4613 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4614 ,Returning from a Function}).
4615
4616 @kindex until
4617 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4618 @cindex run until specified location
4619 @item until
4620 @itemx u
4621 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4622 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4623 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4624 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4625 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4626 than the address of the jump.
4627
4628 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4629 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4630 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4631 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4632 through the next iteration.
4633
4634 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4635 stack frame.
4636
4637 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4638 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4639 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4640 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4641 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4642
4643 @smallexample
4644 (@value{GDBP}) f
4645 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4646 206 expand_input();
4647 (@value{GDBP}) until
4648 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4649 @end smallexample
4650
4651 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4652 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4653 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4654 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4655 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4656 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4657 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4658
4659 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4660 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4661 argument.
4662
4663 @item until @var{location}
4664 @itemx u @var{location}
4665 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4666 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4667 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4668 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4669 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4670 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4671 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4672 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4673 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4674 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4675 invocations have returned.
4676
4677 @smallexample
4678 94 int factorial (int value)
4679 95 @{
4680 96 if (value > 1) @{
4681 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4682 98 @}
4683 99 return (value);
4684 100 @}
4685 @end smallexample
4686
4687
4688 @kindex advance @var{location}
4689 @itemx advance @var{location}
4690 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4691 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4692 @ref{Specify Location}.
4693 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4694 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4695 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4696 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4697
4698
4699 @kindex stepi
4700 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4701 @item stepi
4702 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4703 @itemx si
4704 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4705
4706 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4707 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4708 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4709 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4710
4711 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4712
4713 @need 750
4714 @kindex nexti
4715 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4716 @item nexti
4717 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4718 @itemx ni
4719 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4720 proceed until the function returns.
4721
4722 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4723 @end table
4724
4725 @node Signals
4726 @section Signals
4727 @cindex signals
4728
4729 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4730 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4731 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4732 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4733 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4734 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4735 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4736 requested an alarm).
4737
4738 @cindex fatal signals
4739 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4740 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4741 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4742 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4743 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4744 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4745
4746 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4747 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4748 signal.
4749
4750 @cindex handling signals
4751 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4752 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4753 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4754 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4755 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4756
4757 @table @code
4758 @kindex info signals
4759 @kindex info handle
4760 @item info signals
4761 @itemx info handle
4762 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4763 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4764 the defined types of signals.
4765
4766 @item info signals @var{sig}
4767 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4768
4769 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4770
4771 @kindex handle
4772 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4773 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4774 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4775 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4776 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4777 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4778 say what change to make.
4779 @end table
4780
4781 @c @group
4782 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4783 Their full names are:
4784
4785 @table @code
4786 @item nostop
4787 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4788 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4789
4790 @item stop
4791 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4792 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4793
4794 @item print
4795 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4796
4797 @item noprint
4798 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4799 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4800
4801 @item pass
4802 @itemx noignore
4803 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4804 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4805 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4806
4807 @item nopass
4808 @itemx ignore
4809 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4810 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4811 @end table
4812 @c @end group
4813
4814 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4815 program until you
4816 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4817 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4818 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4819 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4820 program sees that signal when you continue.
4821
4822 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4823 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4824 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4825 erroneous signals.
4826
4827 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4828 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4829 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4830 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4831 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4832 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4833 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4834 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4835 Program a Signal}.
4836
4837 @cindex extra signal information
4838 @anchor{extra signal information}
4839
4840 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4841 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4842 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4843 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4844 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4845 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4846 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4847 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4848 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4849 system header.
4850
4851 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4852 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4853
4854 @smallexample
4855 @group
4856 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4857 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4858 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4859 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4860 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4861 type = struct @{
4862 int si_signo;
4863 int si_errno;
4864 int si_code;
4865 union @{
4866 int _pad[28];
4867 struct @{...@} _kill;
4868 struct @{...@} _timer;
4869 struct @{...@} _rt;
4870 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4871 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4872 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4873 @} _sifields;
4874 @}
4875 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4876 type = struct @{
4877 void *si_addr;
4878 @}
4879 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4880 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4881 @end group
4882 @end smallexample
4883
4884 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4885
4886 @node Thread Stops
4887 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4888
4889 @cindex stopped threads
4890 @cindex threads, stopped
4891
4892 @cindex continuing threads
4893 @cindex threads, continuing
4894
4895 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4896 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4897 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4898 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4899 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4900 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4901 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4902 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4903 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4904
4905 @menu
4906 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4907 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4908 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4909 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4910 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4911 @end menu
4912
4913 @node All-Stop Mode
4914 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4915
4916 @cindex all-stop mode
4917
4918 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4919 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4920 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4921 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4922 underfoot.
4923
4924 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4925 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4926 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4927
4928 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4929 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4930 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4931 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4932 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4933 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4934 stops.
4935
4936 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4937 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4938 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4939 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4940
4941 @cindex automatic thread selection
4942 @cindex switching threads automatically
4943 @cindex threads, automatic switching
4944 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4945 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4946 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4947 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4948 thread.
4949
4950 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4951 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4952
4953 @table @code
4954 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4955 @cindex scheduler locking mode
4956 @cindex lock scheduler
4957 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4958 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4959 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4960 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4961 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4962 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4963 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4964 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4965 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4966 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4967 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4968 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4969
4970 @item show scheduler-locking
4971 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4972 @end table
4973
4974 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
4975 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
4976 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
4977 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
4978 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
4979 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
4980 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
4981 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
4982 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
4983 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
4984 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
4985 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
4986 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
4987 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
4988
4989 @table @code
4990 @kindex set schedule-multiple
4991 @item set schedule-multiple
4992 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
4993 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
4994 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
4995 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
4996 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
4997 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
4998
4999 @item show schedule-multiple
5000 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5001 multiple processes.
5002 @end table
5003
5004 @node Non-Stop Mode
5005 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5006
5007 @cindex non-stop mode
5008
5009 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5010 @c with more details.
5011
5012 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5013 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5014 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5015 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5016 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5017 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5018
5019 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5020 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5021 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5022 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5023 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5024 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5025 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5026 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5027 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5028 independently and simultaneously.
5029
5030 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5031 or attach to your program:
5032
5033 @smallexample
5034 # Enable the async interface.
5035 set target-async 1
5036
5037 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5038 set pagination off
5039
5040 # Finally, turn it on!
5041 set non-stop on
5042 @end smallexample
5043
5044 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5045
5046 @table @code
5047 @kindex set non-stop
5048 @item set non-stop on
5049 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5050 @item set non-stop off
5051 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5052 @kindex show non-stop
5053 @item show non-stop
5054 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5055 @end table
5056
5057 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5058 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5059 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5060 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5061 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5062 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5063 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5064 default.
5065
5066 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5067 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5068 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5069
5070 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5071 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5072 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5073 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5074 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5075
5076 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5077 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5078 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5079 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5080 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5081
5082 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5083
5084 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5085 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5086 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5087 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5088 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5089 previously current thread.
5090
5091 @node Background Execution
5092 @subsection Background Execution
5093
5094 @cindex foreground execution
5095 @cindex background execution
5096 @cindex asynchronous execution
5097 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5098
5099 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5100 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5101 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5102 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5103 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5104 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5105
5106 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5107 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5108 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5109
5110 @table @code
5111 @kindex set target-async
5112 @item set target-async on
5113 Enable asynchronous mode.
5114 @item set target-async off
5115 Disable asynchronous mode.
5116 @kindex show target-async
5117 @item show target-async
5118 Show the current target-async setting.
5119 @end table
5120
5121 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5122 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5123
5124 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5125 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5126 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5127 are:
5128
5129 @table @code
5130 @kindex run&
5131 @item run
5132 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5133
5134 @item attach
5135 @kindex attach&
5136 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5137
5138 @item step
5139 @kindex step&
5140 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5141
5142 @item stepi
5143 @kindex stepi&
5144 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5145
5146 @item next
5147 @kindex next&
5148 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5149
5150 @item nexti
5151 @kindex nexti&
5152 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5153
5154 @item continue
5155 @kindex continue&
5156 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5157
5158 @item finish
5159 @kindex finish&
5160 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5161
5162 @item until
5163 @kindex until&
5164 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5165
5166 @end table
5167
5168 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5169 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5170 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5171 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5172 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5173 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5174
5175 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5176 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5177
5178 @table @code
5179 @kindex interrupt
5180 @item interrupt
5181 @itemx interrupt -a
5182
5183 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5184 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5185 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5186 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5187 @end table
5188
5189 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5190 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5191
5192 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5193 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5194 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5195
5196 @table @code
5197 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5198 @cindex thread breakpoints
5199 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5200 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5201 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5202 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5203 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5204 specify some source line.
5205
5206 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5207 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5208 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5209 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5210 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5211
5212 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5213 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5214 program.
5215
5216 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5217 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
5218 breakpoint condition, like this:
5219
5220 @smallexample
5221 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5222 @end smallexample
5223
5224 @end table
5225
5226 @node Interrupted System Calls
5227 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5228
5229 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5230 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5231 @cindex premature return from system calls
5232 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5233 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5234 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5235 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5236 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5237 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5238 stop execution.
5239
5240 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5241 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5242 style anyways.
5243
5244 For example, do not write code like this:
5245
5246 @smallexample
5247 sleep (10);
5248 @end smallexample
5249
5250 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5251 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5252
5253 Instead, write this:
5254
5255 @smallexample
5256 int unslept = 10;
5257 while (unslept > 0)
5258 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5259 @end smallexample
5260
5261 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5262 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5263 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5264 @value{GDBN}.
5265
5266 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5267 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5268 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5269 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5270
5271
5272 @node Reverse Execution
5273 @chapter Running programs backward
5274 @cindex reverse execution
5275 @cindex running programs backward
5276
5277 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5278 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5279 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5280 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5281
5282 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5283 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5284 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5285 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5286 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5287 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5288
5289 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5290 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5291 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5292 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5293 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5294 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5295 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5296 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5297 prior values@footnote{
5298 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5299 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5300 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5301
5302 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5303 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5304 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5305 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5306 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5307 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5308 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5309 }.
5310
5311 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5312 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5313
5314 @table @code
5315 @kindex reverse-continue
5316 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5317 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5318 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5319 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5320 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5321 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5322 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5323
5324 @kindex reverse-step
5325 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5326 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5327 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5328 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5329
5330 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5331 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5332 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5333 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5334 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5335 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5336
5337 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5338 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5339
5340 @kindex reverse-stepi
5341 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5342 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5343 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5344 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5345 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5346 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5347 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5348
5349 @kindex reverse-next
5350 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5351 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5352 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5353 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5354 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5355 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5356 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5357 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5358 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5359 @footnote{Unles the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5360
5361 @kindex reverse-nexti
5362 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5363 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5364 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5365 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5366 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5367 another instruction, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5368 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5369 frame) is reached.
5370
5371 @kindex reverse-finish
5372 @item reverse-finish
5373 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5374 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5375 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5376 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5377
5378 @kindex set exec-direction
5379 @item set exec-direction
5380 Set the direction of target execution.
5381 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5382 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5383 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5384 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5385 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5386 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5387 @item set exec-direction forward
5388 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5389 This is the default.
5390 @end table
5391
5392
5393 @node Process Record and Replay
5394 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5395 @cindex process record and replay
5396 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5397
5398 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5399 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5400 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5401
5402 @cindex replay mode
5403 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5404 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5405 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5406 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5407 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5408 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5409 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5410 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5411 execution log.
5412
5413 @cindex record mode
5414 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5415 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5416 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5417 for future replay.
5418
5419 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5420 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5421 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5422 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5423 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5424 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5425
5426 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5427 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5428 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5429 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5430
5431 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5432 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5433
5434 @table @code
5435 @kindex target record
5436 @kindex record
5437 @kindex rec
5438 @item target record
5439 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5440 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5441 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5442 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5443 the @kbd{target record} command.
5444
5445 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5446
5447 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5448 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5449 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5450 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5451 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5452
5453 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5454 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5455 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5456 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5457 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5458 support these two modes.
5459
5460 @kindex record stop
5461 @kindex rec s
5462 @item record stop
5463 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5464 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5465 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5466
5467 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5468 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5469 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5470 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5471 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5472
5473 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5474 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5475 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5476 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5477 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5478
5479 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5480 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5481
5482 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5483 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5484 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5485
5486 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5487 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5488 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5489 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5490 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5491 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5492 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5493 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5494
5495 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5496 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5497 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5498
5499 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5500 @item show record insn-number-max
5501 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5502
5503 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5504 @item set record stop-at-limit
5505 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5506 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5507 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5508 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5509 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5510 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5511
5512 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5513 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5514
5515 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5516 @item show record stop-at-limit
5517 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5518
5519 @kindex info record
5520 @item info record
5521 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5522 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5523
5524 @itemize @bullet
5525 @item
5526 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5527 @item
5528 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5529 @item
5530 Highest recorded instruction number.
5531 @item
5532 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5533 @item
5534 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5535 @item
5536 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5537 @end itemize
5538
5539 @kindex record delete
5540 @kindex rec del
5541 @item record delete
5542 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5543 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5544 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5545 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5546 @end table
5547
5548
5549 @node Stack
5550 @chapter Examining the Stack
5551
5552 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5553 stopped and how it got there.
5554
5555 @cindex call stack
5556 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5557 is generated.
5558 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5559 the arguments of the call,
5560 and the local variables of the function being called.
5561 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5562 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5563 stack}.
5564
5565 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5566 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5567
5568 @cindex selected frame
5569 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5570 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5571 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5572 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5573 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5574 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5575
5576 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5577 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5578 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5579
5580 @menu
5581 * Frames:: Stack frames
5582 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5583 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5584 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5585
5586 @end menu
5587
5588 @node Frames
5589 @section Stack Frames
5590
5591 @cindex frame, definition
5592 @cindex stack frame
5593 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5594 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5595 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5596 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5597 which the function is executing.
5598
5599 @cindex initial frame
5600 @cindex outermost frame
5601 @cindex innermost frame
5602 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5603 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5604 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5605 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5606 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5607 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5608 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5609 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5610
5611 @cindex frame pointer
5612 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5613 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5614 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5615 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5616 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5617 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5618
5619 @cindex frame number
5620 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5621 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5622 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5623 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5624 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5625
5626 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5627 @c underflow problems.
5628 @cindex frameless execution
5629 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5630 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5631 @smallexample
5632 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5633 @end smallexample
5634 generates functions without a frame.)
5635 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5636 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5637 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5638 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5639 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5640 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5641 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5642
5643 @table @code
5644 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5645 @cindex current stack frame
5646 @item frame @var{args}
5647 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5648 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5649 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5650 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5651
5652 @kindex select-frame
5653 @cindex selecting frame silently
5654 @item select-frame
5655 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5656 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5657 @code{frame}.
5658 @end table
5659
5660 @node Backtrace
5661 @section Backtraces
5662
5663 @cindex traceback
5664 @cindex call stack traces
5665 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5666 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5667 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5668 stack.
5669
5670 @table @code
5671 @kindex backtrace
5672 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5673 @item backtrace
5674 @itemx bt
5675 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5676 frames in the stack.
5677
5678 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5679 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5680
5681 @item backtrace @var{n}
5682 @itemx bt @var{n}
5683 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5684
5685 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5686 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5687 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5688
5689 @item backtrace full
5690 @itemx bt full
5691 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5692 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5693 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5694 number of frames to print, as described above.
5695 @end table
5696
5697 @kindex where
5698 @kindex info stack
5699 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5700 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5701
5702 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5703 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5704 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5705 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5706 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5707 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5708 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5709 multi-threaded program.
5710
5711 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5712 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5713 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5714 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5715 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5716 line number.
5717
5718 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5719 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5720
5721 @smallexample
5722 @group
5723 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5724 at builtin.c:993
5725 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5726 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5727 at macro.c:71
5728 (More stack frames follow...)
5729 @end group
5730 @end smallexample
5731
5732 @noindent
5733 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5734 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5735 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5736
5737 @noindent
5738 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5739 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5740 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5741 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5742 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5743
5744 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5745 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5746 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5747 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5748 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5749 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5750 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5751 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5752 such a backtrace might look like:
5753
5754 @smallexample
5755 @group
5756 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5757 at builtin.c:993
5758 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5759 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5760 at macro.c:71
5761 (More stack frames follow...)
5762 @end group
5763 @end smallexample
5764
5765 @noindent
5766 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5767 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5768
5769 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5770 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5771 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5772
5773 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5774 @cindex program entry point
5775 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5776 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5777 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5778 @code{main}@footnote{
5779 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5780 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5781 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5782 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5783 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5784 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5785
5786 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5787 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5788
5789 @table @code
5790 @item set backtrace past-main
5791 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5792 @kindex set backtrace
5793 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5794
5795 @item set backtrace past-main off
5796 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5797 default.
5798
5799 @item show backtrace past-main
5800 @kindex show backtrace
5801 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5802
5803 @item set backtrace past-entry
5804 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5805 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5806 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5807 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5808
5809 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5810 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5811 application. This is the default.
5812
5813 @item show backtrace past-entry
5814 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5815
5816 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5817 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5818 @cindex backtrace limit
5819 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5820 unlimited.
5821
5822 @item show backtrace limit
5823 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5824 @end table
5825
5826 @node Selection
5827 @section Selecting a Frame
5828
5829 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5830 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5831 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5832 of the stack frame just selected.
5833
5834 @table @code
5835 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5836 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5837 @item frame @var{n}
5838 @itemx f @var{n}
5839 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5840 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5841 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5842 @code{main}.
5843
5844 @item frame @var{addr}
5845 @itemx f @var{addr}
5846 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5847 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5848 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5849 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5850 switches between them.
5851
5852 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5853 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5854
5855 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5856 pointer and a program counter.
5857
5858 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5859 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5860
5861 @kindex up
5862 @item up @var{n}
5863 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5864 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5865 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5866
5867 @kindex down
5868 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5869 @item down @var{n}
5870 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5871 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5872 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5873 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5874 @end table
5875
5876 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5877 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5878 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5879 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5880
5881 @need 1000
5882 For example:
5883
5884 @smallexample
5885 @group
5886 (@value{GDBP}) up
5887 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5888 at env.c:10
5889 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5890 @end group
5891 @end smallexample
5892
5893 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5894 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5895 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5896 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5897 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5898 for details.
5899
5900 @table @code
5901 @kindex down-silently
5902 @kindex up-silently
5903 @item up-silently @var{n}
5904 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
5905 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5906 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5907 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5908 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5909 distracting.
5910 @end table
5911
5912 @node Frame Info
5913 @section Information About a Frame
5914
5915 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5916 stack frame.
5917
5918 @table @code
5919 @item frame
5920 @itemx f
5921 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5922 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5923 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5924 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5925 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5926
5927 @kindex info frame
5928 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5929 @item info frame
5930 @itemx info f
5931 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5932 including:
5933
5934 @itemize @bullet
5935 @item
5936 the address of the frame
5937 @item
5938 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5939 @item
5940 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5941 @item
5942 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5943 @item
5944 the address of the frame's arguments
5945 @item
5946 the address of the frame's local variables
5947 @item
5948 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5949 @item
5950 which registers were saved in the frame
5951 @end itemize
5952
5953 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
5954 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5955 the usual conventions.
5956
5957 @item info frame @var{addr}
5958 @itemx info f @var{addr}
5959 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5960 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5961 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5962 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5963 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5964
5965 @kindex info args
5966 @item info args
5967 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5968
5969 @item info locals
5970 @kindex info locals
5971 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5972 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5973 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5974
5975 @kindex info catch
5976 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5977 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
5978 @item info catch
5979 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5980 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5981 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5982 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5983 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5984
5985 @end table
5986
5987
5988 @node Source
5989 @chapter Examining Source Files
5990
5991 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
5992 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
5993 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
5994 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
5995 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
5996 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
5997 source files by explicit command.
5998
5999 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6000 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6001 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6002
6003 @menu
6004 * List:: Printing source lines
6005 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6006 * Edit:: Editing source files
6007 * Search:: Searching source files
6008 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6009 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6010 @end menu
6011
6012 @node List
6013 @section Printing Source Lines
6014
6015 @kindex list
6016 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6017 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6018 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6019 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6020 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6021
6022 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6023
6024 @table @code
6025 @item list @var{linenum}
6026 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6027 current source file.
6028
6029 @item list @var{function}
6030 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6031 @var{function}.
6032
6033 @item list
6034 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6035 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6036 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6037 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6038 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6039
6040 @item list -
6041 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6042 @end table
6043
6044 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6045 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6046 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6047
6048 @table @code
6049 @kindex set listsize
6050 @item set listsize @var{count}
6051 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6052 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6053
6054 @kindex show listsize
6055 @item show listsize
6056 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6057 @end table
6058
6059 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6060 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6061 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6062 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6063 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6064
6065 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6066 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6067 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6068 to specify some source line.
6069
6070 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6071
6072 @table @code
6073 @item list @var{linespec}
6074 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6075
6076 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6077 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6078 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6079 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6080 the same source file as the first linespec.
6081
6082 @item list ,@var{last}
6083 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6084
6085 @item list @var{first},
6086 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6087
6088 @item list +
6089 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6090
6091 @item list -
6092 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6093
6094 @item list
6095 As described in the preceding table.
6096 @end table
6097
6098 @node Specify Location
6099 @section Specifying a Location
6100 @cindex specifying location
6101 @cindex linespec
6102
6103 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6104 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6105 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6106 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6107
6108 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6109 @value{GDBN} understands:
6110
6111 @table @code
6112 @item @var{linenum}
6113 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6114
6115 @item -@var{offset}
6116 @itemx +@var{offset}
6117 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6118 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6119 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6120 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6121 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6122 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6123 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6124 linespec.
6125
6126 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6127 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6128
6129 @item @var{function}
6130 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6131 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6132
6133 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6134 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6135 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6136 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6137 functions in different source files.
6138
6139 @item *@var{address}
6140 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6141 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6142 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6143 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6144 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6145 source files.
6146
6147 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6148 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6149 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6150 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6151 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6152 of @var{address}:
6153
6154 @table @code
6155 @item @var{expression}
6156 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6157
6158 @item @var{funcaddr}
6159 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6160 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6161 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6162 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6163 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6164 (although the Pascal form also works).
6165
6166 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6167 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6168
6169 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6170 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6171 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6172 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6173 functions with identical names in different source files.
6174 @end table
6175
6176 @end table
6177
6178
6179 @node Edit
6180 @section Editing Source Files
6181 @cindex editing source files
6182
6183 @kindex edit
6184 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6185 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6186 The editing program of your choice
6187 is invoked with the current line set to
6188 the active line in the program.
6189 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6190 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6191
6192 @table @code
6193 @item edit @var{location}
6194 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6195 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6196 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6197 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6198 command most commonly used:
6199
6200 @table @code
6201 @item edit @var{number}
6202 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6203
6204 @item edit @var{function}
6205 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6206 @end table
6207
6208 @end table
6209
6210 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6211 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6212 @footnote{
6213 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6214 following command-line syntax:
6215 @smallexample
6216 ex +@var{number} file
6217 @end smallexample
6218 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6219 the file where to start editing.}.
6220 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6221 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6222 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6223 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6224 @smallexample
6225 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6226 export EDITOR
6227 gdb @dots{}
6228 @end smallexample
6229 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6230 @smallexample
6231 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6232 gdb @dots{}
6233 @end smallexample
6234
6235 @node Search
6236 @section Searching Source Files
6237 @cindex searching source files
6238
6239 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6240 regular expression.
6241
6242 @table @code
6243 @kindex search
6244 @kindex forward-search
6245 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6246 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6247 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6248 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6249 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6250 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6251 @code{fo}.
6252
6253 @kindex reverse-search
6254 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6255 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6256 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6257 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6258 this command as @code{rev}.
6259 @end table
6260
6261 @node Source Path
6262 @section Specifying Source Directories
6263
6264 @cindex source path
6265 @cindex directories for source files
6266 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6267 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6268 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6269 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6270 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6271 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6272 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6273
6274 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6275 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6276 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6277 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6278 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6279 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6280 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6281 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6282 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6283 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6284 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6285
6286 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6287 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6288 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6289 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6290 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6291 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6292
6293 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6294 source files.
6295
6296 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6297 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6298 each line is in the file.
6299
6300 @kindex directory
6301 @kindex dir
6302 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6303 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6304 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6305
6306 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6307 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6308
6309 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6310 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6311 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6312 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6313 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6314 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6315 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6316 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6317 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6318 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6319 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6320 name to look up the sources.
6321
6322 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6323 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6324 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6325 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6326 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6327 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6328 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6329 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6330
6331 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6332 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6333 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6334 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6335 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6336 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6337 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6338
6339 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6340 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6341 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6342 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6343 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6344 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6345 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6346 command.
6347
6348 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6349 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6350 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6351 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6352 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6353 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6354 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6355
6356 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6357 @cindex default source path substitution
6358 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6359 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6360 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6361 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6362 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6363 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6364 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6365 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6366 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6367 together.
6368
6369 @table @code
6370 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6371 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6372 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6373 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6374 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6375 part of absolute file names) or
6376 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6377 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6378
6379 @kindex cdir
6380 @kindex cwd
6381 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6382 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6383 @cindex compilation directory
6384 @cindex current directory
6385 @cindex working directory
6386 @cindex directory, current
6387 @cindex directory, compilation
6388 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6389 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6390 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6391 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6392 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6393 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6394
6395 @item directory
6396 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6397
6398 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6399 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6400
6401 @item show directories
6402 @kindex show directories
6403 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6404
6405 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6406 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6407 @kindex set substitute-path
6408 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6409 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6410 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6411
6412 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6413 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6414
6415 @smallexample
6416 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6417 @end smallexample
6418
6419 @noindent
6420 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6421 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6422 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6423
6424 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6425 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6426 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6427 the substitution.
6428
6429 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6430
6431 @smallexample
6432 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6433 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6434 @end smallexample
6435
6436 @noindent
6437 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6438 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6439 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6440 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6441
6442
6443 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6444 @kindex unset substitute-path
6445 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6446 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6447 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6448
6449 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6450
6451 @item show substitute-path [path]
6452 @kindex show substitute-path
6453 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6454 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6455
6456 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6457 rules.
6458
6459 @end table
6460
6461 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6462 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6463 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6464
6465 @enumerate
6466 @item
6467 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6468
6469 @item
6470 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6471 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6472 directories in one command.
6473 @end enumerate
6474
6475 @node Machine Code
6476 @section Source and Machine Code
6477 @cindex source line and its code address
6478
6479 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6480 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6481 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6482 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6483 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6484 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6485 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6486 well as hex.
6487
6488 @table @code
6489 @kindex info line
6490 @item info line @var{linespec}
6491 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6492 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6493 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6494 @end table
6495
6496 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6497 the object code for the first line of function
6498 @code{m4_changequote}:
6499
6500 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6501 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6502 @smallexample
6503 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6504 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6505 @end smallexample
6506
6507 @noindent
6508 @cindex code address and its source line
6509 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6510 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6511 @smallexample
6512 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6513 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6514 @end smallexample
6515
6516 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6517 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6518 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6519 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6520 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6521 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6522 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6523 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6524 Variables}).
6525
6526 @table @code
6527 @kindex disassemble
6528 @cindex assembly instructions
6529 @cindex instructions, assembly
6530 @cindex machine instructions
6531 @cindex listing machine instructions
6532 @item disassemble
6533 @itemx disassemble /m
6534 @itemx disassemble /r
6535 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6536 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6537 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6538 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6539 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6540 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6541 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6542 surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
6543 (first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
6544
6545 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6546 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6547 @end table
6548
6549 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6550 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6551
6552 @smallexample
6553 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
6554 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6555 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6556 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6557 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6558 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6559 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6560 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6561 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6562 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6563 End of assembler dump.
6564 @end smallexample
6565
6566 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6567 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6568
6569 @smallexample
6570 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6571 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6572 5 @{
6573 0x08048330 <main+0>: push %ebp
6574 0x08048331 <main+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6575 0x08048333 <main+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6576 0x08048336 <main+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6577 0x08048339 <main+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6578
6579 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6580 => 0x0804833c <main+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6581 0x08048343 <main+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6582
6583 7 return 0;
6584 8 @}
6585 0x08048348 <main+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6586 0x0804834d <main+29>: leave
6587 0x0804834e <main+30>: ret
6588
6589 End of assembler dump.
6590 @end smallexample
6591
6592 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6593 mnemonics or other syntax.
6594
6595 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6596 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6597 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6598 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6599 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6600
6601 @table @code
6602 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6603 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6604 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6605 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6606 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6607 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6608
6609 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6610 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6611 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6612 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6613
6614 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6615 @item show disassembly-flavor
6616 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6617 @end table
6618
6619 @table @code
6620 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6621 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6622 @item set disassemble-next-line
6623 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6624 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6625 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6626 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6627 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6628 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6629 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6630 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6631 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6632 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6633 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6634 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6635 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6636 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6637 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6638 instruction.
6639 @end table
6640
6641
6642 @node Data
6643 @chapter Examining Data
6644
6645 @cindex printing data
6646 @cindex examining data
6647 @kindex print
6648 @kindex inspect
6649 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6650 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6651 @c different window or something like that.
6652 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6653 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6654 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6655 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6656 Different Languages}).
6657
6658 @table @code
6659 @item print @var{expr}
6660 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6661 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6662 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6663 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6664 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6665 Formats}.
6666
6667 @item print
6668 @itemx print /@var{f}
6669 @cindex reprint the last value
6670 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6671 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6672 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6673 @end table
6674
6675 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6676 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6677 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6678
6679 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6680 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6681 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6682 Table}.
6683
6684 @menu
6685 * Expressions:: Expressions
6686 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6687 * Variables:: Program variables
6688 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6689 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6690 * Memory:: Examining memory
6691 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6692 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6693 * Value History:: Value history
6694 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6695 * Registers:: Registers
6696 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6697 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6698 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6699 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6700 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6701 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6702 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6703 character set than GDB does
6704 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6705 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6706 @end menu
6707
6708 @node Expressions
6709 @section Expressions
6710
6711 @cindex expressions
6712 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6713 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6714 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6715 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6716 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6717 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6718 @ref{Compilation}.
6719
6720 @cindex arrays in expressions
6721 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6722 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6723 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6724 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6725 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6726 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6727
6728 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6729 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6730 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6731 languages.
6732
6733 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6734 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6735
6736 @cindex casts, in expressions
6737 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6738 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6739 at that address in memory.
6740 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6741
6742 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6743 to programming languages:
6744
6745 @table @code
6746 @item @@
6747 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6748 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6749
6750 @item ::
6751 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6752 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6753
6754 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6755 @cindex type casting memory
6756 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6757 @cindex casts, to view memory
6758 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6759 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6760 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6761 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6762 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6763 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6764 @end table
6765
6766 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6767 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6768 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6769
6770 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6771 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6772 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6773 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6774 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6775 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6776 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6777
6778 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6779 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6780 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6781 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6782 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6783 as well.
6784
6785 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6786 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6787 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6788 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6789 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6790 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6791 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6792 choices.
6793
6794 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6795 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6796 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6797
6798 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6799 @smallexample
6800 @group
6801 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6802 [0] cancel
6803 [1] all
6804 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6805 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6806 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6807 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6808 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6809 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6810 > 2 4 6
6811 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6812 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6813 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6814 Multiple breakpoints were set.
6815 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6816 breakpoints.
6817 (@value{GDBP})
6818 @end group
6819 @end smallexample
6820
6821 @table @code
6822 @kindex set multiple-symbols
6823 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6824 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
6825
6826 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6827 is ambiguous.
6828
6829 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6830 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6831 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6832 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6833 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6834 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6835 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6836 in the use of the menu.
6837
6838 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6839 when an ambiguity is detected.
6840
6841 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6842 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6843
6844 @kindex show multiple-symbols
6845 @item show multiple-symbols
6846 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6847 @end table
6848
6849 @node Variables
6850 @section Program Variables
6851
6852 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6853 in your program.
6854
6855 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6856 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6857
6858 @itemize @bullet
6859 @item
6860 global (or file-static)
6861 @end itemize
6862
6863 @noindent or
6864
6865 @itemize @bullet
6866 @item
6867 visible according to the scope rules of the
6868 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6869 @end itemize
6870
6871 @noindent This means that in the function
6872
6873 @smallexample
6874 foo (a)
6875 int a;
6876 @{
6877 bar (a);
6878 @{
6879 int b = test ();
6880 bar (b);
6881 @}
6882 @}
6883 @end smallexample
6884
6885 @noindent
6886 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6887 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6888 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6889 the block where @code{b} is declared.
6890
6891 @cindex variable name conflict
6892 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6893 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6894 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6895 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6896 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6897 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6898 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6899
6900 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6901 @ifnotinfo
6902 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6903 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6904 @end ifnotinfo
6905 @smallexample
6906 @var{file}::@var{variable}
6907 @var{function}::@var{variable}
6908 @end smallexample
6909
6910 @noindent
6911 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6912 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6913 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6914 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6915
6916 @smallexample
6917 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6918 @end smallexample
6919
6920 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6921 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6922 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6923 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6924 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6925 @c conflict?? --mew
6926
6927 @cindex wrong values
6928 @cindex variable values, wrong
6929 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6930 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6931 @quotation
6932 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6933 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6934 scope, and just before exit.
6935 @end quotation
6936 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6937 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6938 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6939 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6940 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6941 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6942 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6943 variable definitions may be gone.
6944
6945 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6946 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6947 when compiling.
6948
6949 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6950 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6951 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6952 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6953 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6954 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6955 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6956
6957 @smallexample
6958 No symbol "foo" in current context.
6959 @end smallexample
6960
6961 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6962 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6963 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6964 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6965 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6966 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6967 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6968 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6969 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6970 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6971 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6972
6973 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6974 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6975 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6976 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6977
6978 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6979 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6980 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6981 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6982 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6983 For program code
6984
6985 @smallexample
6986 char var0[] = "A";
6987 signed char var1[] = "A";
6988 @end smallexample
6989
6990 You get during debugging
6991 @smallexample
6992 (gdb) print var0
6993 $1 = "A"
6994 (gdb) print var1
6995 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
6996 @end smallexample
6997
6998 @node Arrays
6999 @section Artificial Arrays
7000
7001 @cindex artificial array
7002 @cindex arrays
7003 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7004 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7005 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7006 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7007 program.
7008
7009 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7010 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7011 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7012 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7013 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7014 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7015 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7016 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7017 example. If a program says
7018
7019 @smallexample
7020 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7021 @end smallexample
7022
7023 @noindent
7024 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7025
7026 @smallexample
7027 p *array@@len
7028 @end smallexample
7029
7030 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7031 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7032 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7033 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7034 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7035
7036 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7037 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7038 The value need not be in memory:
7039 @smallexample
7040 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7041 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7042 @end smallexample
7043
7044 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7045 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7046 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7047 @smallexample
7048 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7049 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7050 @end smallexample
7051
7052 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7053 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7054 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7055 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7056 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7057 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7058 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7059 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7060 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7061 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7062
7063 @smallexample
7064 set $i = 0
7065 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7066 @key{RET}
7067 @key{RET}
7068 @dots{}
7069 @end smallexample
7070
7071 @node Output Formats
7072 @section Output Formats
7073
7074 @cindex formatted output
7075 @cindex output formats
7076 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7077 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7078 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7079 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7080 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7081
7082 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7083 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7084 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7085 letters supported are:
7086
7087 @table @code
7088 @item x
7089 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7090 hexadecimal.
7091
7092 @item d
7093 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7094
7095 @item u
7096 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7097
7098 @item o
7099 Print as integer in octal.
7100
7101 @item t
7102 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7103 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7104 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7105 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7106
7107 @item a
7108 @cindex unknown address, locating
7109 @cindex locate address
7110 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7111 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7112 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7113
7114 @smallexample
7115 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7116 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7117 @end smallexample
7118
7119 @noindent
7120 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7121 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7122
7123 @item c
7124 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7125 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7126 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7127 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7128
7129 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7130 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7131 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7132 data.
7133
7134 @item f
7135 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7136 using typical floating point syntax.
7137
7138 @item s
7139 @cindex printing strings
7140 @cindex printing byte arrays
7141 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7142 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7143 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7144 natural types.
7145
7146 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7147 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7148 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7149 array.
7150
7151 @item r
7152 @cindex raw printing
7153 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7154 use a type-specific pretty-printer. The @samp{r} format bypasses any
7155 pretty-printer which might exist for the value's type.
7156 @end table
7157
7158 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7159
7160 @smallexample
7161 p/x $pc
7162 @end smallexample
7163
7164 @noindent
7165 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7166 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7167
7168 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7169 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7170 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7171
7172 @node Memory
7173 @section Examining Memory
7174
7175 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7176 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7177
7178 @cindex examining memory
7179 @table @code
7180 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7181 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7182 @itemx x @var{addr}
7183 @itemx x
7184 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7185 @end table
7186
7187 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7188 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7189 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7190 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7191 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7192
7193 @table @r
7194 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7195 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7196 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7197 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7198 @c 4.1.2.
7199
7200 @item @var{f}, the display format
7201 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7202 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7203 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7204 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7205 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7206
7207 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7208 The unit size is any of
7209
7210 @table @code
7211 @item b
7212 Bytes.
7213 @item h
7214 Halfwords (two bytes).
7215 @item w
7216 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7217 @item g
7218 Giant words (eight bytes).
7219 @end table
7220
7221 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7222 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
7223 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
7224
7225 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7226 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7227 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7228 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7229 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7230 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7231 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7232 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7233 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7234 a value from memory).
7235 @end table
7236
7237 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7238 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7239 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7240 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7241 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7242
7243 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7244 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7245 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7246 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7247 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7248
7249 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7250 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7251 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7252 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7253 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7254 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7255 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7256 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7257 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7258
7259 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7260 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7261 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7262 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7263 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7264 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7265 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7266
7267 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7268 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7269
7270 @smallexample
7271 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7272 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7273 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7274 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7275 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7276 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7277 @end smallexample
7278
7279 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7280 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7281 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7282 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7283 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7284 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7285 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7286 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7287 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7288
7289 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7290 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7291 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7292
7293 @cindex remote memory comparison
7294 @cindex verify remote memory image
7295 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7296 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7297 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7298 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7299 situations.
7300
7301 @table @code
7302 @kindex compare-sections
7303 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7304 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7305 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7306 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7307 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7308 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7309 remote request.
7310 @end table
7311
7312 @node Auto Display
7313 @section Automatic Display
7314 @cindex automatic display
7315 @cindex display of expressions
7316
7317 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7318 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7319 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7320 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7321 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7322 The automatic display looks like this:
7323
7324 @smallexample
7325 2: foo = 38
7326 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7327 @end smallexample
7328
7329 @noindent
7330 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7331 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7332 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7333 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7334 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7335 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7336
7337 @table @code
7338 @kindex display
7339 @item display @var{expr}
7340 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7341 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7342
7343 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7344
7345 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7346 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7347 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7348 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7349 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7350
7351 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7352 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7353 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7354 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7355 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7356 @end table
7357
7358 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7359 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7360 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7361
7362 @table @code
7363 @kindex delete display
7364 @kindex undisplay
7365 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7366 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7367 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7368
7369 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7370 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7371
7372 @kindex disable display
7373 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7374 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7375 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7376 enabled again later.
7377
7378 @kindex enable display
7379 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7380 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7381 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7382
7383 @item display
7384 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7385 done when your program stops.
7386
7387 @kindex info display
7388 @item info display
7389 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7390 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7391 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7392 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7393 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7394 @end table
7395
7396 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7397 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7398 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7399 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7400 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7401 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7402 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7403 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7404 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7405 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7406 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7407
7408 @node Print Settings
7409 @section Print Settings
7410
7411 @cindex format options
7412 @cindex print settings
7413 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7414 and symbols are printed.
7415
7416 @noindent
7417 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7418
7419 @table @code
7420 @kindex set print
7421 @item set print address
7422 @itemx set print address on
7423 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7424 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7425 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7426 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7427 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7428 @code{set print address on}:
7429
7430 @smallexample
7431 @group
7432 (@value{GDBP}) f
7433 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7434 at input.c:530
7435 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7436 @end group
7437 @end smallexample
7438
7439 @item set print address off
7440 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7441 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7442
7443 @smallexample
7444 @group
7445 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7446 (@value{GDBP}) f
7447 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7448 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7449 @end group
7450 @end smallexample
7451
7452 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7453 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7454 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7455 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7456
7457 @kindex show print
7458 @item show print address
7459 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7460 @end table
7461
7462 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7463 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7464 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7465 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7466 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7467 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7468 it prints a symbolic address:
7469
7470 @table @code
7471 @item set print symbol-filename on
7472 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7473 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7474 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7475 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7476
7477 @item set print symbol-filename off
7478 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7479 default.
7480
7481 @item show print symbol-filename
7482 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7483 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7484 @end table
7485
7486 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7487 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7488 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7489
7490 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7491 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7492
7493 @table @code
7494 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7495 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7496 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7497 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7498 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7499 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7500
7501 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7502 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7503 symbolic address.
7504 @end table
7505
7506 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7507 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7508 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7509 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7510 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7511 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7512 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7513 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7514
7515 @smallexample
7516 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7517 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7518 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7519 @end smallexample
7520
7521 @quotation
7522 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7523 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7524 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7525 @end quotation
7526
7527 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7528
7529 @table @code
7530 @item set print array
7531 @itemx set print array on
7532 @cindex pretty print arrays
7533 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7534 but uses more space. The default is off.
7535
7536 @item set print array off
7537 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7538
7539 @item show print array
7540 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7541 arrays.
7542
7543 @cindex print array indexes
7544 @item set print array-indexes
7545 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7546 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7547 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7548 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7549
7550 @item set print array-indexes off
7551 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7552
7553 @item show print array-indexes
7554 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7555 arrays.
7556
7557 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7558 @cindex number of array elements to print
7559 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7560 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7561 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7562 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7563 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7564 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7565 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7566
7567 @item show print elements
7568 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7569 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7570
7571 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7572 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7573 @cindex printing frame argument values
7574 @cindex print all frame argument values
7575 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7576 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7577 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7578 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7579 values are:
7580
7581 @table @code
7582 @item all
7583 The values of all arguments are printed.
7584
7585 @item scalars
7586 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7587 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7588 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7589 only scalar arguments are shown:
7590
7591 @smallexample
7592 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7593 at frame-args.c:23
7594 @end smallexample
7595
7596 @item none
7597 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7598 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7599
7600 @smallexample
7601 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7602 at frame-args.c:23
7603 @end smallexample
7604 @end table
7605
7606 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7607 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7608 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7609 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7610 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7611 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7612 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7613 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7614 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7615 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7616
7617 @item show print frame-arguments
7618 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7619
7620 @item set print repeats
7621 @cindex repeated array elements
7622 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7623 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7624 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7625 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7626 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7627 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7628 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7629
7630 @item show print repeats
7631 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7632 elements.
7633
7634 @item set print null-stop
7635 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7636 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7637 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7638 contain only short strings.
7639 The default is off.
7640
7641 @item show print null-stop
7642 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7643 @sc{null} character.
7644
7645 @item set print pretty on
7646 @cindex print structures in indented form
7647 @cindex indentation in structure display
7648 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7649 per line, like this:
7650
7651 @smallexample
7652 @group
7653 $1 = @{
7654 next = 0x0,
7655 flags = @{
7656 sweet = 1,
7657 sour = 1
7658 @},
7659 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7660 @}
7661 @end group
7662 @end smallexample
7663
7664 @item set print pretty off
7665 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7666
7667 @smallexample
7668 @group
7669 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7670 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7671 @end group
7672 @end smallexample
7673
7674 @noindent
7675 This is the default format.
7676
7677 @item show print pretty
7678 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7679
7680 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7681 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7682 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7683 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7684 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7685 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7686 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7687 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7688
7689 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7690 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7691 international character sets, and is the default.
7692
7693 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7694 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7695
7696 @item set print union on
7697 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7698 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7699 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7700
7701 @item set print union off
7702 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7703 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7704 instead.
7705
7706 @item show print union
7707 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7708 structures and other unions.
7709
7710 For example, given the declarations
7711
7712 @smallexample
7713 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7714 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7715 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7716 Bug_forms;
7717
7718 struct thing @{
7719 Species it;
7720 union @{
7721 Tree_forms tree;
7722 Bug_forms bug;
7723 @} form;
7724 @};
7725
7726 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7727 @end smallexample
7728
7729 @noindent
7730 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7731
7732 @smallexample
7733 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7734 @end smallexample
7735
7736 @noindent
7737 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7738
7739 @smallexample
7740 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7741 @end smallexample
7742
7743 @noindent
7744 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7745 and in Pascal.
7746 @end table
7747
7748 @need 1000
7749 @noindent
7750 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7751
7752 @table @code
7753 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7754 @item set print demangle
7755 @itemx set print demangle on
7756 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7757 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7758 linkage. The default is on.
7759
7760 @item show print demangle
7761 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7762
7763 @item set print asm-demangle
7764 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7765 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7766 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7767 The default is off.
7768
7769 @item show print asm-demangle
7770 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7771 or demangled form.
7772
7773 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7774 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7775 @kindex set demangle-style
7776 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7777 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7778 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7779
7780 @table @code
7781 @item auto
7782 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7783
7784 @item gnu
7785 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7786 This is the default.
7787
7788 @item hp
7789 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7790
7791 @item lucid
7792 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7793
7794 @item arm
7795 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7796 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7797 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7798 require further enhancement to permit that.
7799
7800 @end table
7801 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7802
7803 @item show demangle-style
7804 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7805
7806 @item set print object
7807 @itemx set print object on
7808 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
7809 @cindex display derived types
7810 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7811 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7812 the virtual function table.
7813
7814 @item set print object off
7815 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7816 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7817
7818 @item show print object
7819 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7820
7821 @item set print static-members
7822 @itemx set print static-members on
7823 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7824 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7825
7826 @item set print static-members off
7827 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7828
7829 @item show print static-members
7830 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7831
7832 @item set print pascal_static-members
7833 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7834 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
7835 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7836 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7837
7838 @item set print pascal_static-members off
7839 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7840
7841 @item show print pascal_static-members
7842 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7843
7844 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7845 @item set print vtbl
7846 @itemx set print vtbl on
7847 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7848 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7849 @cindex VTBL display
7850 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7851 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7852 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7853
7854 @item set print vtbl off
7855 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7856
7857 @item show print vtbl
7858 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7859 @end table
7860
7861 @node Value History
7862 @section Value History
7863
7864 @cindex value history
7865 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7866 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7867 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7868 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7869 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7870 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7871 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7872 symbol table.
7873
7874 @cindex @code{$}
7875 @cindex @code{$$}
7876 @cindex history number
7877 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7878 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7879 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7880 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7881 history number.
7882
7883 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7884 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7885 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7886 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7887 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7888 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7889 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7890
7891 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7892 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7893
7894 @smallexample
7895 p *$
7896 @end smallexample
7897
7898 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7899 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7900
7901 @smallexample
7902 p *$.next
7903 @end smallexample
7904
7905 @noindent
7906 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7907 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7908
7909 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7910 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7911
7912 @smallexample
7913 print x
7914 set x=5
7915 @end smallexample
7916
7917 @noindent
7918 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7919 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7920
7921 @table @code
7922 @kindex show values
7923 @item show values
7924 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7925 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7926 values} does not change the history.
7927
7928 @item show values @var{n}
7929 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7930
7931 @item show values +
7932 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7933 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7934 @end table
7935
7936 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7937 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7938
7939 @node Convenience Vars
7940 @section Convenience Variables
7941
7942 @cindex convenience variables
7943 @cindex user-defined variables
7944 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7945 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7946 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7947 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7948 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7949
7950 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7951 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7952 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7953 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7954 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7955
7956 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7957 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7958 For example:
7959
7960 @smallexample
7961 set $foo = *object_ptr
7962 @end smallexample
7963
7964 @noindent
7965 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7966 @code{object_ptr}.
7967
7968 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7969 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7970 value with another assignment at any time.
7971
7972 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7973 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7974 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7975 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7976
7977 @table @code
7978 @kindex show convenience
7979 @cindex show all user variables
7980 @item show convenience
7981 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7982 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
7983
7984 @kindex init-if-undefined
7985 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
7986 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
7987 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
7988 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
7989 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
7990 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
7991 override default values used in a command script.
7992
7993 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
7994 any side-effects do not occur.
7995 @end table
7996
7997 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
7998 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
7999 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8000
8001 @smallexample
8002 set $i = 0
8003 print bar[$i++]->contents
8004 @end smallexample
8005
8006 @noindent
8007 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8008
8009 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8010 values likely to be useful.
8011
8012 @table @code
8013 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8014 @item $_
8015 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8016 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8017 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8018 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8019 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8020 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8021 to the type of @code{$__}.
8022
8023 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8024 @item $__
8025 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8026 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8027 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8028
8029 @item $_exitcode
8030 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8031 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8032 the program being debugged terminates.
8033
8034 @item $_siginfo
8035 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8036 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8037 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8038 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8039 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8040 @end table
8041
8042 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8043 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8044 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8045
8046 @cindex convenience functions
8047 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8048 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8049 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8050 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8051 @value{GDBN}.
8052
8053 @table @code
8054 @item help function
8055 @kindex help function
8056 @cindex show all convenience functions
8057 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8058 @end table
8059
8060 @node Registers
8061 @section Registers
8062
8063 @cindex registers
8064 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8065 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8066 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8067 your machine.
8068
8069 @table @code
8070 @kindex info registers
8071 @item info registers
8072 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8073 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8074
8075 @kindex info all-registers
8076 @cindex floating point registers
8077 @item info all-registers
8078 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8079 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8080
8081 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8082 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8083 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8084 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8085 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8086 @end table
8087
8088 @cindex stack pointer register
8089 @cindex program counter register
8090 @cindex process status register
8091 @cindex frame pointer register
8092 @cindex standard registers
8093 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8094 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8095 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8096 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8097 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8098 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8099 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8100 you could print the program counter in hex with
8101
8102 @smallexample
8103 p/x $pc
8104 @end smallexample
8105
8106 @noindent
8107 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8108
8109 @smallexample
8110 x/i $pc
8111 @end smallexample
8112
8113 @noindent
8114 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8115 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8116 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8117 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8118 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8119 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8120 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8121
8122 @smallexample
8123 set $sp += 4
8124 @end smallexample
8125
8126 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8127 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8128 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8129 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8130 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8131 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8132 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8133
8134 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8135 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8136 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8137 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8138 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8139 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8140 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8141
8142 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8143 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8144 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8145 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8146 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8147 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8148 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8149 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8150 prints the data in both formats.
8151
8152 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8153 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8154 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8155 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8156 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8157 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8158 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8159
8160 @smallexample
8161 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8162 $1 = @{
8163 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8164 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8165 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8166 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8167 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8168 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8169 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8170 @}
8171 @end smallexample
8172
8173 @noindent
8174 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8175 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8176 value to a @code{struct} member:
8177
8178 @smallexample
8179 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8180 @end smallexample
8181
8182 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8183 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8184 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8185 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8186 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8187 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8188
8189 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8190 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8191 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8192 frame makes no difference.
8193
8194 @node Floating Point Hardware
8195 @section Floating Point Hardware
8196 @cindex floating point
8197
8198 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8199 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8200
8201 @table @code
8202 @kindex info float
8203 @item info float
8204 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8205 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8206 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8207 the ARM and x86 machines.
8208 @end table
8209
8210 @node Vector Unit
8211 @section Vector Unit
8212 @cindex vector unit
8213
8214 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8215 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8216
8217 @table @code
8218 @kindex info vector
8219 @item info vector
8220 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8221 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8222 @end table
8223
8224 @node OS Information
8225 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8226 @cindex OS information
8227
8228 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8229 you debug your program.
8230
8231 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8232 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8233 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8234 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8235 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8236 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8237 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8238 structure.
8239
8240 @table @code
8241 @item info udot
8242 @kindex info udot
8243 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8244 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8245 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8246 the @code{examine} command.
8247 @end table
8248
8249 @cindex auxiliary vector
8250 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8251 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8252 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8253 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8254 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8255 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8256 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8257 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8258 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8259 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8260 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8261 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8262
8263 @table @code
8264 @kindex info auxv
8265 @item info auxv
8266 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8267 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8268 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8269 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8270 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8271 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8272 an unrecognized tag.
8273 @end table
8274
8275 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8276 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8277 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8278 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8279
8280 @table @code
8281 @kindex info os processes
8282 @item info os processes
8283 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8284 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8285 the command corresponding to the process.
8286 @end table
8287
8288 @node Memory Region Attributes
8289 @section Memory Region Attributes
8290 @cindex memory region attributes
8291
8292 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8293 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8294 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8295 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8296 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8297 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8298 user can override the fetched regions.
8299
8300 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8301 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8302 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8303 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8304 all memory.
8305
8306 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8307 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8308
8309 @table @code
8310 @kindex mem
8311 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8312 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8313 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8314 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8315 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8316 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8317
8318 @item mem auto
8319 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8320 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8321
8322 @kindex delete mem
8323 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8324 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8325 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8326
8327 @kindex disable mem
8328 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8329 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8330 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8331 It may be enabled again later.
8332
8333 @kindex enable mem
8334 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8335 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8336
8337 @kindex info mem
8338 @item info mem
8339 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8340 for each region:
8341
8342 @table @emph
8343 @item Memory Region Number
8344 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8345 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8346 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8347
8348 @item Lo Address
8349 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8350
8351 @item Hi Address
8352 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8353
8354 @item Attributes
8355 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8356 @end table
8357 @end table
8358
8359
8360 @subsection Attributes
8361
8362 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8363 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8364 write accesses to a memory region.
8365
8366 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8367 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8368 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8369
8370 @table @code
8371 @item ro
8372 Memory is read only.
8373 @item wo
8374 Memory is write only.
8375 @item rw
8376 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8377 @end table
8378
8379 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8380 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8381 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8382 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8383 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8384
8385 @table @code
8386 @item 8
8387 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8388 @item 16
8389 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8390 @item 32
8391 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8392 @item 64
8393 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8394 @end table
8395
8396 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8397 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8398 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8399 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8400 @c
8401 @c @table @code
8402 @c @item hwbreak
8403 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8404 @c @item swbreak (default)
8405 @c @end table
8406
8407 @subsubsection Data Cache
8408 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8409 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8410 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8411 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8412 registers.
8413
8414 @table @code
8415 @item cache
8416 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8417 @item nocache
8418 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8419 @end table
8420
8421 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8422 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8423 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8424 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8425 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8426
8427 @table @code
8428 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8429 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8430 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8431 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8432 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8433 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8434 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8435 The default value is @code{on}.
8436 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8437 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8438 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8439 @end table
8440
8441
8442 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8443 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8444 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8445 @c
8446 @c @table @code
8447 @c @item verify
8448 @c @item noverify (default)
8449 @c @end table
8450
8451 @node Dump/Restore Files
8452 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8453 @cindex dump/restore files
8454 @cindex append data to a file
8455 @cindex dump data to a file
8456 @cindex restore data from a file
8457
8458 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8459 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8460 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8461 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8462 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8463 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8464 files.
8465
8466 @table @code
8467
8468 @kindex dump
8469 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8470 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8471 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8472 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8473
8474 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8475 @table @code
8476 @item binary
8477 Raw binary form.
8478 @item ihex
8479 Intel hex format.
8480 @item srec
8481 Motorola S-record format.
8482 @item tekhex
8483 Tektronix Hex format.
8484 @end table
8485
8486 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8487 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8488 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8489 form.
8490
8491 @kindex append
8492 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8493 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8494 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8495 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8496 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8497
8498 @kindex restore
8499 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8500 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8501 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8502 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8503 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8504
8505 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8506 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8507 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8508 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8509 from that location.
8510
8511 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8512 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8513 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8514 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8515
8516 @end table
8517
8518 @node Core File Generation
8519 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8520 @cindex dump core from inferior
8521
8522 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8523 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8524 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8525 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8526 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8527 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8528 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8529
8530 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8531 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8532 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8533
8534 @table @code
8535 @kindex gcore
8536 @kindex generate-core-file
8537 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8538 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8539 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8540 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8541 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8542 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8543
8544 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8545 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8546 @end table
8547
8548 @node Character Sets
8549 @section Character Sets
8550 @cindex character sets
8551 @cindex charset
8552 @cindex translating between character sets
8553 @cindex host character set
8554 @cindex target character set
8555
8556 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8557 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8558 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8559 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8560 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8561 @dfn{target character set}.
8562
8563 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8564 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8565 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8566 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8567 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8568 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8569 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8570 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8571 character and string literals in expressions.
8572
8573 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8574 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8575 target-charset} command, described below.
8576
8577 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8578 support:
8579
8580 @table @code
8581 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
8582 @kindex set target-charset
8583 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8584 list of supported target character sets, type
8585 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8586
8587 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
8588 @kindex set host-charset
8589 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8590
8591 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8592 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8593 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8594 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8595 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8596
8597 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8598 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8599 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8600
8601 @item set charset @var{charset}
8602 @kindex set charset
8603 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8604 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8605 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8606 for both host and target.
8607
8608 @item show charset
8609 @kindex show charset
8610 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8611
8612 @item show host-charset
8613 @kindex show host-charset
8614 Show the name of the current host character set.
8615
8616 @item show target-charset
8617 @kindex show target-charset
8618 Show the name of the current target character set.
8619
8620 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8621 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8622 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8623 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8624 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8625 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8626
8627 @item show target-wide-charset
8628 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8629 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8630 @end table
8631
8632 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8633 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8634 @file{charset-test.c}:
8635
8636 @smallexample
8637 #include <stdio.h>
8638
8639 char ascii_hello[]
8640 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8641 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8642 char ibm1047_hello[]
8643 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8644 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8645
8646 main ()
8647 @{
8648 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8649 @}
8650 @end smallexample
8651
8652 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8653 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8654 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8655
8656 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8657
8658 @smallexample
8659 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8660 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8661 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8662 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8663 @dots{}
8664 (@value{GDBP})
8665 @end smallexample
8666
8667 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8668 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8669 strings:
8670
8671 @smallexample
8672 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8673 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8674 (@value{GDBP})
8675 @end smallexample
8676
8677 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8678 initial character set:
8679 @smallexample
8680 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8681 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8682 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8683 (@value{GDBP})
8684 @end smallexample
8685
8686 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8687 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8688 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8689 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8690 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8691
8692 @smallexample
8693 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8694 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8695 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8696 $2 = 72 'H'
8697 (@value{GDBP})
8698 @end smallexample
8699
8700 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8701 literals you use in expressions:
8702
8703 @smallexample
8704 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8705 $3 = 43 '+'
8706 (@value{GDBP})
8707 @end smallexample
8708
8709 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8710 character.
8711
8712 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8713 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8714 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8715
8716 @smallexample
8717 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8718 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8719 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8720 $5 = 200 '\310'
8721 (@value{GDBP})
8722 @end smallexample
8723
8724 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8725 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8726
8727 @smallexample
8728 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8729 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8730 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8731 @end smallexample
8732
8733 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8734 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8735 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8736 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8737 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8738
8739 @smallexample
8740 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8741 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8742 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8743 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8744 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8745 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8746 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8747 $7 = 72 '\110'
8748 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8749 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8750 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8751 $9 = 200 'H'
8752 (@value{GDBP})
8753 @end smallexample
8754
8755 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8756 string literals you use in expressions:
8757
8758 @smallexample
8759 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8760 $10 = 78 '+'
8761 (@value{GDBP})
8762 @end smallexample
8763
8764 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8765 character.
8766
8767 @node Caching Remote Data
8768 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8769 @cindex caching data of remote targets
8770
8771 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
8772 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8773 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8774 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
8775 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
8776 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
8777 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
8778 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
8779 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
8780 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
8781 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
8782 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
8783 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
8784 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
8785 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
8786
8787 @table @code
8788 @kindex set remotecache
8789 @item set remotecache on
8790 @itemx set remotecache off
8791 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
8792 with old scripts.
8793
8794 @kindex show remotecache
8795 @item show remotecache
8796 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
8797
8798 @kindex set stack-cache
8799 @item set stack-cache on
8800 @itemx set stack-cache off
8801 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
8802 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
8803
8804 @kindex show stack-cache
8805 @item show stack-cache
8806 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
8807
8808 @kindex info dcache
8809 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
8810 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8811 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
8812 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
8813 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
8814 operation.
8815
8816 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
8817 printed in hex.
8818 @end table
8819
8820 @node Searching Memory
8821 @section Search Memory
8822 @cindex searching memory
8823
8824 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8825 @code{find} command.
8826
8827 @table @code
8828 @kindex find
8829 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8830 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8831 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8832 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8833 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8834 @end table
8835
8836 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8837 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8838
8839 @table @r
8840 @item @var{s}, search query size
8841 The size of each search query value.
8842
8843 @table @code
8844 @item b
8845 bytes
8846 @item h
8847 halfwords (two bytes)
8848 @item w
8849 words (four bytes)
8850 @item g
8851 giant words (eight bytes)
8852 @end table
8853
8854 All values are interpreted in the current language.
8855 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8856 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8857
8858 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8859 value's type in the current language.
8860 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8861 pattern as a mixture of types.
8862 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8863 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8864 which is typically four bytes.
8865
8866 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8867 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8868 @end table
8869
8870 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8871 (@code{"}).
8872 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8873 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8874
8875 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8876 number of matches found.
8877
8878 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8879 @samp{$_}.
8880 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8881
8882 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8883
8884 @smallexample
8885 void
8886 hello ()
8887 @{
8888 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8889 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8890 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8891 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8892 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8893 @}
8894 @end smallexample
8895
8896 @noindent
8897 you get during debugging:
8898
8899 @smallexample
8900 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
8901 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8902 1 pattern found
8903 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
8904 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8905 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8906 2 patterns found
8907 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
8908 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8909 1 pattern found
8910 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
8911 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
8912 1 pattern found
8913 (gdb) print $numfound
8914 $1 = 1
8915 (gdb) print $_
8916 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8917 @end smallexample
8918
8919 @node Optimized Code
8920 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
8921 @cindex optimized code, debugging
8922 @cindex debugging optimized code
8923
8924 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
8925 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
8926 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
8927 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
8928 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
8929 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
8930 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
8931
8932 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
8933 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
8934 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
8935 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
8936
8937 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
8938 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
8939 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
8940 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
8941 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
8942 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
8943
8944 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
8945 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
8946 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
8947 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
8948 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
8949
8950 @menu
8951 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
8952 @end menu
8953
8954 @node Inline Functions
8955 @section Inline Functions
8956 @cindex inline functions, debugging
8957
8958 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
8959 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
8960 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
8961 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
8962 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
8963 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
8964 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
8965 @code{info frame} command.
8966
8967 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
8968 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
8969 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
8970 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
8971 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
8972 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
8973 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
8974 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
8975 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
8976 local variables in the caller.
8977
8978 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
8979 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
8980 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
8981 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
8982 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
8983 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
8984 instructions are executed.
8985
8986 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
8987 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
8988 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
8989 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
8990
8991 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
8992 function calls are the same as normal calls:
8993
8994 @itemize @bullet
8995 @item
8996 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
8997 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
8998 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
8999 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9000 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9001 function instead.
9002
9003 @item
9004 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9005 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9006 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9007 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9008 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9009 or inside the inlined function instead.
9010
9011 @item
9012 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9013 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9014 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9015 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9016
9017 @end itemize
9018
9019
9020 @node Macros
9021 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9022
9023 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9024 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9025 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9026 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9027 where it was defined.
9028
9029 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9030 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9031 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9032 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9033
9034 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9035 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9036 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9037 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9038 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9039 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9040 see @ref{List}.
9041
9042 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9043 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9044 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9045
9046 @table @code
9047
9048 @kindex macro expand
9049 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9050 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9051 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9052 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9053 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9054 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9055 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9056 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9057 it can be any string of tokens.
9058
9059 @kindex macro exp1
9060 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9061 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9062 @cindex expand macro once
9063 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9064 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9065 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9066 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9067 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9068 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9069 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9070 can be any string of tokens.
9071
9072 @kindex info macro
9073 @cindex macro definition, showing
9074 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9075 @item info macro @var{macro}
9076 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9077 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9078
9079 @kindex macro define
9080 @cindex user-defined macros
9081 @cindex defining macros interactively
9082 @cindex macros, user-defined
9083 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9084 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9085 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9086 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9087 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9088 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9089 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9090 @var{arglist}.
9091
9092 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9093 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9094 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9095 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9096 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9097
9098 @kindex macro undef
9099 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9100 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9101 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9102 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9103 in the program being debugged.
9104
9105 @kindex macro list
9106 @item macro list
9107 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9108 @end table
9109
9110 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9111 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9112 show our source files:
9113
9114 @smallexample
9115 $ cat sample.c
9116 #include <stdio.h>
9117 #include "sample.h"
9118
9119 #define M 42
9120 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9121
9122 main ()
9123 @{
9124 #define N 28
9125 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9126 #undef N
9127 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9128 #define N 1729
9129 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9130 @}
9131 $ cat sample.h
9132 #define Q <
9133 $
9134 @end smallexample
9135
9136 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9137 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9138 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9139 information.
9140
9141 @smallexample
9142 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9143 $
9144 @end smallexample
9145
9146 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9147
9148 @smallexample
9149 $ gdb -nw sample
9150 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9151 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9152 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9153 (@value{GDBP})
9154 @end smallexample
9155
9156 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9157 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9158 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9159
9160 @smallexample
9161 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9162 3
9163 4 #define M 42
9164 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9165 6
9166 7 main ()
9167 8 @{
9168 9 #define N 28
9169 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9170 11 #undef N
9171 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9172 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9173 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9174 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9175 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9176 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9177 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9178 #define Q <
9179 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9180 expands to: (42 + 1)
9181 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9182 expands to: once (M + 1)
9183 (@value{GDBP})
9184 @end smallexample
9185
9186 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9187 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9188 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9189 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9190
9191 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9192 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9193
9194 @smallexample
9195 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9196 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9197 (@value{GDBP}) run
9198 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9199
9200 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9201 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9202 (@value{GDBP})
9203 @end smallexample
9204
9205 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9206
9207 @smallexample
9208 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9209 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9210 #define N 28
9211 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9212 expands to: 28 < 42
9213 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9214 $1 = 1
9215 (@value{GDBP})
9216 @end smallexample
9217
9218 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9219 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9220 thereof) in force at each point:
9221
9222 @smallexample
9223 (@value{GDBP}) next
9224 Hello, world!
9225 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9226 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9227 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9228 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9229 (@value{GDBP}) next
9230 We're so creative.
9231 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9232 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9233 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9234 #define N 1729
9235 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9236 expands to: 1729 < 42
9237 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9238 $2 = 0
9239 (@value{GDBP})
9240 @end smallexample
9241
9242 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9243 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9244 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9245 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9246
9247 @smallexample
9248 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9249 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9250 -D__STDC__=1
9251 (@value{GDBP})
9252 @end smallexample
9253
9254
9255 @node Tracepoints
9256 @chapter Tracepoints
9257 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9258 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9259
9260 @cindex tracepoints
9261 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9262 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9263 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9264 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9265 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9266 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9267 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9268
9269 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9270 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9271 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9272 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9273 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9274 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9275 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9276 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9277 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9278 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9279 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9280
9281 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9282 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9283 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9284 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9285 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9286 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9287 Packets}.
9288
9289 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9290
9291 @menu
9292 * Set Tracepoints::
9293 * Analyze Collected Data::
9294 * Tracepoint Variables::
9295 @end menu
9296
9297 @node Set Tracepoints
9298 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9299
9300 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9301 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9302 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9303 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9304 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9305 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9306 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9307
9308 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9309 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9310 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9311 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9312 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9313 tracepoint was hit.
9314
9315 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Conditional
9316 expressions and ignore counts on tracepoints have no effect, and
9317 tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN} commands when they are
9318 hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific either.
9319
9320 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9321 conditions and actions.
9322
9323 @menu
9324 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9325 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9326 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9327 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9328 * Tracepoint Actions::
9329 * Listing Tracepoints::
9330 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9331 @end menu
9332
9333 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9334 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9335
9336 @table @code
9337 @cindex set tracepoint
9338 @kindex trace
9339 @item trace @var{location}
9340 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9341 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9342 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9343 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9344 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9345 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9346 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9347 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9348 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9349
9350 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9351
9352 @smallexample
9353 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9354
9355 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9356
9357 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9358
9359 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9360
9361 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9362 @end smallexample
9363
9364 @noindent
9365 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9366
9367 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9368 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9369 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9370 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9371 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9372 information on tracepoint conditions.
9373
9374 @vindex $tpnum
9375 @cindex last tracepoint number
9376 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9377 @cindex tracepoint number
9378 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9379 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9380
9381 @kindex delete tracepoint
9382 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9383 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9384 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9385 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9386 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9387
9388 Examples:
9389
9390 @smallexample
9391 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9392
9393 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9394 @end smallexample
9395
9396 @noindent
9397 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9398 @end table
9399
9400 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9401 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9402
9403 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9404
9405 @table @code
9406 @kindex disable tracepoint
9407 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9408 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9409 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9410 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9411 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9412
9413 @kindex enable tracepoint
9414 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9415 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9416 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9417 run.
9418 @end table
9419
9420 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9421 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9422
9423 @table @code
9424 @kindex passcount
9425 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9426 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9427 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9428 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9429 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9430 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9431 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9432 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9433 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9434 user.
9435
9436 Examples:
9437
9438 @smallexample
9439 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9440 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9441
9442 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9443 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9444 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9445 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9446 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9447 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9448 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9449 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9450 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9451 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9452 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9453 @end smallexample
9454 @end table
9455
9456 @node Tracepoint Conditions
9457 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9458 @cindex conditional tracepoints
9459 @cindex tracepoint conditions
9460
9461 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9462 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9463 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9464 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9465 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9466 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9467 is true.
9468
9469 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9470 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9471 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9472 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9473 just as with breakpoints.
9474
9475 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9476 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9477 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9478 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9479 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9480 accesses, and so forth.
9481
9482 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9483 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9484 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9485 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9486 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9487 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9488 search through.
9489
9490 @smallexample
9491 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9492 @end smallexample
9493
9494 @node Tracepoint Actions
9495 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9496
9497 @table @code
9498 @kindex actions
9499 @cindex tracepoint actions
9500 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9501 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9502 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9503 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9504 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9505 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9506 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9507 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9508 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
9509 @code{while-stepping}.
9510
9511 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9512 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9513 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9514
9515 @smallexample
9516 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9517
9518 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9519
9520 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9521 @end smallexample
9522
9523 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9524 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9525 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9526 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9527 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
9528 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
9529 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
9530 @code{end} command.
9531
9532 @smallexample
9533 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9534 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9535 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9536 > collect bar,baz
9537 > collect $regs
9538 > while-stepping 12
9539 > collect $fp, $sp
9540 > end
9541 end
9542 @end smallexample
9543
9544 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9545 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9546 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9547 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9548 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9549 special arguments are supported:
9550
9551 @table @code
9552 @item $regs
9553 collect all registers
9554
9555 @item $args
9556 collect all function arguments
9557
9558 @item $locals
9559 collect all local variables.
9560 @end table
9561
9562 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9563 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9564 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
9565
9566 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9567 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9568
9569 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9570 @item while-stepping @var{n}
9571 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
9572 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9573 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
9574 its own @code{end} command):
9575
9576 @smallexample
9577 > while-stepping 12
9578 > collect $regs, myglobal
9579 > end
9580 >
9581 @end smallexample
9582
9583 @noindent
9584 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9585 @code{stepping}.
9586 @end table
9587
9588 @node Listing Tracepoints
9589 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
9590
9591 @table @code
9592 @kindex info tracepoints
9593 @kindex info tp
9594 @cindex information about tracepoints
9595 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9596 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9597 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9598 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9599 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9600 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9601
9602 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9603 tracing:
9604
9605 @itemize @bullet
9606 @item
9607 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9608 @item
9609 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
9610 @item
9611 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command. The actions
9612 are prefixed with an @samp{A} so as to distinguish them from commands.
9613 @end itemize
9614
9615 @smallexample
9616 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9617 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
9618 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9619 pass count 1200
9620 step count 20
9621 A while-stepping 20
9622 A collect globfoo, $regs
9623 A end
9624 A collect globfoo2
9625 A end
9626 (@value{GDBP})
9627 @end smallexample
9628
9629 @noindent
9630 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9631 @end table
9632
9633 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9634 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9635
9636 @table @code
9637 @kindex tstart
9638 @cindex start a new trace experiment
9639 @cindex collected data discarded
9640 @item tstart
9641 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9642 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9643 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9644 experiment.
9645
9646 @kindex tstop
9647 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
9648 @item tstop
9649 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9650 stops collecting data.
9651
9652 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
9653 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
9654 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
9655
9656 @kindex tstatus
9657 @cindex status of trace data collection
9658 @cindex trace experiment, status of
9659 @item tstatus
9660 This command displays the status of the current trace data
9661 collection.
9662 @end table
9663
9664 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
9665
9666 @smallexample
9667 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
9668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9669 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
9670 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
9671 > while-stepping 11
9672 > collect $regs
9673 > end
9674 > end
9675 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9676 [time passes @dots{}]
9677 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
9678 @end smallexample
9679
9680
9681 @node Analyze Collected Data
9682 @section Using the Collected Data
9683
9684 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
9685 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
9686 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
9687 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
9688 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
9689 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
9690 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
9691 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
9692 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
9693 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
9694 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
9695 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
9696 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
9697 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
9698 the buffer will fail.
9699
9700 @menu
9701 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
9702 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
9703 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
9704 @end menu
9705
9706 @node tfind
9707 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
9708
9709 @kindex tfind
9710 @cindex select trace snapshot
9711 @cindex find trace snapshot
9712 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
9713 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
9714 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
9715 snapshot is selected.
9716
9717 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
9718
9719 @table @code
9720 @item tfind start
9721 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
9722 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
9723
9724 @item tfind none
9725 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
9726
9727 @item tfind end
9728 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
9729
9730 @item tfind
9731 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
9732
9733 @item tfind -
9734 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
9735 retracing earlier steps.
9736
9737 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
9738 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
9739 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
9740 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
9741 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
9742
9743 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
9744 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
9745 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
9746 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
9747 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
9748
9749 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9750 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
9751 addresses.
9752
9753 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9754 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
9755 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
9756
9757 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
9758 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
9759 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
9760 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
9761 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
9762 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
9763 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
9764 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
9765 @end table
9766
9767 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
9768 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
9769 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
9770 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
9771 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
9772 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
9773 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
9774 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
9775 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
9776 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
9777 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
9778 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
9779 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
9780 tracepoint as the current one.
9781
9782 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
9783 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
9784 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
9785 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
9786 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
9787
9788 @smallexample
9789 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9790 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9791 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
9792 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
9793 > tfind
9794 > end
9795
9796 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
9797 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
9798 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
9799 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
9800 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
9801 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
9802 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
9803 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
9804 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
9805 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
9806 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
9807 @end smallexample
9808
9809 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
9810 the buffer:
9811
9812 @smallexample
9813 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9814 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9815 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
9816 > tfind line
9817 > end
9818
9819 Frame 0, X = 1
9820 Frame 7, X = 2
9821 Frame 13, X = 255
9822 @end smallexample
9823
9824 @node tdump
9825 @subsection @code{tdump}
9826 @kindex tdump
9827 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
9828 @cindex tracepoint data, display
9829
9830 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
9831 the current trace snapshot.
9832
9833 @smallexample
9834 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
9835 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9836 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
9837 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
9838 > end
9839
9840 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9841
9842 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
9843 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
9844 at gdb_test.c:444
9845 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
9846
9847 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
9848 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
9849 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
9850 d1 0x18 24
9851 d2 0x80 128
9852 d3 0x33 51
9853 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
9854 d5 0x22 34
9855 d6 0xe0 224
9856 d7 0x380035 3670069
9857 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
9858 a1 0x3000668 50333288
9859 a2 0x100 256
9860 a3 0x322000 3284992
9861 a4 0x3000698 50333336
9862 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
9863 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
9864 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
9865 ps 0x0 0
9866 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
9867 fpcontrol 0x0 0
9868 fpstatus 0x0 0
9869 fpiaddr 0x0 0
9870 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
9871 p1 = (void *) 0x11
9872 p2 = (void *) 0x22
9873 p3 = (void *) 0x33
9874 p4 = (void *) 0x44
9875 p5 = (void *) 0x55
9876 p6 = (void *) 0x66
9877 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
9878
9879 (@value{GDBP})
9880 @end smallexample
9881
9882 @node save-tracepoints
9883 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
9884 @kindex save-tracepoints
9885 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
9886
9887 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
9888 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
9889 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
9890 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
9891 Files}).
9892
9893 @node Tracepoint Variables
9894 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
9895 @cindex tracepoint variables
9896 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
9897
9898 @table @code
9899 @vindex $trace_frame
9900 @item (int) $trace_frame
9901 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
9902 snapshot is selected.
9903
9904 @vindex $tracepoint
9905 @item (int) $tracepoint
9906 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
9907
9908 @vindex $trace_line
9909 @item (int) $trace_line
9910 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
9911
9912 @vindex $trace_file
9913 @item (char []) $trace_file
9914 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
9915
9916 @vindex $trace_func
9917 @item (char []) $trace_func
9918 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
9919 @end table
9920
9921 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
9922 use @code{output} instead.
9923
9924 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
9925 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
9926 data.
9927
9928 @smallexample
9929 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9930
9931 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
9932 > output $trace_file
9933 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
9934 > tfind
9935 > end
9936 @end smallexample
9937
9938 @node Overlays
9939 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
9940 @cindex overlays
9941
9942 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
9943 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
9944 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
9945 use overlays.
9946
9947 @menu
9948 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
9949 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
9950 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
9951 mapped by asking the inferior.
9952 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
9953 @end menu
9954
9955 @node How Overlays Work
9956 @section How Overlays Work
9957 @cindex mapped overlays
9958 @cindex unmapped overlays
9959 @cindex load address, overlay's
9960 @cindex mapped address
9961 @cindex overlay area
9962
9963 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
9964 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
9965 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
9966 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
9967 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
9968
9969 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
9970 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
9971 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
9972 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
9973 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
9974 largest overlay as well.
9975
9976 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
9977 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
9978 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
9979 there.
9980
9981 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
9982 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
9983 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
9984
9985 @smallexample
9986 @group
9987 Data Instruction Larger
9988 Address Space Address Space Address Space
9989 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
9990 | | | | | |
9991 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
9992 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
9993 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
9994 | and heap | | | | | |
9995 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
9996 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
9997 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
9998 | | | | | |
9999 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10000 address | | | | | |
10001 | overlay | <-' | | |
10002 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10003 | | <---. | | load address
10004 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10005 | | | |
10006 +-----------+ | |
10007 +-----------+
10008 | |
10009 +-----------+
10010
10011 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10012 @end group
10013 @end smallexample
10014
10015 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10016 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10017 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10018 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10019 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10020 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10021 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10022 program and the overlay area.
10023
10024 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10025 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10026 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10027 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10028 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10029 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10030 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10031
10032 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10033 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10034 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10035
10036 @itemize @bullet
10037
10038 @item
10039 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10040 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10041 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10042 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10043
10044 @item
10045 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10046 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10047 your program's performance.
10048
10049 @item
10050 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10051 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10052 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10053 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10054 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10055 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10056 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10057
10058 @item
10059 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10060 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10061 instruction and data spaces.
10062
10063 @end itemize
10064
10065 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10066 improved in many ways:
10067
10068 @itemize @bullet
10069
10070 @item
10071 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10072 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10073 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10074 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10075 area in the usual way.
10076
10077 @item
10078 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10079 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10080
10081 @item
10082 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10083 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10084 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10085 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10086 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10087 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10088 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10089
10090 @end itemize
10091
10092
10093 @node Overlay Commands
10094 @section Overlay Commands
10095
10096 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10097 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10098 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10099 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10100 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10101 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10102
10103 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10104 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10105
10106 @table @code
10107 @item overlay off
10108 @kindex overlay
10109 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10110 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10111 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10112 overlay support is disabled.
10113
10114 @item overlay manual
10115 @cindex manual overlay debugging
10116 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10117 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10118 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10119 commands described below.
10120
10121 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10122 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10123 @cindex map an overlay
10124 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10125 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10126 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10127 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10128 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10129 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10130
10131 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10132 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10133 @cindex unmap an overlay
10134 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10135 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10136 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10137 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10138
10139 @item overlay auto
10140 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10141 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10142 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10143 Overlay Debugging}.
10144
10145 @item overlay load-target
10146 @itemx overlay load
10147 @cindex reloading the overlay table
10148 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10149 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10150 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10151 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10152 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10153
10154 @item overlay list-overlays
10155 @itemx overlay list
10156 @cindex listing mapped overlays
10157 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10158 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10159
10160 @end table
10161
10162 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10163 of the function the address falls in:
10164
10165 @smallexample
10166 (@value{GDBP}) print main
10167 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10168 @end smallexample
10169 @noindent
10170 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10171 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10172 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10173 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10174
10175 @smallexample
10176 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10177 No sections are mapped.
10178 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10179 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10180 @end smallexample
10181 @noindent
10182 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10183 name normally:
10184
10185 @smallexample
10186 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10187 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10188 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10189 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10190 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10191 @end smallexample
10192
10193 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10194 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10195 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10196 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10197 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10198
10199 @itemize @bullet
10200 @item
10201 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
10202 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10203 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10204 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10205 @item
10206 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10207 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10208 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10209 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10210 breakpoints properly.
10211 @end itemize
10212
10213
10214 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10215 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10216 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
10217
10218 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10219 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10220 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10221 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10222 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10223 current state of the overlays.
10224
10225 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10226 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10227
10228 @table @asis
10229
10230 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
10231 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10232
10233 @smallexample
10234 struct
10235 @{
10236 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10237 unsigned long vma;
10238
10239 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10240 unsigned long size;
10241
10242 /* The overlay's load address. */
10243 unsigned long lma;
10244
10245 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10246 zero otherwise. */
10247 unsigned long mapped;
10248 @}
10249 @end smallexample
10250
10251 @item @code{_novlys}:
10252 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10253 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10254
10255 @end table
10256
10257 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10258 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10259 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10260 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10261 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10262 currently mapped.
10263
10264 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10265 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10266 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10267 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10268 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10269 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10270 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10271 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10272 are not being executed.
10273
10274 @node Overlay Sample Program
10275 @section Overlay Sample Program
10276 @cindex overlay example program
10277
10278 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10279 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10280 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10281 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10282 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10283 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10284 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10285
10286 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10287 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10288 suite. The program consists of the following files from
10289 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10290
10291 @table @file
10292 @item overlays.c
10293 The main program file.
10294 @item ovlymgr.c
10295 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10296 @item foo.c
10297 @itemx bar.c
10298 @itemx baz.c
10299 @itemx grbx.c
10300 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10301 @item d10v.ld
10302 @itemx m32r.ld
10303 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10304 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10305 @end table
10306
10307 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10308 cross-compiler like this:
10309
10310 @smallexample
10311 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10312 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10313 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10314 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10315 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10316 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10317 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10318 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10319 @end smallexample
10320
10321 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10322 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10323 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10324
10325
10326 @node Languages
10327 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10328 @cindex languages
10329
10330 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10331 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10332 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10333 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10334 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10335 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10336
10337 @cindex working language
10338 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10339 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10340 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10341 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10342 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10343 language}.
10344
10345 @menu
10346 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
10347 * Show:: Displaying the language
10348 * Checks:: Type and range checks
10349 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10350 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10351 @end menu
10352
10353 @node Setting
10354 @section Switching Between Source Languages
10355
10356 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10357 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10358 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10359 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10360 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10361 are printed, etc.
10362
10363 In addition to the working language, every source file that
10364 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10365 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10366 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10367 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10368 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10369 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10370 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10371 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10372 Displaying the Language}.
10373
10374 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10375 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10376 another language. In that case, make the
10377 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10378 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10379 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10380
10381 @menu
10382 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10383 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10384 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10385 @end menu
10386
10387 @node Filenames
10388 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10389
10390 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10391 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10392
10393 @table @file
10394 @item .ada
10395 @itemx .ads
10396 @itemx .adb
10397 @itemx .a
10398 Ada source file.
10399
10400 @item .c
10401 C source file
10402
10403 @item .C
10404 @itemx .cc
10405 @itemx .cp
10406 @itemx .cpp
10407 @itemx .cxx
10408 @itemx .c++
10409 C@t{++} source file
10410
10411 @item .m
10412 Objective-C source file
10413
10414 @item .f
10415 @itemx .F
10416 Fortran source file
10417
10418 @item .mod
10419 Modula-2 source file
10420
10421 @item .s
10422 @itemx .S
10423 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10424 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10425 @end table
10426
10427 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10428 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10429
10430 @node Manually
10431 @subsection Setting the Working Language
10432
10433 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10434 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10435 your program.
10436
10437 @kindex set language
10438 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10439 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10440 a language, such as
10441 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10442 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10443
10444 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10445 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10446 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
10447 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
10448 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
10449 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
10450 command such as:
10451
10452 @smallexample
10453 print a = b + c
10454 @end smallexample
10455
10456 @noindent
10457 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
10458 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
10459 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
10460 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
10461
10462 @node Automatically
10463 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
10464
10465 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
10466 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
10467 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
10468 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
10469 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
10470 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
10471 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
10472 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
10473 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
10474
10475 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
10476 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
10477 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
10478 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
10479 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
10480
10481 @node Show
10482 @section Displaying the Language
10483
10484 The following commands help you find out which language is the
10485 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
10486
10487 @table @code
10488 @item show language
10489 @kindex show language
10490 Display the current working language. This is the
10491 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
10492 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
10493
10494 @item info frame
10495 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
10496 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
10497 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
10498 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
10499 information listed here.
10500
10501 @item info source
10502 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
10503 Display the source language of this source file.
10504 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
10505 information listed here.
10506 @end table
10507
10508 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
10509 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
10510 with a language explicitly:
10511
10512 @table @code
10513 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
10514 @kindex set extension-language
10515 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
10516 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
10517
10518 @item info extensions
10519 @kindex info extensions
10520 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
10521 @end table
10522
10523 @node Checks
10524 @section Type and Range Checking
10525
10526 @quotation
10527 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
10528 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
10529 section documents the intended facilities.
10530 @end quotation
10531 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
10532
10533 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
10534 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
10535 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
10536 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
10537 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
10538 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
10539 errors when your program is running.
10540
10541 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
10542 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
10543 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
10544 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
10545 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
10546 automatically based on your program's source language.
10547 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
10548 settings of supported languages.
10549
10550 @menu
10551 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
10552 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
10553 @end menu
10554
10555 @cindex type checking
10556 @cindex checks, type
10557 @node Type Checking
10558 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
10559
10560 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
10561 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
10562 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
10563 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
10564
10565 @smallexample
10566 1 + 2 @result{} 3
10567 @exdent but
10568 @error{} 1 + 2.3
10569 @end smallexample
10570
10571 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
10572 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
10573
10574 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
10575 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
10576 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
10577 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
10578 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
10579 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
10580 also issues a warning.
10581
10582 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
10583 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
10584 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
10585 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
10586 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
10587 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
10588
10589 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
10590 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
10591 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
10592 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
10593 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
10594 details on specific languages.
10595
10596 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
10597
10598 @kindex set check type
10599 @kindex show check type
10600 @table @code
10601 @item set check type auto
10602 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
10603 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10604 each language.
10605
10606 @item set check type on
10607 @itemx set check type off
10608 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10609 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
10610 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
10611 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
10612 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
10613
10614 @item set check type warn
10615 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
10616 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
10617 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
10618 numbers and structures.
10619
10620 @item show type
10621 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
10622 is setting it automatically.
10623 @end table
10624
10625 @cindex range checking
10626 @cindex checks, range
10627 @node Range Checking
10628 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
10629
10630 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
10631 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
10632 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
10633 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
10634 not exceed the bounds of the array.
10635
10636 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
10637 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
10638 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
10639 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
10640
10641 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
10642 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
10643 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
10644 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
10645 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
10646 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
10647
10648 @smallexample
10649 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
10650 @end smallexample
10651
10652 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
10653 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
10654 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
10655
10656 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
10657
10658 @kindex set check range
10659 @kindex show check range
10660 @table @code
10661 @item set check range auto
10662 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
10663 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10664 each language.
10665
10666 @item set check range on
10667 @itemx set check range off
10668 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10669 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
10670 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
10671 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
10672
10673 @item set check range warn
10674 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
10675 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
10676 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
10677 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
10678 systems).
10679
10680 @item show range
10681 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
10682 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
10683 @end table
10684
10685 @node Supported Languages
10686 @section Supported Languages
10687
10688 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
10689 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
10690 @c This is false ...
10691 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
10692 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
10693 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
10694 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
10695 language.
10696
10697 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
10698 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
10699 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
10700 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
10701 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
10702 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
10703 language reference or tutorial.
10704
10705 @menu
10706 * C:: C and C@t{++}
10707 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
10708 * Fortran:: Fortran
10709 * Pascal:: Pascal
10710 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
10711 * Ada:: Ada
10712 @end menu
10713
10714 @node C
10715 @subsection C and C@t{++}
10716
10717 @cindex C and C@t{++}
10718 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
10719
10720 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
10721 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
10722 together.
10723
10724 @cindex C@t{++}
10725 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
10726 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
10727 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
10728 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
10729 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
10730 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
10731 compiler (@code{aCC}).
10732
10733 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
10734 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
10735 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
10736 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
10737 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
10738 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
10739
10740 @menu
10741 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
10742 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
10743 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
10744 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
10745 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
10746 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
10747 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
10748 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
10749 @end menu
10750
10751 @node C Operators
10752 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
10753
10754 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
10755
10756 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10757 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10758 often defined on groups of types.
10759
10760 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
10761
10762 @itemize @bullet
10763
10764 @item
10765 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
10766 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
10767
10768 @item
10769 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
10770 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
10771
10772 @item
10773 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
10774
10775 @item
10776 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
10777
10778 @end itemize
10779
10780 @noindent
10781 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
10782 in order of increasing precedence:
10783
10784 @table @code
10785 @item ,
10786 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
10787 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
10788 expression being the last expression evaluated.
10789
10790 @item =
10791 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
10792 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
10793
10794 @item @var{op}=
10795 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
10796 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
10797 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
10798 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
10799 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
10800
10801 @item ?:
10802 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
10803 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
10804 integral type.
10805
10806 @item ||
10807 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10808
10809 @item &&
10810 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10811
10812 @item |
10813 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10814
10815 @item ^
10816 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10817
10818 @item &
10819 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10820
10821 @item ==@r{, }!=
10822 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
10823 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
10824
10825 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
10826 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
10827 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
10828 and non-zero for true.
10829
10830 @item <<@r{, }>>
10831 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
10832
10833 @item @@
10834 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10835
10836 @item +@r{, }-
10837 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
10838 pointer types.
10839
10840 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
10841 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
10842 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
10843 integral types.
10844
10845 @item ++@r{, }--
10846 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
10847 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
10848 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
10849 operation takes place.
10850
10851 @item *
10852 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
10853 @code{++}.
10854
10855 @item &
10856 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
10857
10858 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
10859 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
10860 to examine the address
10861 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
10862 stored.
10863
10864 @item -
10865 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
10866 precedence as @code{++}.
10867
10868 @item !
10869 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10870 @code{++}.
10871
10872 @item ~
10873 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10874 @code{++}.
10875
10876
10877 @item .@r{, }->
10878 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
10879 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
10880 pointer based on the stored type information.
10881 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
10882
10883 @item .*@r{, }->*
10884 Dereferences of pointers to members.
10885
10886 @item []
10887 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
10888 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10889
10890 @item ()
10891 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10892
10893 @item ::
10894 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
10895 and @code{class} types.
10896
10897 @item ::
10898 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
10899 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
10900 above.
10901 @end table
10902
10903 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
10904 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
10905 predefined meaning.
10906
10907 @node C Constants
10908 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
10909
10910 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
10911
10912 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
10913 following ways:
10914
10915 @itemize @bullet
10916 @item
10917 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
10918 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
10919 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
10920 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
10921 @code{long} value.
10922
10923 @item
10924 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
10925 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
10926 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
10927 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
10928 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
10929 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
10930 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
10931 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
10932 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
10933 constant.
10934
10935 @item
10936 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
10937 integral equivalents.
10938
10939 @item
10940 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
10941 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
10942 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
10943 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
10944 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
10945 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
10946 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
10947 @samp{\n} for newline.
10948
10949 @item
10950 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
10951 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
10952 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
10953 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
10954 characters.
10955
10956 @item
10957 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
10958 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
10959
10960 @item
10961 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
10962 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
10963 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
10964 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
10965 @end itemize
10966
10967 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
10968 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
10969
10970 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
10971 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
10972
10973 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
10974 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
10975 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
10976 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
10977 @quotation
10978 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
10979 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
10980 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
10981 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
10982 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
10983 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
10984 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
10985 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
10986 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
10987 C@t{++} code.
10988 @end quotation
10989
10990 @enumerate
10991
10992 @cindex member functions
10993 @item
10994 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
10995
10996 @smallexample
10997 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
10998 @end smallexample
10999
11000 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11001 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11002 @item
11003 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11004 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11005 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11006 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11007
11008 @cindex call overloaded functions
11009 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11010 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11011 @item
11012 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11013 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11014 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11015 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11016 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11017 default arguments.
11018
11019 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11020 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11021 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11022 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11023 number of function arguments.
11024
11025 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11026 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11027 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11028
11029 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11030 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11031 @smallexample
11032 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11033 @end smallexample
11034
11035 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11036 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11037
11038 @cindex reference declarations
11039 @item
11040 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11041 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11042 dereferenced.
11043
11044 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11045 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11046 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11047 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11048 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11049
11050 @item
11051 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11052 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11053 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11054 necessary, for example in an expression like
11055 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11056 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11057 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11058 @end enumerate
11059
11060 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11061 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11062 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11063 invoking user-defined operators.
11064
11065 @node C Defaults
11066 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11067
11068 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11069
11070 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11071 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11072 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11073 selects the working language.
11074
11075 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11076 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11077 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11078 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11079 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11080 for further details.
11081
11082 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11083 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11084 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11085
11086 @node C Checks
11087 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11088
11089 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11090
11091 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11092 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11093 considers two variables type equivalent if:
11094
11095 @itemize @bullet
11096 @item
11097 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11098 enumerated tag.
11099
11100 @item
11101 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11102 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11103
11104 @ignore
11105 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11106 @c FIXME--beers?
11107 @item
11108 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11109 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11110 compilers.)
11111 @end ignore
11112 @end itemize
11113
11114 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11115 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11116 that is not itself an array.
11117
11118 @node Debugging C
11119 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11120
11121 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11122 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11123 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11124 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11125
11126 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11127 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11128 ,Expressions}.
11129
11130 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
11131 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11132
11133 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
11134
11135 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11136 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11137
11138 @table @code
11139 @cindex break in overloaded functions
11140 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
11141 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11142 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11143 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11144 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11145
11146 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11147 @item rbreak @var{regex}
11148 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11149 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11150 classes.
11151 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11152
11153 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11154 @item catch throw
11155 @itemx catch catch
11156 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11157 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11158
11159 @cindex inheritance
11160 @item ptype @var{typename}
11161 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11162 @var{typename}.
11163 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11164
11165 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11166 @item set print demangle
11167 @itemx show print demangle
11168 @itemx set print asm-demangle
11169 @itemx show print asm-demangle
11170 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11171 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11172 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11173
11174 @item set print object
11175 @itemx show print object
11176 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11177 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11178
11179 @item set print vtbl
11180 @itemx show print vtbl
11181 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11182 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11183 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11184 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11185
11186 @kindex set overload-resolution
11187 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11188 @item set overload-resolution on
11189 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11190 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11191 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11192 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11193 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11194 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11195
11196 @item set overload-resolution off
11197 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11198 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11199 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11200 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11201 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11202 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11203 argument types.
11204
11205 @kindex show overload-resolution
11206 @item show overload-resolution
11207 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11208
11209 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11210 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11211 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11212 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11213 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11214 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11215 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11216 @end table
11217
11218 @node Decimal Floating Point
11219 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11220 @cindex decimal floating point format
11221
11222 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11223 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11224 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11225 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11226
11227 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11228 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11229 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11230 target.
11231
11232 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11233 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11234 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11235
11236 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11237 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11238 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11239
11240 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11241 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11242 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11243
11244 @node Objective-C
11245 @subsection Objective-C
11246
11247 @cindex Objective-C
11248 This section provides information about some commands and command
11249 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11250 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11251 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11252
11253 @menu
11254 * Method Names in Commands::
11255 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
11256 @end menu
11257
11258 @node Method Names in Commands
11259 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11260
11261 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11262 names as line specifications:
11263
11264 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11265 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11266 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11267 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11268 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11269 @itemize
11270 @item @code{clear}
11271 @item @code{break}
11272 @item @code{info line}
11273 @item @code{jump}
11274 @item @code{list}
11275 @end itemize
11276
11277 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11278
11279 @smallexample
11280 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11281 @end smallexample
11282
11283 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11284 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11285 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11286 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11287 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11288 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11289 debugged, enter:
11290
11291 @smallexample
11292 break -[Fruit create]
11293 @end smallexample
11294
11295 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11296 enter:
11297
11298 @smallexample
11299 list +[NSText initialize]
11300 @end smallexample
11301
11302 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11303 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11304 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11305 is also possible to specify just a method name:
11306
11307 @smallexample
11308 break create
11309 @end smallexample
11310
11311 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11312 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11313 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11314 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11315 none apply.
11316
11317 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11318 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11319
11320 @smallexample
11321 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11322 @end smallexample
11323
11324 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
11325 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11326 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
11327 @kindex print-object
11328 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11329
11330 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11331
11332 @smallexample
11333 print -[@var{object} hash]
11334 @end smallexample
11335
11336 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
11337 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11338 @noindent
11339 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11340 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11341 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11342 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11343 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11344 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11345
11346 @node Fortran
11347 @subsection Fortran
11348 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11349
11350 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11351 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11352
11353 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11354 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11355 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11356 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11357 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11358 underscore.
11359
11360 @menu
11361 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11362 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11363 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11364 @end menu
11365
11366 @node Fortran Operators
11367 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11368
11369 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11370
11371 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11372 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11373 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11374
11375 @table @code
11376 @item **
11377 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11378 of the second one.
11379
11380 @item :
11381 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11382 represent a section of array.
11383
11384 @item %
11385 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11386 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11387 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11388 union type.
11389 @end table
11390
11391 @node Fortran Defaults
11392 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11393
11394 @cindex Fortran Defaults
11395
11396 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11397 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11398 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11399 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11400
11401 @node Special Fortran Commands
11402 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11403
11404 @cindex Special Fortran commands
11405
11406 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11407 such as displaying common blocks.
11408
11409 @table @code
11410 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11411 @kindex info common
11412 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11413 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11414 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11415 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11416 printed.
11417 @end table
11418
11419 @node Pascal
11420 @subsection Pascal
11421
11422 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11423 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11424 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11425 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11426 syntax.
11427
11428 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11429 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11430 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11431
11432 @node Modula-2
11433 @subsection Modula-2
11434
11435 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11436
11437 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
11438 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
11439 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
11440 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11441 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
11442 table.
11443
11444 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
11445 @menu
11446 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
11447 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
11448 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
11449 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
11450 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
11451 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
11452 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
11453 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11454 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11455 @end menu
11456
11457 @node M2 Operators
11458 @subsubsection Operators
11459 @cindex Modula-2 operators
11460
11461 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11462 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11463 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
11464 following definitions hold:
11465
11466 @itemize @bullet
11467
11468 @item
11469 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
11470 their subranges.
11471
11472 @item
11473 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
11474
11475 @item
11476 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
11477
11478 @item
11479 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
11480 @var{type}}.
11481
11482 @item
11483 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
11484
11485 @item
11486 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
11487
11488 @item
11489 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
11490 @end itemize
11491
11492 @noindent
11493 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
11494 increasing precedence:
11495
11496 @table @code
11497 @item ,
11498 Function argument or array index separator.
11499
11500 @item :=
11501 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
11502 @var{value}.
11503
11504 @item <@r{, }>
11505 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
11506 types.
11507
11508 @item <=@r{, }>=
11509 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
11510 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
11511 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
11512
11513 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
11514 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
11515 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
11516 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
11517 comment character.
11518
11519 @item IN
11520 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
11521 Same precedence as @code{<}.
11522
11523 @item OR
11524 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11525
11526 @item AND@r{, }&
11527 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11528
11529 @item @@
11530 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11531
11532 @item +@r{, }-
11533 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
11534 and difference on set types.
11535
11536 @item *
11537 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
11538 on set types.
11539
11540 @item /
11541 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
11542 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
11543
11544 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
11545 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
11546 precedence as @code{*}.
11547
11548 @item -
11549 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
11550
11551 @item ^
11552 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
11553
11554 @item NOT
11555 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
11556 @code{^}.
11557
11558 @item .
11559 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
11560 precedence as @code{^}.
11561
11562 @item []
11563 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
11564
11565 @item ()
11566 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
11567 as @code{^}.
11568
11569 @item ::@r{, }.
11570 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
11571 @end table
11572
11573 @quotation
11574 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
11575 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
11576 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
11577 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
11578 @end quotation
11579
11580
11581 @node Built-In Func/Proc
11582 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
11583 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
11584
11585 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
11586 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
11587
11588 @table @var
11589
11590 @item a
11591 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
11592
11593 @item c
11594 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
11595
11596 @item i
11597 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
11598
11599 @item m
11600 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
11601 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
11602 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
11603
11604 @item n
11605 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
11606
11607 @item r
11608 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
11609
11610 @item t
11611 represents a type.
11612
11613 @item v
11614 represents a variable.
11615
11616 @item x
11617 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
11618 explanation of the function for details.
11619 @end table
11620
11621 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
11622
11623 @table @code
11624 @item ABS(@var{n})
11625 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
11626
11627 @item CAP(@var{c})
11628 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
11629 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
11630
11631 @item CHR(@var{i})
11632 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11633
11634 @item DEC(@var{v})
11635 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11636
11637 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
11638 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11639 new value.
11640
11641 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11642 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
11643 set.
11644
11645 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
11646 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
11647
11648 @item HIGH(@var{a})
11649 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
11650
11651 @item INC(@var{v})
11652 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11653
11654 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
11655 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11656 new value.
11657
11658 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11659 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
11660 there. Returns the new set.
11661
11662 @item MAX(@var{t})
11663 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
11664
11665 @item MIN(@var{t})
11666 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
11667
11668 @item ODD(@var{i})
11669 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
11670
11671 @item ORD(@var{x})
11672 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
11673 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
11674 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
11675 integral, character and enumerated types.
11676
11677 @item SIZE(@var{x})
11678 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11679
11680 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
11681 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
11682
11683 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
11684 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11685
11686 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
11687 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11688 @end table
11689
11690 @quotation
11691 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
11692 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
11693 an error.
11694 @end quotation
11695
11696 @cindex Modula-2 constants
11697 @node M2 Constants
11698 @subsubsection Constants
11699
11700 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
11701 ways:
11702
11703 @itemize @bullet
11704
11705 @item
11706 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
11707 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
11708 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
11709 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
11710
11711 @item
11712 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
11713 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
11714 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
11715 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
11716 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
11717 digits.
11718
11719 @item
11720 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
11721 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
11722 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
11723 followed by a @samp{C}.
11724
11725 @item
11726 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
11727 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
11728 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
11729 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
11730 sequences.
11731
11732 @item
11733 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
11734
11735 @item
11736 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
11737 @code{FALSE}.
11738
11739 @item
11740 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
11741
11742 @item
11743 Set constants are not yet supported.
11744 @end itemize
11745
11746 @node M2 Types
11747 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
11748 @cindex Modula-2 types
11749
11750 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
11751 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
11752 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
11753 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
11754 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
11755 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
11756
11757 The first example contains the following section of code:
11758
11759 @smallexample
11760 VAR
11761 s: SET OF CHAR ;
11762 r: [20..40] ;
11763 @end smallexample
11764
11765 @noindent
11766 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
11767 @code{r} and @code{s}.
11768
11769 @smallexample
11770 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11771 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
11772 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11773 SET OF CHAR
11774 (@value{GDBP}) print r
11775 21
11776 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
11777 [20..40]
11778 @end smallexample
11779
11780 @noindent
11781 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
11782
11783 @smallexample
11784 VAR
11785 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
11786 @end smallexample
11787
11788 @noindent
11789 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
11790
11791 @smallexample
11792 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11793 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
11794 @end smallexample
11795
11796 @noindent
11797 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
11798 expressions using the debugger.
11799
11800 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
11801 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
11802
11803 @smallexample
11804 VAR
11805 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
11806 @end smallexample
11807
11808 @smallexample
11809 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11810 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
11811 @end smallexample
11812
11813 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
11814 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
11815 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
11816 above.
11817
11818 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
11819
11820 @smallexample
11821 TYPE
11822 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
11823 t = [blue..yellow] ;
11824 VAR
11825 s: t ;
11826 BEGIN
11827 s := blue ;
11828 @end smallexample
11829
11830 @noindent
11831 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
11832 and value of a variable.
11833
11834 @smallexample
11835 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11836 $1 = blue
11837 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
11838 type = [blue..yellow]
11839 @end smallexample
11840
11841 @noindent
11842 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
11843 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
11844 their @code{C} counterparts.
11845
11846 @smallexample
11847 VAR
11848 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11849 BEGIN
11850 s[1] := 1 ;
11851 @end smallexample
11852
11853 @smallexample
11854 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11855 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
11856 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11857 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11858 @end smallexample
11859
11860 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
11861 pointer types as shown in this example:
11862
11863 @smallexample
11864 VAR
11865 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11866 BEGIN
11867 NEW(s) ;
11868 s^[1] := 1 ;
11869 @end smallexample
11870
11871 @noindent
11872 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
11873
11874 @smallexample
11875 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11876 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11877 @end smallexample
11878
11879 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
11880 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
11881 types:
11882
11883 @smallexample
11884 TYPE
11885 foo = RECORD
11886 f1: CARDINAL ;
11887 f2: CHAR ;
11888 f3: myarray ;
11889 END ;
11890
11891 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
11892 myrange = [-2..2] ;
11893 VAR
11894 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
11895 @end smallexample
11896
11897 @noindent
11898 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
11899 below.
11900
11901 @smallexample
11902 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11903 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
11904 f1 : CARDINAL;
11905 f2 : CHAR;
11906 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
11907 END
11908 @end smallexample
11909
11910 @node M2 Defaults
11911 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
11912 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
11913
11914 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
11915 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
11916 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11917 selected the working language.
11918
11919 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
11920 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
11921 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
11922 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
11923
11924 @node Deviations
11925 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
11926 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
11927
11928 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
11929 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
11930
11931 @itemize @bullet
11932 @item
11933 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
11934 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
11935 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
11936 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
11937 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
11938 returned a pointer.)
11939
11940 @item
11941 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
11942 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
11943 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
11944 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
11945
11946 @item
11947 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
11948 argument.
11949
11950 @item
11951 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
11952 @end itemize
11953
11954 @node M2 Checks
11955 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
11956 @cindex Modula-2 checks
11957
11958 @quotation
11959 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
11960 range checking.
11961 @end quotation
11962 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
11963
11964 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
11965
11966 @itemize @bullet
11967 @item
11968 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
11969 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
11970
11971 @item
11972 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
11973 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
11974 @end itemize
11975
11976 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
11977 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
11978
11979 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
11980 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
11981
11982 @node M2 Scope
11983 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11984 @cindex scope
11985 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
11986 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
11987 @ifinfo
11988 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
11989 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
11990 @end ifinfo
11991 @ifnotinfo
11992 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
11993 @end ifnotinfo
11994
11995 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
11996 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
11997 similar syntax:
11998
11999 @smallexample
12000
12001 @var{module} . @var{id}
12002 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12003 @end smallexample
12004
12005 @noindent
12006 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12007 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12008 identifier within your program, except another module.
12009
12010 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12011 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12012 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12013 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12014
12015 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12016 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12017 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12018 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12019 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12020 @var{module}.
12021
12022 @node GDB/M2
12023 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12024
12025 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12026 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12027 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12028 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12029 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12030 analogue in Modula-2.
12031
12032 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12033 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12034 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12035 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12036 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12037 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12038
12039 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12040 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12041 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12042
12043 @node Ada
12044 @subsection Ada
12045 @cindex Ada
12046
12047 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12048 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12049 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12050 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12051 to be difficult.
12052
12053
12054 @cindex expressions in Ada
12055 @menu
12056 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12057 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12058 in @value{GDBN}.
12059 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12060 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12061 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12062 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12063 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12064 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12065 @end menu
12066
12067 @node Ada Mode Intro
12068 @subsubsection Introduction
12069 @cindex Ada mode, general
12070
12071 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12072 syntax, with some extensions.
12073 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12074
12075 @itemize @bullet
12076 @item
12077 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12078 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12079 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12080 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12081
12082 @item
12083 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12084 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12085
12086 @item
12087 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12088 @end itemize
12089
12090 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12091 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12092 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12093 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12094 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12095
12096 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12097 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12098 was translated from an Ada source file.
12099
12100 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12101 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12102 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12103 middle (to allow based literals).
12104
12105 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12106 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12107 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12108 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12109 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12110 functions to procedures elsewhere.
12111
12112 @node Omissions from Ada
12113 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12114 @cindex Ada, omissions from
12115
12116 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12117
12118 @itemize @bullet
12119 @item
12120 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12121
12122 @itemize @minus
12123 @item
12124 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12125 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12126
12127 @item
12128 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12129
12130 @item
12131 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12132
12133 @item
12134 @t{'Tag}.
12135
12136 @item
12137 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12138 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12139
12140 @item
12141 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12142 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12143
12144 @item
12145 @t{'Address}.
12146 @end itemize
12147
12148 @item
12149 The names in
12150 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12151 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12152 not currently available.
12153
12154 @item
12155 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12156 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12157 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12158 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12159 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12160 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12161 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12162 indeterminate values.
12163
12164 @item
12165 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12166 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12167 are not implemented.
12168
12169 @item
12170 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12171 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12172 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
12173 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12174 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12175
12176 @smallexample
12177 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12178 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12179 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12180 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12181 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12182 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12183 @end smallexample
12184
12185 Changing a
12186 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12187 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12188 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12189 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12190 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12191 declared to have a type such as:
12192
12193 @smallexample
12194 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12195 Id : Integer;
12196 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12197 end record;
12198 @end smallexample
12199
12200 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12201 assignments:
12202
12203 @smallexample
12204 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12205 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12206 @end smallexample
12207
12208 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12209 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12210 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12211 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12212 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12213 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12214 redundant component associations, although which component values are
12215 assigned in such cases is not defined.
12216
12217 @item
12218 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12219
12220 @item
12221 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12222 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12223 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12224 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12225 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12226 the proper resolution.
12227
12228 @item
12229 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12230
12231 @item
12232 Entry calls are not implemented.
12233
12234 @item
12235 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12236 formats are not supported.
12237
12238 @item
12239 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12240
12241 @item
12242 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12243 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12244 context.
12245 Should your program
12246 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12247 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12248 @end itemize
12249
12250 @node Additions to Ada
12251 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
12252 @cindex Ada, deviations from
12253
12254 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12255 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12256
12257 @itemize @bullet
12258 @item
12259 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12260 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12261 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12262 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12263 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12264 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12265 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12266 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12267
12268 @item
12269 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12270 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12271 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12272
12273 @item
12274 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12275 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12276
12277 @item
12278 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12279 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12280 @end itemize
12281
12282 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12283 additions specific to Ada:
12284
12285 @itemize @bullet
12286 @item
12287 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12288 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12289
12290 @smallexample
12291 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12292 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12293 @end smallexample
12294
12295 @item
12296 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12297 the value of its right-hand operand.
12298 This allows, for example,
12299 complex conditional breaks:
12300
12301 @smallexample
12302 (@value{GDBP}) break f
12303 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12304 @end smallexample
12305
12306 @item
12307 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12308 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12309 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12310 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12311 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12312 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12313 in strings. For example,
12314 @smallexample
12315 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12316 @end smallexample
12317 @noindent
12318 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12319 after each period.
12320
12321 @item
12322 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12323 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12324 to write
12325
12326 @smallexample
12327 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12328 @end smallexample
12329
12330 @item
12331 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12332 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12333 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12334 of 3 might print as
12335
12336 @smallexample
12337 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
12338 @end smallexample
12339
12340 @noindent
12341 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12342 clause.
12343
12344 @item
12345 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12346 multi-character subsequence of
12347 their names (an exact match gets preference).
12348 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12349 in place of @t{a'length}.
12350
12351 @item
12352 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12353 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12354 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12355 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12356 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12357 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12358 For example,
12359 @smallexample
12360 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12361 @end smallexample
12362
12363 @item
12364 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12365 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12366 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12367 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12368 object.
12369
12370 @end itemize
12371
12372 @node Stopping Before Main Program
12373 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12374
12375 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12376 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12377 before reaching the main procedure.
12378 As defined in the Ada Reference
12379 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12380 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12381 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12382 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12383
12384 @node Ada Tasks
12385 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12386 @cindex Ada, tasking
12387
12388 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12389 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12390
12391 @table @code
12392 @kindex info tasks
12393 @item info tasks
12394 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12395
12396
12397 @smallexample
12398 @iftex
12399 @leftskip=0.5cm
12400 @end iftex
12401 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12402 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12403 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12404 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12405 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12406 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12407
12408 @end smallexample
12409
12410 @noindent
12411 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12412 task currently being inspected.
12413
12414 @table @asis
12415 @item ID
12416 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12417
12418 @item TID
12419 The Ada task ID.
12420
12421 @item P-ID
12422 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12423
12424 @item Pri
12425 The base priority of the task.
12426
12427 @item State
12428 Current state of the task.
12429
12430 @table @code
12431 @item Unactivated
12432 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12433 executing.
12434
12435 @item Runnable
12436 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12437 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
12438
12439 @item Terminated
12440 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
12441 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
12442 terminated themselves.
12443
12444 @item Child Activation Wait
12445 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
12446
12447 @item Accept Statement
12448 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
12449
12450 @item Waiting on entry call
12451 The task is waiting on an entry call.
12452
12453 @item Async Select Wait
12454 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
12455 select statement.
12456
12457 @item Delay Sleep
12458 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
12459 alternative open.
12460
12461 @item Child Termination Wait
12462 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
12463 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
12464 waiting on a terminate Phase.
12465
12466 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
12467 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
12468 finish terminating.
12469
12470 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
12471 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
12472 @end table
12473
12474 @item Name
12475 Name of the task in the program.
12476
12477 @end table
12478
12479 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
12480 @item info task @var{taskno}
12481 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
12482 the following example:
12483 @smallexample
12484 @iftex
12485 @leftskip=0.5cm
12486 @end iftex
12487 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12488 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12489 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12490 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
12491 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
12492 Ada Task: 0x807c468
12493 Name: task_1
12494 Thread: 0x807f378
12495 Parent: 1 (main_task)
12496 Base Priority: 15
12497 State: Runnable
12498 @end smallexample
12499
12500 @item task
12501 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
12502 @cindex current Ada task ID
12503 This command prints the ID of the current task.
12504
12505 @smallexample
12506 @iftex
12507 @leftskip=0.5cm
12508 @end iftex
12509 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12510 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12511 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12512 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12513 (@value{GDBP}) task
12514 [Current task is 2]
12515 @end smallexample
12516
12517 @item task @var{taskno}
12518 @cindex Ada task switching
12519 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
12520 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
12521 from the current task to the given task.
12522
12523 @smallexample
12524 @iftex
12525 @leftskip=0.5cm
12526 @end iftex
12527 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12528 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12529 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12530 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12531 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
12532 [Switching to task 1]
12533 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12534 (@value{GDBP}) bt
12535 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12536 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
12537 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
12538 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
12539 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
12540 @end smallexample
12541
12542 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
12543 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
12544 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
12545 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
12546 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
12547 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
12548 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
12549 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
12550 in @ref{Specify Location}.
12551
12552 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
12553 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
12554 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
12555 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
12556 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
12557
12558 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
12559 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
12560 program.
12561
12562 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
12563 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
12564 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
12565
12566 For example,
12567
12568 @smallexample
12569 @iftex
12570 @leftskip=0.5cm
12571 @end iftex
12572 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12573 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12574 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12575 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
12576 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12577 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
12578 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
12579 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
12580 (@value{GDBP}) cont
12581 Continuing.
12582 task # 1 running
12583 task # 2 running
12584
12585 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
12586 15 flush;
12587 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12588 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12589 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12590 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
12591 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12592 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
12593 @end smallexample
12594 @end table
12595
12596 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
12597 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12598 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
12599
12600 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
12601 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
12602 the platform being used.
12603 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
12604 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
12605 as usual.
12606
12607 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
12608 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
12609 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
12610 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
12611 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
12612 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
12613
12614 @node Ada Glitches
12615 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
12616 @cindex Ada, problems
12617
12618 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
12619 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
12620 @value{GDBN},
12621 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
12622 and the GNU Ada compiler.
12623
12624 @itemize @bullet
12625 @item
12626 Currently, the debugger
12627 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
12628 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
12629 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
12630 to get it printed properly.
12631
12632 @item
12633 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
12634 storage are invisible to the debugger.
12635
12636 @item
12637 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
12638 argument lists are treated as positional).
12639
12640 @item
12641 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
12642
12643 @item
12644 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
12645 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
12646 the host machine.
12647
12648 @item
12649 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
12650 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
12651 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
12652 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
12653 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
12654 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
12655 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
12656 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
12657 you can usually resolve the confusion
12658 by qualifying the problematic names with package
12659 @code{Standard} explicitly.
12660 @end itemize
12661
12662 @node Unsupported Languages
12663 @section Unsupported Languages
12664
12665 @cindex unsupported languages
12666 @cindex minimal language
12667 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
12668 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
12669 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
12670 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
12671 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
12672 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
12673
12674 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
12675 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
12676 language.
12677
12678 @node Symbols
12679 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
12680
12681 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
12682 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
12683 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
12684 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
12685 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
12686 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
12687 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
12688
12689 @cindex symbol names
12690 @cindex names of symbols
12691 @cindex quoting names
12692 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
12693 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
12694 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
12695 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
12696 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
12697 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
12698 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
12699 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
12700
12701 @smallexample
12702 p 'foo.c'::x
12703 @end smallexample
12704
12705 @noindent
12706 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
12707
12708 @table @code
12709 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
12710 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
12711 @kindex set case-sensitive
12712 @item set case-sensitive on
12713 @itemx set case-sensitive off
12714 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
12715 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
12716 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
12717 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
12718 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
12719 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
12720 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
12721 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
12722 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
12723 case-insensitive matches.
12724
12725 @kindex show case-sensitive
12726 @item show case-sensitive
12727 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
12728 lookups.
12729
12730 @kindex info address
12731 @cindex address of a symbol
12732 @item info address @var{symbol}
12733 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
12734 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
12735 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
12736 is always stored.
12737
12738 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
12739 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
12740 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
12741
12742 @kindex info symbol
12743 @cindex symbol from address
12744 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
12745 @item info symbol @var{addr}
12746 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
12747 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
12748 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
12749
12750 @smallexample
12751 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
12752 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
12753 @end smallexample
12754
12755 @noindent
12756 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
12757 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
12758
12759 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
12760 library containing the symbol is also printed:
12761
12762 @smallexample
12763 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
12764 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
12765 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
12766 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
12767 @end smallexample
12768
12769 @kindex whatis
12770 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
12771 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
12772 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
12773 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
12774 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
12775 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
12776 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
12777 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
12778 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
12779 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
12780 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12781
12782 @kindex ptype
12783 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
12784 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
12785 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
12786 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12787
12788 For example, for this variable declaration:
12789
12790 @smallexample
12791 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
12792 @end smallexample
12793
12794 @noindent
12795 the two commands give this output:
12796
12797 @smallexample
12798 @group
12799 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
12800 type = struct complex
12801 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
12802 type = struct complex @{
12803 double real;
12804 double imag;
12805 @}
12806 @end group
12807 @end smallexample
12808
12809 @noindent
12810 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
12811 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
12812
12813 @cindex incomplete type
12814 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
12815 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
12816 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
12817 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
12818 given these declarations:
12819
12820 @smallexample
12821 struct foo;
12822 struct foo *fooptr;
12823 @end smallexample
12824
12825 @noindent
12826 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
12827
12828 @smallexample
12829 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
12830 $1 = <incomplete type>
12831 @end smallexample
12832
12833 @noindent
12834 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
12835 completely specified.
12836
12837 @kindex info types
12838 @item info types @var{regexp}
12839 @itemx info types
12840 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
12841 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
12842 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
12843 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
12844 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
12845 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
12846 name is @code{value}.
12847
12848 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
12849 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
12850 lists all source files where a type is defined.
12851
12852 @kindex info scope
12853 @cindex local variables
12854 @item info scope @var{location}
12855 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
12856 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
12857 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
12858 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
12859 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
12860
12861 @smallexample
12862 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
12863 Scope for command_line_handler:
12864 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
12865 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
12866 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
12867 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
12868 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
12869 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
12870 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
12871 @end smallexample
12872
12873 @noindent
12874 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
12875 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
12876 collect}.
12877
12878 @kindex info source
12879 @item info source
12880 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
12881 the function containing the current point of execution:
12882 @itemize @bullet
12883 @item
12884 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
12885 @item
12886 the directory it was compiled in,
12887 @item
12888 its length, in lines,
12889 @item
12890 which programming language it is written in,
12891 @item
12892 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
12893 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
12894 @item
12895 whether the debugging information includes information about
12896 preprocessor macros.
12897 @end itemize
12898
12899
12900 @kindex info sources
12901 @item info sources
12902 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
12903 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
12904 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
12905
12906 @kindex info functions
12907 @item info functions
12908 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
12909
12910 @item info functions @var{regexp}
12911 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
12912 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
12913 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
12914 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
12915 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
12916 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
12917 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
12918
12919 @kindex info variables
12920 @item info variables
12921 Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
12922 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
12923
12924 @item info variables @var{regexp}
12925 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
12926 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
12927 @var{regexp}.
12928
12929 @kindex info classes
12930 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
12931 @item info classes
12932 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
12933 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
12934 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12935 expression.
12936
12937 @kindex info selectors
12938 @item info selectors
12939 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
12940 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
12941 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12942 expression.
12943
12944 @ignore
12945 This was never implemented.
12946 @kindex info methods
12947 @item info methods
12948 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
12949 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
12950 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
12951 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
12952 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
12953 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
12954 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
12955 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
12956 @end ignore
12957
12958 @cindex reloading symbols
12959 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
12960 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
12961 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
12962 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
12963 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
12964
12965 @table @code
12966 @kindex set symbol-reloading
12967 @item set symbol-reloading on
12968 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
12969 object file with a particular name is seen again.
12970
12971 @item set symbol-reloading off
12972 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
12973 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
12974 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
12975 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
12976 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
12977 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
12978 name.
12979
12980 @kindex show symbol-reloading
12981 @item show symbol-reloading
12982 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
12983 @end table
12984
12985 @cindex opaque data types
12986 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
12987 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
12988 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
12989 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
12990 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
12991 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
12992 another source file. The default is on.
12993
12994 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
12995 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
12996
12997 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
12998 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
12999 is printed as follows:
13000 @smallexample
13001 @{<no data fields>@}
13002 @end smallexample
13003
13004 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13005 @item show opaque-type-resolution
13006 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13007
13008 @kindex maint print symbols
13009 @cindex symbol dump
13010 @kindex maint print psymbols
13011 @cindex partial symbol dump
13012 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13013 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13014 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13015 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13016 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13017 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13018 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13019 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13020 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13021 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13022 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13023 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13024 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13025 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13026 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13027 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13028 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13029
13030 @kindex maint info symtabs
13031 @kindex maint info psymtabs
13032 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13033 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13034 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13035 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13036 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13037 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13038
13039 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13040 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13041 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13042 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13043 structure in more detail. For example:
13044
13045 @smallexample
13046 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13047 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13048 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13049 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13050 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13051 readin no
13052 fullname (null)
13053 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13054 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13055 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13056 dependencies (none)
13057 @}
13058 @}
13059 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13060 (@value{GDBP})
13061 @end smallexample
13062 @noindent
13063 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13064 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13065 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13066 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13067 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13068
13069 @smallexample
13070 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13071 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13072 line 1574.
13073 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13074 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13075 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13076 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13077 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13078 dirname (null)
13079 fullname (null)
13080 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13081 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13082 debugformat DWARF 2
13083 @}
13084 @}
13085 (@value{GDBP})
13086 @end smallexample
13087 @end table
13088
13089
13090 @node Altering
13091 @chapter Altering Execution
13092
13093 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13094 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13095 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13096 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13097 program.
13098
13099 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13100 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13101 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13102
13103 @menu
13104 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13105 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13106 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13107 * Returning:: Returning from a function
13108 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13109 * Patching:: Patching your program
13110 @end menu
13111
13112 @node Assignment
13113 @section Assignment to Variables
13114
13115 @cindex assignment
13116 @cindex setting variables
13117 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13118 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13119
13120 @smallexample
13121 print x=4
13122 @end smallexample
13123
13124 @noindent
13125 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13126 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13127 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13128 information on operators in supported languages.
13129
13130 @kindex set variable
13131 @cindex variables, setting
13132 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13133 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13134 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13135 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13136 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13137
13138 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13139 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13140 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13141 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13142 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13143 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13144 command @code{set width}:
13145
13146 @smallexample
13147 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13148 type = double
13149 (@value{GDBP}) p width
13150 $4 = 13
13151 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13152 Invalid syntax in expression.
13153 @end smallexample
13154
13155 @noindent
13156 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13157 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13158
13159 @smallexample
13160 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13161 @end smallexample
13162
13163 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13164 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13165 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13166 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13167 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13168 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13169
13170 @smallexample
13171 @group
13172 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13173 type = double
13174 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13175 $1 = 1
13176 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13177 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13178 $2 = 1
13179 (@value{GDBP}) r
13180 The program being debugged has been started already.
13181 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13182 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13183 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13184 Invalid bfd target.
13185 (@value{GDBP}) show g
13186 The current BFD target is "=4".
13187 @end group
13188 @end smallexample
13189
13190 @noindent
13191 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13192 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13193 @code{g}, use
13194
13195 @smallexample
13196 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13197 @end smallexample
13198
13199 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13200 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13201 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13202 same length or shorter.
13203 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13204 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
13205
13206 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13207 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13208 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13209 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13210 and representation in memory), and
13211
13212 @smallexample
13213 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13214 @end smallexample
13215
13216 @noindent
13217 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13218
13219 @node Jumping
13220 @section Continuing at a Different Address
13221
13222 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13223 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13224 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13225
13226 @table @code
13227 @kindex jump
13228 @item jump @var{linespec}
13229 @itemx jump @var{location}
13230 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13231 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13232 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13233 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13234 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13235 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13236
13237 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13238 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13239 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13240 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13241 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13242 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13243 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13244 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13245 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13246 @end table
13247
13248 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13249 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13250 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13251 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13252 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13253 example,
13254
13255 @smallexample
13256 set $pc = 0x485
13257 @end smallexample
13258
13259 @noindent
13260 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13261 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13262 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13263
13264 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13265 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13266 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13267 detail.
13268
13269 @c @group
13270 @node Signaling
13271 @section Giving your Program a Signal
13272 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
13273
13274 @table @code
13275 @kindex signal
13276 @item signal @var{signal}
13277 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13278 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13279 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13280 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13281
13282 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13283 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13284 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13285 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13286 signal.
13287
13288 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13289 after executing the command.
13290 @end table
13291 @c @end group
13292
13293 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13294 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13295 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13296 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13297 passes the signal directly to your program.
13298
13299
13300 @node Returning
13301 @section Returning from a Function
13302
13303 @table @code
13304 @cindex returning from a function
13305 @kindex return
13306 @item return
13307 @itemx return @var{expression}
13308 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13309 command. If you give an
13310 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13311 value.
13312 @end table
13313
13314 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13315 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13316 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13317 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13318
13319 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13320 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13321 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13322 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13323 of functions.
13324
13325 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13326 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13327 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13328 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13329 selected stack frame returns naturally.
13330
13331 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13332 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13333 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13334 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13335 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13336 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13337 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13338 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13339 assignment into the right register(s).
13340
13341 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13342 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13343 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13344 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13345 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13346 into a @code{long long int}:
13347
13348 @smallexample
13349 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
13350 29 return 31;
13351 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13352 Make func return now? (y or n) y
13353 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
13354 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13355 (@value{GDBP})
13356 @end smallexample
13357
13358 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13359 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13360 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13361 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13362 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13363 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13364 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13365 an appropriate cast explicitly:
13366
13367 @smallexample
13368 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13369 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13370 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13371 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13372 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13373 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13374 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
13375 (@value{GDBP})
13376 @end smallexample
13377
13378 @node Calling
13379 @section Calling Program Functions
13380
13381 @table @code
13382 @cindex calling functions
13383 @cindex inferior functions, calling
13384 @item print @var{expr}
13385 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13386 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13387 debugged.
13388
13389 @kindex call
13390 @item call @var{expr}
13391 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13392 returned values.
13393
13394 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13395 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13396 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13397 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13398 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13399 value history.
13400 @end table
13401
13402 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13403 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13404 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13405 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13406
13407 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13408 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13409 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
13410 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
13411 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
13412 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
13413 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
13414 in that case is controlled by the
13415 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
13416
13417 @table @code
13418 @item set unwindonsignal
13419 @kindex set unwindonsignal
13420 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
13421 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
13422 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
13423 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
13424 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
13425 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
13426 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
13427 received.
13428
13429 @item show unwindonsignal
13430 @kindex show unwindonsignal
13431 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13432 @value{GDBN}.
13433
13434 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13435 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13436 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
13437 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
13438 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
13439 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
13440 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
13441 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
13442 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
13443 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
13444
13445 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13446 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13447 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13448 @value{GDBN}.
13449
13450 @end table
13451
13452 @cindex weak alias functions
13453 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
13454 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
13455 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
13456 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
13457 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
13458 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
13459 function instead.
13460
13461 @node Patching
13462 @section Patching Programs
13463
13464 @cindex patching binaries
13465 @cindex writing into executables
13466 @cindex writing into corefiles
13467
13468 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
13469 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
13470 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
13471 patching your program's binary.
13472
13473 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
13474 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
13475 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
13476 repairs.
13477
13478 @table @code
13479 @kindex set write
13480 @item set write on
13481 @itemx set write off
13482 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
13483 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
13484 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
13485
13486 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
13487 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
13488 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
13489
13490 @item show write
13491 @kindex show write
13492 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
13493 as well as reading.
13494 @end table
13495
13496 @node GDB Files
13497 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
13498
13499 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
13500 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
13501 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
13502 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
13503
13504 @menu
13505 * Files:: Commands to specify files
13506 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
13507 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
13508 * Data Files:: GDB data files
13509 @end menu
13510
13511 @node Files
13512 @section Commands to Specify Files
13513
13514 @cindex symbol table
13515 @cindex core dump file
13516
13517 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
13518 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
13519 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
13520 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
13521
13522 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
13523 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
13524 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
13525 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
13526 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
13527 new files are useful.
13528
13529 @table @code
13530 @cindex executable file
13531 @kindex file
13532 @item file @var{filename}
13533 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
13534 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
13535 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
13536 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
13537 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
13538 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
13539 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
13540 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
13541
13542 @cindex unlinked object files
13543 @cindex patching object files
13544 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
13545 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
13546 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
13547 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
13548 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
13549 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
13550 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
13551 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
13552
13553 @item file
13554 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
13555 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
13556
13557 @kindex exec-file
13558 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13559 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
13560 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
13561 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
13562 discard information on the executable file.
13563
13564 @kindex symbol-file
13565 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13566 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
13567 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
13568 table and program to run from the same file.
13569
13570 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
13571 program's symbol table.
13572
13573 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
13574 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
13575 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
13576 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
13577 @value{GDBN}.
13578
13579 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
13580 executing it once.
13581
13582 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
13583 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
13584 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
13585 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
13586 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
13587 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
13588 optimized code.
13589
13590 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
13591 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
13592 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
13593 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
13594 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
13595
13596 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
13597 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
13598 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
13599 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
13600 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
13601 Warnings and Messages}.)
13602
13603 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
13604 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
13605 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
13606 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
13607 in stabs format.
13608
13609 @kindex readnow
13610 @cindex reading symbols immediately
13611 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
13612 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13613 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13614 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
13615 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
13616 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
13617 entire symbol table available.
13618
13619 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
13620 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
13621 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
13622 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
13623 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
13624 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
13625 @c files.
13626
13627 @kindex core-file
13628 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
13629 @itemx core
13630 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
13631 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
13632 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
13633 executable file itself for other parts.
13634
13635 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
13636 to be used.
13637
13638 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
13639 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
13640 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
13641 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
13642 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
13643
13644 @kindex add-symbol-file
13645 @cindex dynamic linking
13646 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
13647 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13648 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
13649 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
13650 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
13651 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
13652 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
13653 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
13654 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
13655 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
13656 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
13657 @var{address} as an expression.
13658
13659 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
13660 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
13661 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
13662 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
13663 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
13664
13665 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
13666 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
13667 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
13668 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
13669 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
13670 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
13671 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
13672 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
13673 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
13674
13675 @itemize @bullet
13676 @item
13677 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
13678 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
13679 @item
13680 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
13681 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
13682 @item
13683 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
13684 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
13685 @end itemize
13686
13687 @noindent
13688 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
13689 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
13690 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
13691 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
13692 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
13693 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
13694 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
13695 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
13696 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
13697 way.
13698
13699 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
13700
13701 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
13702 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
13703 @cindex load symbols from memory
13704 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
13705 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
13706 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
13707 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
13708 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
13709 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
13710 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
13711 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
13712 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
13713
13714 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
13715 @kindex assf
13716 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
13717 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
13718 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
13719 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
13720 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
13721 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
13722 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
13723 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
13724 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
13725 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
13726
13727 @kindex section
13728 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
13729 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
13730 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
13731 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
13732 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
13733 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
13734 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
13735 their addresses.
13736
13737 @kindex info files
13738 @kindex info target
13739 @item info files
13740 @itemx info target
13741 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
13742 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
13743 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
13744 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
13745 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
13746 current ones.
13747
13748 @kindex maint info sections
13749 @item maint info sections
13750 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
13751 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
13752 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
13753 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
13754 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
13755 may be arbitrarily combined):
13756
13757 @table @code
13758 @item ALLOBJ
13759 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
13760 @item @var{sections}
13761 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
13762 @item @var{section-flags}
13763 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
13764 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
13765 @table @code
13766 @item ALLOC
13767 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
13768 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
13769 @item LOAD
13770 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
13771 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
13772 @item RELOC
13773 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
13774 @item READONLY
13775 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
13776 @item CODE
13777 Section contains executable code only.
13778 @item DATA
13779 Section contains data only (no executable code).
13780 @item ROM
13781 Section will reside in ROM.
13782 @item CONSTRUCTOR
13783 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
13784 @item HAS_CONTENTS
13785 Section is not empty.
13786 @item NEVER_LOAD
13787 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
13788 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
13789 A notification to the linker that the section contains
13790 COFF shared library information.
13791 @item IS_COMMON
13792 Section contains common symbols.
13793 @end table
13794 @end table
13795 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
13796 @cindex read-only sections
13797 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
13798 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
13799 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
13800 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
13801 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
13802 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
13803 enhancement to debugging performance.
13804
13805 The default is off.
13806
13807 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
13808 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
13809 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
13810 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
13811
13812 @item show trust-readonly-sections
13813 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
13814 @end table
13815
13816 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
13817 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
13818 name and remembers it that way.
13819
13820 @cindex shared libraries
13821 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
13822 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
13823 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
13824
13825 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
13826 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
13827
13828 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
13829 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
13830 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
13831 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
13832 debugging a core file).
13833
13834 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
13835 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
13836
13837 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
13838 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
13839 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
13840
13841 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
13842 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
13843 particularly large or there are many of them.
13844
13845 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
13846 commands:
13847
13848 @table @code
13849 @kindex set auto-solib-add
13850 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
13851 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
13852 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
13853 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
13854 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
13855 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
13856 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
13857
13858 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
13859 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
13860 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
13861 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
13862 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
13863 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
13864 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
13865 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
13866 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
13867
13868 @kindex show auto-solib-add
13869 @item show auto-solib-add
13870 Display the current autoloading mode.
13871 @end table
13872
13873 @cindex load shared library
13874 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
13875 command:
13876
13877 @table @code
13878 @kindex info sharedlibrary
13879 @kindex info share
13880 @item info share @var{regex}
13881 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13882 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
13883 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
13884 all shared libraries that are loaded.
13885
13886 @kindex sharedlibrary
13887 @kindex share
13888 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13889 @itemx share @var{regex}
13890 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
13891 Unix regular expression.
13892 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
13893 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
13894 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
13895 loaded.
13896
13897 @item nosharedlibrary
13898 @kindex nosharedlibrary
13899 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
13900 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
13901 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
13902 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
13903 discarded.
13904 @end table
13905
13906 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
13907 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
13908 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
13909
13910 @table @code
13911 @item set stop-on-solib-events
13912 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
13913 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
13914 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
13915 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
13916 shared library.
13917
13918 @item show stop-on-solib-events
13919 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
13920 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
13921 library events happen.
13922 @end table
13923
13924 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
13925 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
13926 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
13927 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
13928 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
13929 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
13930 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
13931 not.
13932
13933 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
13934 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
13935 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
13936 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
13937 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
13938
13939 @table @code
13940 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
13941 @cindex system root, alternate
13942 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
13943 @kindex set sysroot
13944 @item set sysroot @var{path}
13945 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
13946 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
13947 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
13948 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
13949 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
13950 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
13951 under @var{path}.
13952
13953 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
13954 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
13955 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
13956 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
13957 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
13958 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
13959 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
13960 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
13961 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
13962
13963 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
13964 sysroot}.
13965
13966 @cindex default system root
13967 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
13968 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
13969 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
13970 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
13971 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
13972 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
13973 location.
13974
13975 @kindex show sysroot
13976 @item show sysroot
13977 Display the current shared library prefix.
13978
13979 @kindex set solib-search-path
13980 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
13981 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
13982 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
13983 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
13984 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
13985 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
13986 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
13987 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
13988 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
13989 of shared library symbols.
13990
13991 @kindex show solib-search-path
13992 @item show solib-search-path
13993 Display the current shared library search path.
13994 @end table
13995
13996
13997 @node Separate Debug Files
13998 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
13999 @cindex separate debugging information files
14000 @cindex debugging information in separate files
14001 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14002 @cindex debugging information directory, global
14003 @cindex global debugging information directory
14004 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14005 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14006
14007 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14008 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14009 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14010 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14011 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14012 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14013 install only when they need to debug a problem.
14014
14015 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14016 file:
14017
14018 @itemize @bullet
14019 @item
14020 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14021 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14022 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14023 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14024 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14025 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14026 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14027 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14028
14029 @item
14030 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14031 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14032 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14033 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14034 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14035 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14036 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14037 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14038 below.
14039 @end itemize
14040
14041 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14042 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14043
14044 @itemize @bullet
14045 @item
14046 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14047 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14048 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14049 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14050 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14051
14052 @item
14053 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14054 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14055 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14056 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14057 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14058 hex characters, not 10.)
14059 @end itemize
14060
14061 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14062 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14063 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14064 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14065 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14066 debug information files, in the indicated order:
14067
14068 @itemize @minus
14069 @item
14070 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14071 @item
14072 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14073 @item
14074 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14075 @item
14076 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14077 @end itemize
14078
14079 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14080 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14081
14082 @table @code
14083
14084 @kindex set debug-file-directory
14085 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directory}
14086 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14087 information files to @var{directory}.
14088
14089 @kindex show debug-file-directory
14090 @item show debug-file-directory
14091 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14092 information files.
14093
14094 @end table
14095
14096 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14097 @cindex debug link sections
14098 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14099 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14100
14101 @itemize
14102 @item
14103 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14104 a zero byte,
14105 @item
14106 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14107 boundary within the section, and
14108 @item
14109 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14110 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14111 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14112 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14113 @end itemize
14114
14115 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14116 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14117 described above.
14118
14119 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14120 @cindex build ID sections
14121 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14122 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14123 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14124 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14125 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14126 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14127 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14128 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14129 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14130
14131 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14132 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14133 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14134 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14135 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14136 in an ordinary executable.
14137
14138 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14139 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14140 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14141 following commands:
14142
14143 @smallexample
14144 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14145 @kbd{strip -g foo}
14146 @end smallexample
14147
14148 @noindent
14149 These commands remove the debugging
14150 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14151 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14152 two files:
14153
14154 @itemize @bullet
14155 @item
14156 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14157 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14158
14159 @smallexample
14160 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14161 @end smallexample
14162
14163 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14164 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14165 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14166 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14167
14168 @item
14169 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14170 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14171 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14172 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14173 @end itemize
14174
14175 @noindent
14176
14177 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
14178 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14179 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14180
14181 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14182 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14183 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14184 @c different ways!
14185 @ifhtml
14186 @display
14187 @html
14188 <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>
14189 + <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
14190 @end html
14191 @end display
14192 @end ifhtml
14193 @ifnothtml
14194 @display
14195 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14196 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14197 @end display
14198 @end ifnothtml
14199
14200 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14201 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14202 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14203 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14204 CRC.
14205
14206 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14207 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14208 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14209 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14210 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14211 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14212
14213 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14214 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14215 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14216 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14217 @code{0xffffffff}.
14218
14219 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14220 @smallexample
14221 unsigned long
14222 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14223 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14224 @{
14225 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14226 @{
14227 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14228 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14229 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14230 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14231 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14232 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14233 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14234 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14235 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14236 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14237 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14238 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14239 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14240 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14241 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14242 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14243 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14244 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14245 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14246 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14247 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14248 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14249 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14250 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14251 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14252 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14253 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14254 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14255 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14256 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14257 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14258 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14259 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14260 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14261 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14262 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14263 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14264 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14265 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14266 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14267 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14268 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14269 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14270 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14271 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14272 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14273 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14274 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14275 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14276 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14277 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14278 0x2d02ef8d
14279 @};
14280 unsigned char *end;
14281
14282 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14283 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14284 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
14285 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14286 @}
14287 @end smallexample
14288
14289 @noindent
14290 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
14291
14292
14293 @node Symbol Errors
14294 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
14295
14296 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
14297 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
14298 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
14299 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
14300 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
14301 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
14302 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
14303 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
14304 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
14305 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14306 Messages}).
14307
14308 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
14309
14310 @table @code
14311 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
14312
14313 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
14314 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
14315 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
14316 in its outer scope blocks.
14317
14318 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
14319 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
14320 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
14321 function.
14322
14323 @item block at @var{address} out of order
14324
14325 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
14326 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
14327 do so.
14328
14329 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
14330 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
14331 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
14332 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14333 Messages}.)
14334
14335 @item bad block start address patched
14336
14337 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
14338 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
14339 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
14340
14341 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
14342 starting on the previous source line.
14343
14344 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
14345
14346 @cindex foo
14347 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
14348 larger than the size of the string table.
14349
14350 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
14351 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
14352 with this name.
14353
14354 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
14355
14356 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
14357 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
14358 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
14359
14360 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
14361 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
14362 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
14363 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
14364 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
14365 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
14366
14367 @item stub type has NULL name
14368
14369 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
14370
14371 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
14372 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
14373 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
14374 it.
14375
14376 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
14377
14378 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
14379
14380 @end table
14381
14382 @node Data Files
14383 @section GDB Data Files
14384
14385 @cindex prefix for data files
14386 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
14387 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
14388
14389 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
14390 is currently using.
14391
14392 @table @code
14393 @kindex set data-directory
14394 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
14395 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
14396 to @var{directory}.
14397
14398 @kindex show data-directory
14399 @item show data-directory
14400 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
14401 @end table
14402
14403 @cindex default data directory
14404 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
14405 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
14406 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
14407 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14408 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
14409 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14410 location.
14411
14412 @node Targets
14413 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
14414
14415 @cindex debugging target
14416 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
14417
14418 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
14419 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
14420 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
14421 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
14422 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
14423 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
14424 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
14425 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
14426
14427 @cindex target architecture
14428 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
14429 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
14430 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
14431 command.
14432
14433 @table @code
14434 @kindex set architecture
14435 @kindex show architecture
14436 @item set architecture @var{arch}
14437 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
14438 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
14439 supported architectures.
14440
14441 @item show architecture
14442 Show the current target architecture.
14443
14444 @item set processor
14445 @itemx processor
14446 @kindex set processor
14447 @kindex show processor
14448 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
14449 and @code{show architecture}.
14450 @end table
14451
14452 @menu
14453 * Active Targets:: Active targets
14454 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
14455 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
14456 @end menu
14457
14458 @node Active Targets
14459 @section Active Targets
14460
14461 @cindex stacking targets
14462 @cindex active targets
14463 @cindex multiple targets
14464
14465 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
14466 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
14467 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
14468 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
14469 a core file.
14470
14471 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
14472 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
14473 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
14474 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
14475 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
14476 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
14477 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
14478 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
14479 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
14480
14481 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
14482 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
14483 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
14484 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
14485 process target is active.
14486
14487 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
14488 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
14489 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
14490 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
14491 Process}).
14492
14493 @node Target Commands
14494 @section Commands for Managing Targets
14495
14496 @table @code
14497 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
14498 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
14499 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
14500 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
14501 protocol of the target machine.
14502
14503 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
14504 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
14505 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
14506
14507 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
14508 after executing the command.
14509
14510 @kindex help target
14511 @item help target
14512 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
14513 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
14514 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14515
14516 @item help target @var{name}
14517 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
14518 select it.
14519
14520 @kindex set gnutarget
14521 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
14522 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
14523 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
14524 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
14525 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
14526 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
14527
14528 @quotation
14529 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
14530 you must know the actual BFD name.
14531 @end quotation
14532
14533 @noindent
14534 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
14535
14536 @kindex show gnutarget
14537 @item show gnutarget
14538 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
14539 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
14540 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
14541 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
14542 @end table
14543
14544 @cindex common targets
14545 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
14546 configuration):
14547
14548 @table @code
14549 @kindex target
14550 @item target exec @var{program}
14551 @cindex executable file target
14552 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
14553 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
14554
14555 @item target core @var{filename}
14556 @cindex core dump file target
14557 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
14558 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
14559
14560 @item target remote @var{medium}
14561 @cindex remote target
14562 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
14563 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
14564 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
14565
14566 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
14567 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
14568
14569 @smallexample
14570 target remote /dev/ttya
14571 @end smallexample
14572
14573 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
14574 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
14575 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
14576 clobbered by the download.
14577
14578 @item target sim
14579 @cindex built-in simulator target
14580 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
14581 In general,
14582 @smallexample
14583 target sim
14584 load
14585 run
14586 @end smallexample
14587 @noindent
14588 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
14589 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
14590 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
14591 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
14592 Processors}.
14593
14594 @end table
14595
14596 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
14597
14598 @table @code
14599
14600 @item target nrom @var{dev}
14601 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
14602 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
14603
14604 @end table
14605
14606 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
14607 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
14608
14609 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
14610 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
14611 various aspects of this process.
14612
14613 @table @code
14614
14615 @item set hash
14616 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14617 @cindex hash mark while downloading
14618 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
14619 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
14620 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
14621 monitor.
14622
14623 @item show hash
14624 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14625 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
14626
14627 @item set debug monitor
14628 @kindex set debug monitor
14629 @cindex display remote monitor communications
14630 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
14631 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14632
14633 @item show debug monitor
14634 @kindex show debug monitor
14635 Show the current status of displaying communications between
14636 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14637 @end table
14638
14639 @table @code
14640
14641 @kindex load @var{filename}
14642 @item load @var{filename}
14643 @anchor{load}
14644 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
14645 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
14646 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
14647 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
14648 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
14649 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14650
14651 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
14652 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
14653 target is @dots{}}''
14654
14655 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
14656 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
14657 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
14658 specifies a fixed address.
14659 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
14660
14661 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
14662 load programs into flash memory.
14663
14664 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
14665 @end table
14666
14667 @node Byte Order
14668 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
14669
14670 @cindex choosing target byte order
14671 @cindex target byte order
14672
14673 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
14674 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
14675 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
14676 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
14677 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
14678 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
14679
14680 @table @code
14681 @kindex set endian
14682 @item set endian big
14683 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
14684
14685 @item set endian little
14686 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
14687
14688 @item set endian auto
14689 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
14690 executable.
14691
14692 @item show endian
14693 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
14694
14695 @end table
14696
14697 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
14698 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
14699 target system.
14700
14701
14702 @node Remote Debugging
14703 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
14704 @cindex remote debugging
14705
14706 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
14707 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
14708 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
14709 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
14710 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
14711
14712 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
14713 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
14714 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
14715 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
14716 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
14717 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
14718
14719 Other remote targets may be available in your
14720 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
14721
14722 @menu
14723 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
14724 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
14725 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
14726 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
14727 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
14728 @end menu
14729
14730 @node Connecting
14731 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
14732
14733 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
14734 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
14735 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
14736 program as the first argument.
14737
14738 @cindex @code{target remote}
14739 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
14740 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
14741 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
14742 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
14743 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
14744 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
14745
14746 @table @code
14747
14748 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
14749 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
14750 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
14751 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
14752
14753 @smallexample
14754 target remote /dev/ttyb
14755 @end smallexample
14756
14757 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
14758 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
14759 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
14760 @code{target} command.
14761
14762 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
14763 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14764 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
14765 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
14766 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
14767 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
14768 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
14769 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
14770 target.
14771
14772 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
14773 @code{manyfarms}:
14774
14775 @smallexample
14776 target remote manyfarms:2828
14777 @end smallexample
14778
14779 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
14780 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
14781 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
14782 port 1234 on your local machine:
14783
14784 @smallexample
14785 target remote :1234
14786 @end smallexample
14787 @noindent
14788
14789 Note that the colon is still required here.
14790
14791 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14792 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
14793 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
14794 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
14795
14796 @smallexample
14797 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
14798 @end smallexample
14799
14800 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
14801 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
14802 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
14803 cause havoc with your debugging session.
14804
14805 @item target remote | @var{command}
14806 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
14807 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
14808 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
14809 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
14810 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
14811 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
14812 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
14813 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
14814
14815 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
14816 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
14817 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
14818
14819 @end table
14820
14821 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
14822 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
14823 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
14824 need to use @kbd{run}.
14825
14826 @cindex interrupting remote programs
14827 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
14828 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
14829 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
14830 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
14831 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
14832 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
14833
14834 @smallexample
14835 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
14836 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
14837 @end smallexample
14838
14839 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
14840 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
14841 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
14842 goes back to waiting.
14843
14844 @table @code
14845 @kindex detach (remote)
14846 @item detach
14847 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
14848 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
14849 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
14850 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
14851 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
14852
14853 @kindex disconnect
14854 @item disconnect
14855 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
14856 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
14857 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
14858 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
14859 another target.
14860
14861 @cindex send command to remote monitor
14862 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
14863 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
14864 @kindex monitor
14865 @item monitor @var{cmd}
14866 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
14867 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
14868 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
14869 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
14870 and implement.
14871 @end table
14872
14873 @node File Transfer
14874 @section Sending files to a remote system
14875 @cindex remote target, file transfer
14876 @cindex file transfer
14877 @cindex sending files to remote systems
14878
14879 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
14880 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
14881 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
14882 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
14883 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
14884 the only way to upload or download files.
14885
14886 Not all remote targets support these commands.
14887
14888 @table @code
14889 @kindex remote put
14890 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
14891 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
14892 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
14893
14894 @kindex remote get
14895 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
14896 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
14897 on the host system.
14898
14899 @kindex remote delete
14900 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
14901 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
14902
14903 @end table
14904
14905 @node Server
14906 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
14907
14908 @kindex gdbserver
14909 @cindex remote connection without stubs
14910 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
14911 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
14912 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
14913
14914 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
14915 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
14916 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
14917 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
14918 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
14919 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
14920 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
14921 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
14922 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
14923 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
14924 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
14925 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
14926 choice for debugging.
14927
14928 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
14929 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
14930 protocol.
14931
14932 @quotation
14933 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
14934 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
14935 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
14936 target system with the same privileges as the user running
14937 @code{gdbserver}.
14938 @end quotation
14939
14940 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
14941 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
14942
14943 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
14944 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
14945 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
14946 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
14947 system does all the symbol handling.
14948
14949 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
14950 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
14951 syntax is:
14952
14953 @smallexample
14954 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
14955 @end smallexample
14956
14957 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
14958 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
14959 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
14960 @file{/dev/com1}:
14961
14962 @smallexample
14963 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
14964 @end smallexample
14965
14966 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
14967 with it.
14968
14969 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
14970
14971 @smallexample
14972 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
14973 @end smallexample
14974
14975 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
14976 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
14977 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
14978 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
14979 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
14980 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
14981 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
14982 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
14983 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
14984 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
14985 @code{target remote} command.
14986
14987 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
14988
14989 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
14990 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
14991
14992 @smallexample
14993 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
14994 @end smallexample
14995
14996 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
14997 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
14998
14999 @pindex pidof
15000 @cindex attach to a program by name
15001 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15002 @code{pidof} utility:
15003
15004 @smallexample
15005 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15006 @end smallexample
15007
15008 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15009 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15010 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15011
15012 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15013 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15014 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15015
15016 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15017 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15018 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15019 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15020
15021 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15022 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15023 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15024 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15025 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15026 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15027 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15028 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15029 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15030
15031 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15032 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15033 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15034 the program you want to debug.
15035
15036 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15037 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15038 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15039
15040 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15041
15042 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15043 status information about the debugging process. The
15044 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15045 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15046 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15047
15048 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15049 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15050 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15051 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15052
15053 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15054 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15055 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15056 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15057
15058 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15059 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15060 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15061 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15062
15063 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15064 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15065 environment:
15066
15067 @smallexample
15068 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15069 @end smallexample
15070
15071 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15072
15073 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15074
15075 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15076 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15077 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15078 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15079
15080 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15081 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15082 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15083 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15084 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15085 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15086 programs.
15087
15088 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15089 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15090 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15091 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15092 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15093 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15094 already on the target.
15095
15096 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15097 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15098 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15099
15100 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15101 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15102 Here are the available commands.
15103
15104 @table @code
15105 @item monitor help
15106 List the available monitor commands.
15107
15108 @item monitor set debug 0
15109 @itemx monitor set debug 1
15110 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15111
15112 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
15113 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15114 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15115 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15116
15117 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15118 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15119 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15120 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15121 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15122 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15123
15124 @item monitor exit
15125 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15126 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15127 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15128 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15129 of a multi-process mode debug session.
15130
15131 @end table
15132
15133 @node Remote Configuration
15134 @section Remote Configuration
15135
15136 @kindex set remote
15137 @kindex show remote
15138 This section documents the configuration options available when
15139 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15140 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15141 system-call-allowed}.
15142
15143 @table @code
15144 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15145 @cindex address size for remote targets
15146 @cindex bits in remote address
15147 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15148 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15149 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15150 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15151
15152 @item show remoteaddresssize
15153 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15154
15155 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
15156 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
15157 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15158 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15159 remote targets.
15160
15161 @item show remotebaud
15162 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15163
15164 @item set remotebreak
15165 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15166 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15167 @anchor{set remotebreak}
15168 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15169 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15170 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15171 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15172 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15173
15174 @item show remotebreak
15175 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15176 interrupt the remote program.
15177
15178 @item set remoteflow on
15179 @itemx set remoteflow off
15180 @kindex set remoteflow
15181 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15182 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15183
15184 @item show remoteflow
15185 @kindex show remoteflow
15186 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15187
15188 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15189 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15190 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15191 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15192 @code{ascii}.
15193
15194 @item show remotelogbase
15195 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15196 protocol.
15197
15198 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15199 @cindex record serial communications on file
15200 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15201 default is not to record at all.
15202
15203 @item show remotelogfile.
15204 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15205 serial communications.
15206
15207 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15208 @cindex timeout for serial communications
15209 @cindex remote timeout
15210 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
15211 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
15212
15213 @item show remotetimeout
15214 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
15215 responses.
15216
15217 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
15218 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
15219 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
15220 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
15221 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
15222 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
15223 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
15224 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
15225
15226 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
15227 @itemx show remote exec-file
15228 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
15229 @cindex executable file, for remote target
15230 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
15231 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
15232 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
15233 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
15234
15235 @kindex set tcp
15236 @kindex show tcp
15237 @item set tcp auto-retry on
15238 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
15239 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
15240 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
15241 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
15242 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
15243 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
15244 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
15245 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
15246
15247 @item set tcp auto-retry off
15248 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
15249
15250 @item show tcp auto-retry
15251 Show the current auto-retry setting.
15252
15253 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
15254 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
15255 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
15256 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
15257 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
15258 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
15259 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
15260 value.
15261
15262 @item show tcp connect-timeout
15263 Show the current connection timeout setting.
15264 @end table
15265
15266 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
15267 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
15268 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
15269 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
15270 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
15271 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
15272 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
15273 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
15274 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
15275
15276 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
15277 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
15278 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
15279 @value{GDBN} developers.
15280
15281 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
15282 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
15283 are:
15284
15285 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
15286 @item Command Name
15287 @tab Remote Packet
15288 @tab Related Features
15289
15290 @item @code{fetch-register}
15291 @tab @code{p}
15292 @tab @code{info registers}
15293
15294 @item @code{set-register}
15295 @tab @code{P}
15296 @tab @code{set}
15297
15298 @item @code{binary-download}
15299 @tab @code{X}
15300 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
15301
15302 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
15303 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
15304 @tab @code{info auxv}
15305
15306 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
15307 @tab @code{qSymbol}
15308 @tab Detecting multiple threads
15309
15310 @item @code{attach}
15311 @tab @code{vAttach}
15312 @tab @code{attach}
15313
15314 @item @code{verbose-resume}
15315 @tab @code{vCont}
15316 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
15317
15318 @item @code{run}
15319 @tab @code{vRun}
15320 @tab @code{run}
15321
15322 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
15323 @tab @code{Z0}
15324 @tab @code{break}
15325
15326 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
15327 @tab @code{Z1}
15328 @tab @code{hbreak}
15329
15330 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
15331 @tab @code{Z2}
15332 @tab @code{watch}
15333
15334 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
15335 @tab @code{Z3}
15336 @tab @code{rwatch}
15337
15338 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
15339 @tab @code{Z4}
15340 @tab @code{awatch}
15341
15342 @item @code{target-features}
15343 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
15344 @tab @code{set architecture}
15345
15346 @item @code{library-info}
15347 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
15348 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
15349
15350 @item @code{memory-map}
15351 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
15352 @tab @code{info mem}
15353
15354 @item @code{read-spu-object}
15355 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
15356 @tab @code{info spu}
15357
15358 @item @code{write-spu-object}
15359 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
15360 @tab @code{info spu}
15361
15362 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
15363 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
15364 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
15365
15366 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
15367 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
15368 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
15369
15370 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
15371 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
15372 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
15373
15374 @item @code{search-memory}
15375 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
15376 @tab @code{find}
15377
15378 @item @code{supported-packets}
15379 @tab @code{qSupported}
15380 @tab Remote communications parameters
15381
15382 @item @code{pass-signals}
15383 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
15384 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
15385
15386 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
15387 @tab @code{vFile:close}
15388 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15389
15390 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
15391 @tab @code{vFile:open}
15392 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15393
15394 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
15395 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
15396 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15397
15398 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
15399 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
15400 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15401
15402 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
15403 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
15404 @tab @code{remote delete}
15405
15406 @item @code{noack-packet}
15407 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
15408 @tab Packet acknowledgment
15409
15410 @item @code{osdata}
15411 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
15412 @tab @code{info os}
15413
15414 @item @code{query-attached}
15415 @tab @code{qAttached}
15416 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
15417 @end multitable
15418
15419 @node Remote Stub
15420 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
15421
15422 @cindex debugging stub, example
15423 @cindex remote stub, example
15424 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
15425 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
15426 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
15427 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
15428 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
15429 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
15430 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
15431 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
15432
15433 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
15434 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
15435 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
15436 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
15437 program, you need:
15438
15439 @enumerate
15440 @item
15441 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
15442 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
15443 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
15444
15445 @item
15446 A C subroutine library to support your program's
15447 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
15448
15449 @item
15450 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
15451 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
15452 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
15453 documentation.
15454 @end enumerate
15455
15456 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
15457 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
15458 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
15459
15460 @table @emph
15461 @item On the host,
15462 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
15463 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
15464 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
15465
15466 @item On the target,
15467 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
15468 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
15469 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
15470
15471 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
15472 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
15473 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
15474 @end table
15475
15476 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
15477 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
15478 @sc{sparc} boards.
15479
15480 @cindex remote serial stub list
15481 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
15482
15483 @table @code
15484
15485 @item i386-stub.c
15486 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
15487 @cindex Intel
15488 @cindex i386
15489 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
15490
15491 @item m68k-stub.c
15492 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
15493 @cindex Motorola 680x0
15494 @cindex m680x0
15495 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
15496
15497 @item sh-stub.c
15498 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
15499 @cindex Renesas
15500 @cindex SH
15501 For Renesas SH architectures.
15502
15503 @item sparc-stub.c
15504 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
15505 @cindex Sparc
15506 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
15507
15508 @item sparcl-stub.c
15509 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
15510 @cindex Fujitsu
15511 @cindex SparcLite
15512 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
15513
15514 @end table
15515
15516 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
15517 recently added stubs.
15518
15519 @menu
15520 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
15521 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
15522 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
15523 @end menu
15524
15525 @node Stub Contents
15526 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
15527
15528 @cindex remote serial stub
15529 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
15530 subroutines:
15531
15532 @table @code
15533 @item set_debug_traps
15534 @findex set_debug_traps
15535 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
15536 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
15537 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
15538 beginning of your program.
15539
15540 @item handle_exception
15541 @findex handle_exception
15542 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
15543 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
15544 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
15545 run when a trap is triggered.
15546
15547 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
15548 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
15549 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
15550 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
15551 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
15552 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
15553 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
15554 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
15555 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
15556 machine.
15557
15558 @item breakpoint
15559 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
15560 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
15561 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
15562 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
15563 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
15564 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
15565 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
15566 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
15567 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
15568 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
15569 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
15570
15571 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
15572 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
15573 start of your debugging session.
15574 @end table
15575
15576 @node Bootstrapping
15577 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
15578
15579 @cindex remote stub, support routines
15580 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
15581 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
15582 debugging target machine.
15583
15584 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
15585 serial port.
15586
15587 @table @code
15588 @item int getDebugChar()
15589 @findex getDebugChar
15590 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
15591 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
15592 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15593
15594 @item void putDebugChar(int)
15595 @findex putDebugChar
15596 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
15597 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
15598 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15599 @end table
15600
15601 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
15602 @cindex interrupting remote targets
15603 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
15604 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
15605 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
15606 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
15607 remote system to stop.
15608
15609 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
15610 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
15611 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
15612 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
15613
15614 Other routines you need to supply are:
15615
15616 @table @code
15617 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
15618 @findex exceptionHandler
15619 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
15620 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
15621 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
15622 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
15623 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
15624 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
15625 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
15626 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
15627 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
15628 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
15629 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
15630 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
15631 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
15632
15633 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
15634 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
15635 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
15636 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
15637 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
15638
15639 @item void flush_i_cache()
15640 @findex flush_i_cache
15641 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
15642 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
15643 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
15644
15645 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
15646 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
15647 @end table
15648
15649 @noindent
15650 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
15651
15652 @table @code
15653 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
15654 @findex memset
15655 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
15656 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
15657 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
15658 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
15659 @end table
15660
15661 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
15662 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
15663 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
15664 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
15665
15666
15667 @node Debug Session
15668 @subsection Putting it All Together
15669
15670 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
15671 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
15672 steps.
15673
15674 @enumerate
15675 @item
15676 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
15677 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
15678 @display
15679 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
15680 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
15681 @end display
15682
15683 @item
15684 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
15685
15686 @smallexample
15687 set_debug_traps();
15688 breakpoint();
15689 @end smallexample
15690
15691 @item
15692 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
15693 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
15694
15695 @smallexample
15696 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
15697 @end smallexample
15698
15699 @noindent
15700 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
15701 function in your program, that function is called when
15702 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
15703 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
15704 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
15705
15706 @item
15707 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
15708 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
15709
15710 @item
15711 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
15712 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
15713
15714 @item
15715 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
15716 @c document that. FIXME.
15717 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
15718 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
15719
15720 @item
15721 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
15722 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15723
15724 @end enumerate
15725
15726 @node Configurations
15727 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
15728
15729 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
15730 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
15731 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
15732
15733 There are three major categories of configurations: native
15734 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
15735 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
15736 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
15737 are quite different from each other.
15738
15739 @menu
15740 * Native::
15741 * Embedded OS::
15742 * Embedded Processors::
15743 * Architectures::
15744 @end menu
15745
15746 @node Native
15747 @section Native
15748
15749 This section describes details specific to particular native
15750 configurations.
15751
15752 @menu
15753 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
15754 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
15755 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
15756 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
15757 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
15758 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
15759 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
15760 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
15761 @end menu
15762
15763 @node HP-UX
15764 @subsection HP-UX
15765
15766 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
15767 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
15768 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
15769
15770
15771 @node BSD libkvm Interface
15772 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
15773
15774 @cindex libkvm
15775 @cindex kernel memory image
15776 @cindex kernel crash dump
15777
15778 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
15779 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
15780 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
15781 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
15782 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
15783 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
15784 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
15785 @code{kvm} target:
15786
15787 @smallexample
15788 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
15789 @end smallexample
15790
15791 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
15792 argument:
15793
15794 @smallexample
15795 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
15796 @end smallexample
15797
15798 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
15799 available:
15800
15801 @table @code
15802 @kindex kvm
15803 @item kvm pcb
15804 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
15805
15806 @item kvm proc
15807 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
15808 modern FreeBSD systems.
15809 @end table
15810
15811 @node SVR4 Process Information
15812 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
15813 @cindex /proc
15814 @cindex examine process image
15815 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
15816
15817 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
15818 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
15819 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
15820 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
15821 proc} is available to report information about the process running
15822 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
15823 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
15824 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
15825 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
15826
15827 @table @code
15828 @kindex info proc
15829 @cindex process ID
15830 @item info proc
15831 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
15832 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
15833 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
15834 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
15835 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
15836 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
15837 executable file's absolute file name.
15838
15839 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
15840 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
15841 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
15842 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
15843 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
15844 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
15845
15846 @item info proc mappings
15847 @cindex memory address space mappings
15848 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
15849 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
15850 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
15851 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
15852 memory access rights to that range.
15853
15854 @item info proc stat
15855 @itemx info proc status
15856 @cindex process detailed status information
15857 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
15858 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
15859 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
15860 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
15861 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
15862 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
15863 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
15864
15865 @item info proc all
15866 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
15867 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
15868
15869 @ignore
15870 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
15871 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
15872 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
15873 @kindex info proc times
15874 @item info proc times
15875 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
15876 its children.
15877
15878 @kindex info proc id
15879 @item info proc id
15880 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
15881 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
15882 @end ignore
15883
15884 @item set procfs-trace
15885 @kindex set procfs-trace
15886 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
15887 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
15888
15889 @item show procfs-trace
15890 @kindex show procfs-trace
15891 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
15892
15893 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
15894 @kindex set procfs-file
15895 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
15896 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
15897 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
15898 standard output.
15899
15900 @item show procfs-file
15901 @kindex show procfs-file
15902 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
15903
15904 @item proc-trace-entry
15905 @itemx proc-trace-exit
15906 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
15907 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
15908 @kindex proc-trace-entry
15909 @kindex proc-trace-exit
15910 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
15911 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
15912 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
15913 from the @code{syscall} interface.
15914
15915 @item info pidlist
15916 @kindex info pidlist
15917 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
15918 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
15919 processes and all the threads within each process.
15920
15921 @item info meminfo
15922 @kindex info meminfo
15923 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
15924 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
15925 @end table
15926
15927 @node DJGPP Native
15928 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
15929 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
15930 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
15931 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
15932
15933 @cindex DPMI
15934 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
15935 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
15936 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
15937 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
15938
15939 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
15940 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
15941 subsection describes those commands.
15942
15943 @table @code
15944 @kindex info dos
15945 @item info dos
15946 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
15947 information about the target system and important OS structures.
15948
15949 @kindex sysinfo
15950 @cindex MS-DOS system info
15951 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
15952 @item info dos sysinfo
15953 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
15954 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
15955 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
15956
15957 @cindex GDT
15958 @cindex LDT
15959 @cindex IDT
15960 @cindex segment descriptor tables
15961 @cindex descriptor tables display
15962 @item info dos gdt
15963 @itemx info dos ldt
15964 @itemx info dos idt
15965 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
15966 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
15967 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
15968 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
15969 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
15970 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
15971 rights.
15972
15973 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
15974 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
15975 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
15976 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
15977 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
15978
15979 @cindex garbled pointers
15980 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
15981 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
15982 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
15983 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
15984 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
15985 debugged program's data segment:
15986
15987 @smallexample
15988 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
15989 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
15990 @end smallexample
15991
15992 @noindent
15993 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
15994 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
15995
15996 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
15997 @item info dos pde
15998 @itemx info dos pte
15999 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16000 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16001 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16002 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16003 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16004 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16005 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16006 that is currently in use.
16007
16008 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16009 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16010 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16011 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16012 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16013 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16014 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16015
16016 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16017 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16018 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16019 controller.
16020
16021 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16022
16023 @cindex physical address from linear address
16024 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16025 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16026 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16027 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16028 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16029 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16030 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16031
16032 @smallexample
16033 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16034 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16035 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16036 @end smallexample
16037
16038 @noindent
16039 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16040 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16041 attributes of that page.
16042
16043 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16044 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16045 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16046 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16047 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16048 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16049
16050 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16051 transfer buffer:
16052
16053 @smallexample
16054 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16055 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16056 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16057 @end smallexample
16058
16059 @noindent
16060 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
16061 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16062 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16063 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16064 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16065
16066 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16067 @end table
16068
16069 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16070 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16071 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16072 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16073
16074 @table @code
16075 @kindex set com1base
16076 @kindex set com1irq
16077 @kindex set com2base
16078 @kindex set com2irq
16079 @kindex set com3base
16080 @kindex set com3irq
16081 @kindex set com4base
16082 @kindex set com4irq
16083 @item set com1base @var{addr}
16084 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16085 port.
16086
16087 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
16088 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16089 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16090
16091 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16092 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16093 other 3 COM ports.
16094
16095 @kindex show com1base
16096 @kindex show com1irq
16097 @kindex show com2base
16098 @kindex show com2irq
16099 @kindex show com3base
16100 @kindex show com3irq
16101 @kindex show com4base
16102 @kindex show com4irq
16103 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16104 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16105 lines used by the COM ports.
16106
16107 @item info serial
16108 @kindex info serial
16109 @cindex DOS serial port status
16110 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16111 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16112 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16113 counts of various errors encountered so far.
16114 @end table
16115
16116
16117 @node Cygwin Native
16118 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16119 @cindex MS Windows debugging
16120 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
16121 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16122
16123 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16124 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16125
16126 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16127 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16128 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16129 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16130 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16131 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16132 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16133 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
16134
16135 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16136 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16137 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16138
16139 @table @code
16140 @kindex info w32
16141 @item info w32
16142 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16143 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16144
16145 @item info w32 selector
16146 This command displays information returned by
16147 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16148 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16149 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16150 Without argument, this command displays information
16151 about the six segment registers.
16152
16153 @kindex info dll
16154 @item info dll
16155 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16156
16157 @kindex dll-symbols
16158 @item dll-symbols
16159 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16160 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16161
16162 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16163 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16164 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16165 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16166 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16167 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
16168 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
16169 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
16170 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
16171 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
16172 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
16173
16174 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
16175 @item show cygwin-exceptions
16176 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
16177 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
16178
16179 @kindex set new-console
16180 @item set new-console @var{mode}
16181 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
16182 be started in a new console on next start.
16183 If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
16184 be started in the same console as the debugger.
16185
16186 @kindex show new-console
16187 @item show new-console
16188 Displays whether a new console is used
16189 when the debuggee is started.
16190
16191 @kindex set new-group
16192 @item set new-group @var{mode}
16193 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
16194 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
16195 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
16196 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
16197
16198 @kindex show new-group
16199 @item show new-group
16200 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
16201
16202 @kindex set debugevents
16203 @item set debugevents
16204 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
16205 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
16206 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
16207 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
16208 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
16209
16210 @kindex set debugexec
16211 @item set debugexec
16212 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
16213 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
16214
16215 @kindex set debugexceptions
16216 @item set debugexceptions
16217 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
16218 debuggee seen by the debugger.
16219
16220 @kindex set debugmemory
16221 @item set debugmemory
16222 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
16223 and writes by the debugger.
16224
16225 @kindex set shell
16226 @item set shell
16227 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
16228 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
16229
16230 @kindex show shell
16231 @item show shell
16232 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
16233
16234 @end table
16235
16236 @menu
16237 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
16238 @end menu
16239
16240 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
16241 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
16242 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
16243 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
16244
16245 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
16246 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
16247 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
16248 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
16249 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
16250 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
16251 ``minimal symbols''.
16252
16253 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
16254 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
16255 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
16256 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
16257 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
16258 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
16259 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
16260 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
16261 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
16262 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
16263
16264 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
16265
16266 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
16267 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
16268 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
16269 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
16270 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
16271 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
16272 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
16273 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
16274 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
16275
16276 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
16277 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
16278 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
16279 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
16280 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
16281 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
16282
16283 @smallexample
16284 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
16285 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
16286
16287 Non-debugging symbols:
16288 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
16289 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
16290 @end smallexample
16291
16292 @smallexample
16293 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
16294 All functions matching regular expression "!":
16295
16296 Non-debugging symbols:
16297 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
16298 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
16299 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
16300 [etc...]
16301 @end smallexample
16302
16303 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
16304
16305 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
16306 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
16307 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
16308 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
16309 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
16310 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
16311 a function within a DLL without a running program.
16312
16313 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
16314 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
16315 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
16316 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
16317 problem:
16318
16319 @smallexample
16320 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
16321 $1 = 268572168
16322 @end smallexample
16323
16324 @smallexample
16325 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
16326 0x10021610: "\230y\""
16327 @end smallexample
16328
16329 And two possible solutions:
16330
16331 @smallexample
16332 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
16333 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16334 @end smallexample
16335
16336 @smallexample
16337 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
16338 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
16339 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
16340 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
16341 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
16342 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16343 @end smallexample
16344
16345 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
16346 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
16347 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
16348 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
16349 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
16350
16351 @smallexample
16352 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
16353 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
16354 @end smallexample
16355
16356 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
16357 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
16358 safe.
16359
16360 @node Hurd Native
16361 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
16362 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
16363
16364 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
16365 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
16366
16367 @table @code
16368 @item set signals
16369 @itemx set sigs
16370 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
16371 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16372 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
16373 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
16374 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
16375 @code{signals}.
16376
16377 @item show signals
16378 @itemx show sigs
16379 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
16380 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16381 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
16382
16383 @item set signal-thread
16384 @itemx set sigthread
16385 @kindex set signal-thread
16386 @kindex set sigthread
16387 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
16388 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
16389 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
16390 signal-thread}.
16391
16392 @item show signal-thread
16393 @itemx show sigthread
16394 @kindex show signal-thread
16395 @kindex show sigthread
16396 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
16397 delivered a signal.
16398
16399 @item set stopped
16400 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16401 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
16402 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
16403 continued by delivering a signal to it.
16404
16405 @item show stopped
16406 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16407 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
16408 stopped.
16409
16410 @item set exceptions
16411 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16412 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
16413 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
16414 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
16415 trapping on.
16416
16417 @item show exceptions
16418 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16419 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
16420
16421 @item set task pause
16422 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
16423 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16424 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16425 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
16426 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
16427 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
16428 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
16429 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
16430 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
16431
16432 @item show task pause
16433 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
16434 Show the current state of task suspension.
16435
16436 @item set task detach-suspend-count
16437 @cindex task suspend count
16438 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16439 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
16440 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
16441
16442 @item show task detach-suspend-count
16443 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
16444
16445 @item set task exception-port
16446 @itemx set task excp
16447 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16448 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
16449 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
16450 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
16451
16452 @item set noninvasive
16453 @cindex noninvasive task options
16454 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
16455 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
16456 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
16457 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
16458
16459 @item info send-rights
16460 @itemx info receive-rights
16461 @itemx info port-rights
16462 @itemx info port-sets
16463 @itemx info dead-names
16464 @itemx info ports
16465 @itemx info psets
16466 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16467 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16468 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16469 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16470 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16471 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
16472 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
16473 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
16474 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
16475
16476 @item set thread pause
16477 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
16478 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16479 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16480 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
16481 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
16482 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
16483 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
16484 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
16485 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
16486 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
16487 only the current thread.
16488
16489 @item show thread pause
16490 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
16491 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
16492
16493 @item set thread run
16494 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16495
16496 @item show thread run
16497 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16498
16499 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
16500 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16501 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16502 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
16503 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
16504 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
16505 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
16506
16507 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
16508 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
16509 detaching.
16510
16511 @item set thread exception-port
16512 @itemx set thread excp
16513 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
16514 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
16515 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
16516
16517 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
16518 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
16519 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
16520 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
16521
16522 @item set thread default
16523 @itemx show thread default
16524 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16525 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
16526 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
16527 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
16528 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
16529 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
16530 the non-default commands.
16531 @end table
16532
16533
16534 @node Neutrino
16535 @subsection QNX Neutrino
16536 @cindex QNX Neutrino
16537
16538 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
16539 Neutrino target:
16540
16541 @table @code
16542 @item set debug nto-debug
16543 @kindex set debug nto-debug
16544 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
16545 Neutrino support.
16546
16547 @item show debug nto-debug
16548 @kindex show debug nto-debug
16549 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
16550 @end table
16551
16552 @node Darwin
16553 @subsection Darwin
16554 @cindex Darwin
16555
16556 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
16557
16558 @table @code
16559 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
16560 @kindex set debug darwin
16561 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
16562 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
16563
16564 @item show debug darwin
16565 @kindex show debug darwin
16566 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
16567
16568 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
16569 @kindex set debug mach-o
16570 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
16571 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
16572 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
16573 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
16574 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
16575 usage.
16576
16577 @item show debug mach-o
16578 @kindex show debug mach-o
16579 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
16580
16581 @item set mach-exceptions on
16582 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
16583 @kindex set mach-exceptions
16584 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
16585 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
16586 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
16587 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
16588
16589 @item show mach-exceptions
16590 @kindex show mach-exceptions
16591 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
16592 @end table
16593
16594
16595 @node Embedded OS
16596 @section Embedded Operating Systems
16597
16598 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
16599 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
16600 architectures.
16601
16602 @menu
16603 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16604 @end menu
16605
16606 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
16607 various real-time operating systems.
16608
16609 @node VxWorks
16610 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16611
16612 @cindex VxWorks
16613
16614 @table @code
16615
16616 @kindex target vxworks
16617 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
16618 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
16619 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
16620
16621 @end table
16622
16623 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
16624 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
16625
16626 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
16627 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
16628 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16629 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
16630 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
16631 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
16632 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
16633
16634 @table @code
16635 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
16636 @kindex vxworks-timeout
16637 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
16638 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16639 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
16640 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
16641 of a thin network line.
16642 @end table
16643
16644 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
16645 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
16646 procedures.
16647
16648 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
16649 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
16650 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
16651 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
16652 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
16653 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
16654 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
16655 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
16656 manual.
16657 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
16658
16659 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
16660 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
16661 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
16662 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
16663
16664 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
16665
16666 @smallexample
16667 (vxgdb)
16668 @end smallexample
16669
16670 @menu
16671 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
16672 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
16673 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
16674 @end menu
16675
16676 @node VxWorks Connection
16677 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
16678
16679 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
16680 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
16681
16682 @smallexample
16683 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
16684 @end smallexample
16685
16686 @need 750
16687 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
16688
16689 @smallexample
16690 Attaching remote machine across net...
16691 Connected to tt.
16692 @end smallexample
16693
16694 @need 1000
16695 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
16696 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
16697 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
16698 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
16699 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
16700
16701 @smallexample
16702 prog.o: No such file or directory.
16703 @end smallexample
16704
16705 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
16706 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
16707 command again.
16708
16709 @node VxWorks Download
16710 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
16711
16712 @cindex download to VxWorks
16713 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
16714 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
16715 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
16716 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
16717 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
16718 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
16719 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
16720 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
16721 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
16722 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
16723 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
16724 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
16725 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
16726 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
16727 program, type this on VxWorks:
16728
16729 @smallexample
16730 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
16731 @end smallexample
16732
16733 @noindent
16734 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
16735
16736 @smallexample
16737 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
16738 (vxgdb) load prog.o
16739 @end smallexample
16740
16741 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
16742
16743 @smallexample
16744 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
16745 @end smallexample
16746
16747 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
16748 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
16749 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
16750 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
16751 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
16752 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
16753 table.)
16754
16755 @node VxWorks Attach
16756 @subsubsection Running Tasks
16757
16758 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
16759 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
16760 follows:
16761
16762 @smallexample
16763 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
16764 @end smallexample
16765
16766 @noindent
16767 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
16768 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
16769 the time of attachment.
16770
16771 @node Embedded Processors
16772 @section Embedded Processors
16773
16774 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
16775 configurations.
16776
16777 @cindex send command to simulator
16778 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
16779 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
16780
16781 @table @code
16782 @item sim @var{command}
16783 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
16784 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
16785 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
16786 acceptable commands.
16787 @end table
16788
16789
16790 @menu
16791 * ARM:: ARM RDI
16792 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
16793 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
16794 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
16795 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
16796 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
16797 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
16798 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
16799 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
16800 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
16801 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
16802 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
16803 * CRIS:: CRIS
16804 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
16805 @end menu
16806
16807 @node ARM
16808 @subsection ARM
16809 @cindex ARM RDI
16810
16811 @table @code
16812 @kindex target rdi
16813 @item target rdi @var{dev}
16814 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
16815 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
16816 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
16817
16818 @kindex target rdp
16819 @item target rdp @var{dev}
16820 ARM Demon monitor.
16821
16822 @end table
16823
16824 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
16825
16826 @table @code
16827 @item set arm disassembler
16828 @kindex set arm
16829 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
16830 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
16831
16832 @item show arm disassembler
16833 @kindex show arm
16834 Show the current disassembly style.
16835
16836 @item set arm apcs32
16837 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
16838 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
16839
16840 @item show arm apcs32
16841 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
16842
16843 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
16844 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
16845 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
16846
16847 @table @code
16848 @item auto
16849 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
16850 @item softfpa
16851 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
16852 processors.
16853 @item fpa
16854 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
16855 @item softvfp
16856 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
16857 @item vfp
16858 VFP co-processor.
16859 @end table
16860
16861 @item show arm fpu
16862 Show the current type of the FPU.
16863
16864 @item set arm abi
16865 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
16866
16867 @item show arm abi
16868 Show the currently used ABI.
16869
16870 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16871 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
16872 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
16873 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
16874 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
16875 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
16876 register).
16877
16878 @item show arm fallback-mode
16879 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
16880
16881 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16882 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
16883 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
16884 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
16885 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
16886
16887 @item show arm force-mode
16888 Show the current forced instruction mode.
16889
16890 @item set debug arm
16891 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
16892 target support subsystem.
16893
16894 @item show debug arm
16895 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
16896 @end table
16897
16898 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
16899 using the RDI interface:
16900
16901 @table @code
16902 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16903 @kindex rdilogfile
16904 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
16905 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
16906 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
16907 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
16908 @file{rdi.log}.
16909
16910 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
16911 @kindex rdilogenable
16912 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
16913 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
16914 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
16915 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
16916 are logged to a file.
16917
16918 @item set rdiromatzero
16919 @kindex set rdiromatzero
16920 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
16921 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
16922 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
16923 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
16924 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
16925
16926 @item show rdiromatzero
16927 @kindex show rdiromatzero
16928 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
16929
16930 @item set rdiheartbeat
16931 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
16932 @cindex RDI heartbeat
16933 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
16934 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
16935 well as the Angel monitor.
16936
16937 @item show rdiheartbeat
16938 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
16939 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
16940 @end table
16941
16942
16943 @node M32R/D
16944 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
16945
16946 @table @code
16947 @kindex target m32r
16948 @item target m32r @var{dev}
16949 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
16950
16951 @kindex target m32rsdi
16952 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
16953 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
16954 @end table
16955
16956 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
16957
16958 @table @code
16959 @item set download-path @var{path}
16960 @kindex set download-path
16961 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
16962 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16963
16964 @item show download-path
16965 @kindex show download-path
16966 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16967
16968 @item set board-address @var{addr}
16969 @kindex set board-address
16970 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
16971 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
16972
16973 @item show board-address
16974 @kindex show board-address
16975 Show the current IP address of the target board.
16976
16977 @item set server-address @var{addr}
16978 @kindex set server-address
16979 @cindex download server address (M32R)
16980 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
16981 host machine.
16982
16983 @item show server-address
16984 @kindex show server-address
16985 Display the IP address of the download server.
16986
16987 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16988 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
16989 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
16990 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
16991 executable file is uploaded.
16992
16993 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16994 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
16995 Test the @code{upload} command.
16996 @end table
16997
16998 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
16999
17000 @table @code
17001 @item sdireset
17002 @kindex sdireset
17003 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17004 This command resets the SDI connection.
17005
17006 @item sdistatus
17007 @kindex sdistatus
17008 This command shows the SDI connection status.
17009
17010 @item debug_chaos
17011 @kindex debug_chaos
17012 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17013 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17014
17015 @item use_debug_dma
17016 @kindex use_debug_dma
17017 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17018
17019 @item use_mon_code
17020 @kindex use_mon_code
17021 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17022
17023 @item use_ib_break
17024 @kindex use_ib_break
17025 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17026
17027 @item use_dbt_break
17028 @kindex use_dbt_break
17029 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17030 @end table
17031
17032 @node M68K
17033 @subsection M68k
17034
17035 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17036 target command for the following ROM monitor.
17037
17038 @table @code
17039
17040 @kindex target dbug
17041 @item target dbug @var{dev}
17042 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17043
17044 @end table
17045
17046 @node MicroBlaze
17047 @subsection MicroBlaze
17048 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17049 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17050
17051 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17052 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17053 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17054 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17055 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17056 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17057 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17058 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17059 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17060 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17061 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17062
17063 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17064
17065 @table @code
17066 @item target remote :1234
17067 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17068 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17069
17070 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17071 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17072 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17073
17074 @item load
17075 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17076
17077 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17078 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17079
17080 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17081 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17082 @end table
17083
17084 @node MIPS Embedded
17085 @subsection MIPS Embedded
17086
17087 @cindex MIPS boards
17088 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17089 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17090 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17091
17092 @need 1000
17093 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17094
17095 @table @code
17096 @item target mips @var{port}
17097 @kindex target mips @var{port}
17098 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17099 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17100 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17101 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17102 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17103 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17104
17105 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17106 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17107 debugger:
17108
17109 @smallexample
17110 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17111 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17112 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17113 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17114 (@value{GDBP}) run
17115 @end smallexample
17116
17117 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17118 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17119 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17120 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17121 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17122
17123 @item target pmon @var{port}
17124 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
17125 PMON ROM monitor.
17126
17127 @item target ddb @var{port}
17128 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
17129 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17130
17131 @item target lsi @var{port}
17132 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
17133 LSI variant of PMON.
17134
17135 @kindex target r3900
17136 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
17137 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17138
17139 @kindex target array
17140 @item target array @var{dev}
17141 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17142
17143 @end table
17144
17145
17146 @noindent
17147 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17148
17149 @table @code
17150 @item set mipsfpu double
17151 @itemx set mipsfpu single
17152 @itemx set mipsfpu none
17153 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
17154 @itemx show mipsfpu
17155 @kindex set mipsfpu
17156 @kindex show mipsfpu
17157 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
17158 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
17159 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
17160 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
17161 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
17162 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
17163 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
17164 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
17165 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
17166 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
17167 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
17168 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
17169 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
17170
17171 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
17172 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
17173 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
17174
17175 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
17176 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
17177
17178 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
17179 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
17180 @itemx show timeout
17181 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
17182 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
17183 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
17184 @kindex set timeout
17185 @kindex show timeout
17186 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
17187 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
17188 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
17189 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
17190 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
17191 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
17192 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
17193 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
17194 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
17195 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
17196
17197 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
17198 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
17199 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
17200 to run before stopping.
17201
17202 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
17203 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17204 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
17205 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
17206 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
17207 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
17208
17209 @item show syn-garbage-limit
17210 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17211 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
17212 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
17213
17214 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
17215 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17216 @cindex remote monitor prompt
17217 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
17218 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
17219 @table @asis
17220 @item pmon target
17221 @samp{PMON}
17222 @item ddb target
17223 @samp{NEC010}
17224 @item lsi target
17225 @samp{PMON>}
17226 @end table
17227
17228 @item show monitor-prompt
17229 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17230 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
17231 remote monitor.
17232
17233 @item set monitor-warnings
17234 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17235 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
17236 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
17237 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
17238 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
17239
17240 @item show monitor-warnings
17241 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17242 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
17243
17244 @item pmon @var{command}
17245 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
17246 @cindex send PMON command
17247 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
17248 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
17249 @end table
17250
17251 @node OpenRISC 1000
17252 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
17253 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
17254
17255 @cindex or1k boards
17256 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
17257 about platform and commands.
17258
17259 @table @code
17260
17261 @kindex target jtag
17262 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
17263
17264 Connects to remote JTAG server.
17265 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
17266 connected via parallel port to the board.
17267
17268 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
17269
17270 @kindex or1ksim
17271 @item or1ksim @var{command}
17272 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
17273 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
17274
17275 @kindex info or1k spr
17276 @item info or1k spr
17277 Displays spr groups.
17278
17279 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
17280 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
17281 Displays register names in selected group.
17282
17283 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
17284 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
17285 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
17286 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
17287 Shows information about specified spr register.
17288
17289 @kindex spr
17290 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
17291 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
17292 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
17293 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
17294 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
17295 @end table
17296
17297 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
17298 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
17299 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
17300 triggers can be set using:
17301 @table @code
17302 @item $LEA/$LDATA
17303 Load effective address/data
17304 @item $SEA/$SDATA
17305 Store effective address/data
17306 @item $AEA/$ADATA
17307 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
17308 @item $FETCH
17309 Fetch data
17310 @end table
17311
17312 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
17313 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
17314
17315 @code{htrace} commands:
17316 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
17317 @table @code
17318 @kindex hwatch
17319 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
17320 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
17321 or Data. For example:
17322
17323 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17324
17325 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17326
17327 @kindex htrace
17328 @item htrace info
17329 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
17330
17331 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
17332 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
17333
17334 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
17335 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
17336
17337 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
17338 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
17339
17340 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
17341 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
17342 triggered.
17343
17344 @item htrace enable
17345 @itemx htrace disable
17346 Enables/disables the HW trace.
17347
17348 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
17349 Clears currently recorded trace data.
17350
17351 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
17352 will be written there.
17353
17354 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
17355 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
17356
17357 @item htrace mode continuous
17358 Set continuous trace mode.
17359
17360 @item htrace mode suspend
17361 Set suspend trace mode.
17362
17363 @end table
17364
17365 @node PowerPC Embedded
17366 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
17367
17368 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
17369
17370 @table @code
17371 @kindex set powerpc
17372 @item set powerpc soft-float
17373 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
17374 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
17375 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
17376 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17377
17378 @item set powerpc vector-abi
17379 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
17380 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
17381 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
17382 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
17383 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
17384 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
17385 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17386
17387 @kindex target dink32
17388 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
17389 DINK32 ROM monitor.
17390
17391 @kindex target ppcbug
17392 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
17393 @kindex target ppcbug1
17394 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
17395 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
17396
17397 @kindex target sds
17398 @item target sds @var{dev}
17399 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
17400 @end table
17401
17402 @cindex SDS protocol
17403 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
17404 by @value{GDBN}:
17405
17406 @table @code
17407 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
17408 @kindex set sdstimeout
17409 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
17410 default is 2 seconds.
17411
17412 @item show sdstimeout
17413 @kindex show sdstimeout
17414 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
17415
17416 @item sds @var{command}
17417 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
17418 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
17419 @end table
17420
17421
17422 @node PA
17423 @subsection HP PA Embedded
17424
17425 @table @code
17426
17427 @kindex target op50n
17428 @item target op50n @var{dev}
17429 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
17430
17431 @kindex target w89k
17432 @item target w89k @var{dev}
17433 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
17434
17435 @end table
17436
17437 @node Sparclet
17438 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
17439
17440 @cindex Sparclet
17441
17442 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
17443 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
17444 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17445 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
17446 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
17447
17448 @table @code
17449 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
17450 @kindex remotetimeout
17451 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
17452 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17453 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
17454 @end table
17455
17456 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
17457 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
17458 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
17459 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
17460 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
17461
17462 @smallexample
17463 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
17464 @end smallexample
17465
17466 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
17467
17468 @smallexample
17469 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
17470 @end smallexample
17471
17472 @cindex running, on Sparclet
17473 Once you have set
17474 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17475 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
17476 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
17477
17478 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17479
17480 @smallexample
17481 (gdbslet)
17482 @end smallexample
17483
17484 @menu
17485 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
17486 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
17487 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
17488 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
17489 @end menu
17490
17491 @node Sparclet File
17492 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
17493
17494 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
17495
17496 @smallexample
17497 (gdbslet) file prog
17498 @end smallexample
17499
17500 @need 1000
17501 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
17502 @value{GDBN} locates
17503 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
17504 path.
17505 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
17506 files will be searched as well.
17507 @value{GDBN} locates
17508 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
17509 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
17510 If it fails
17511 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
17512
17513 @smallexample
17514 prog: No such file or directory.
17515 @end smallexample
17516
17517 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
17518 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
17519 @code{target} command again.
17520
17521 @node Sparclet Connection
17522 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
17523
17524 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
17525 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
17526
17527 @smallexample
17528 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
17529 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
17530 main () at ../prog.c:3
17531 @end smallexample
17532
17533 @need 750
17534 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17535
17536 @smallexample
17537 Connected to ttya.
17538 @end smallexample
17539
17540 @node Sparclet Download
17541 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
17542
17543 @cindex download to Sparclet
17544 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
17545 you can use the @value{GDBN}
17546 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
17547 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
17548 command.
17549 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
17550 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
17551 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
17552 of each of the file's sections.
17553 For instance, if the program
17554 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
17555 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17556
17557 @smallexample
17558 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
17559 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
17560 @end smallexample
17561
17562 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
17563 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
17564 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
17565
17566 @node Sparclet Execution
17567 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
17568
17569 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
17570 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
17571 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
17572 manual for the list of commands.
17573
17574 @smallexample
17575 (gdbslet) b main
17576 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
17577 (gdbslet) run
17578 Starting program: prog
17579 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
17580 3 char *symarg = 0;
17581 (gdbslet) step
17582 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
17583 (gdbslet)
17584 @end smallexample
17585
17586 @node Sparclite
17587 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
17588
17589 @table @code
17590
17591 @kindex target sparclite
17592 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
17593 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
17594 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
17595 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
17596 remote protocol.
17597
17598 @end table
17599
17600 @node Z8000
17601 @subsection Zilog Z8000
17602
17603 @cindex Z8000
17604 @cindex simulator, Z8000
17605 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
17606
17607 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
17608 a Z8000 simulator.
17609
17610 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
17611 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
17612 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
17613 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
17614
17615 @table @code
17616 @item target sim @var{args}
17617 @kindex sim
17618 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
17619 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
17620 options, specify them via @var{args}.
17621 @end table
17622
17623 @noindent
17624 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
17625 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
17626 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
17627 to run your program, and so on.
17628
17629 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
17630 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
17631 additional items of information as specially named registers:
17632
17633 @table @code
17634
17635 @item cycles
17636 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
17637
17638 @item insts
17639 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
17640
17641 @item time
17642 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
17643
17644 @end table
17645
17646 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
17647 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
17648 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
17649 simulated clock ticks.
17650
17651 @node AVR
17652 @subsection Atmel AVR
17653 @cindex AVR
17654
17655 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
17656 following AVR-specific commands:
17657
17658 @table @code
17659 @item info io_registers
17660 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
17661 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
17662 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
17663 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
17664 @end table
17665
17666 @node CRIS
17667 @subsection CRIS
17668 @cindex CRIS
17669
17670 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
17671 following CRIS-specific commands:
17672
17673 @table @code
17674 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
17675 @cindex CRIS version
17676 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
17677 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
17678 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
17679
17680 @item show cris-version
17681 Show the current CRIS version.
17682
17683 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
17684 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
17685 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
17686 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
17687 @code{R59}.
17688
17689 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
17690 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
17691
17692 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
17693 @cindex CRIS mode
17694 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
17695 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
17696 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
17697
17698 @item show cris-mode
17699 Show the current CRIS mode.
17700 @end table
17701
17702 @node Super-H
17703 @subsection Renesas Super-H
17704 @cindex Super-H
17705
17706 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
17707 commands:
17708
17709 @table @code
17710 @item regs
17711 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
17712 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
17713
17714 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
17715 @kindex set sh calling-convention
17716 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
17717 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
17718 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
17719 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
17720 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
17721 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
17722 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
17723 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
17724 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
17725 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
17726
17727 @item show sh calling-convention
17728 @kindex show sh calling-convention
17729 Show the current calling convention setting.
17730
17731 @end table
17732
17733
17734 @node Architectures
17735 @section Architectures
17736
17737 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
17738 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
17739
17740 @menu
17741 * i386::
17742 * A29K::
17743 * Alpha::
17744 * MIPS::
17745 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
17746 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17747 * PowerPC::
17748 @end menu
17749
17750 @node i386
17751 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
17752
17753 @table @code
17754 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
17755 @kindex set struct-convention
17756 @cindex struct return convention
17757 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
17758 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
17759 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
17760 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
17761 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
17762 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
17763 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
17764 be returned in a register.
17765
17766 @item show struct-convention
17767 @kindex show struct-convention
17768 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
17769 from functions.
17770 @end table
17771
17772 @node A29K
17773 @subsection A29K
17774
17775 @table @code
17776
17777 @kindex set rstack_high_address
17778 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
17779 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
17780 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
17781 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
17782 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
17783 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
17784 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
17785 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
17786 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
17787 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
17788 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
17789 hexadecimal.
17790
17791 @kindex show rstack_high_address
17792 @item show rstack_high_address
17793 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
17794 processors.
17795
17796 @end table
17797
17798 @node Alpha
17799 @subsection Alpha
17800
17801 See the following section.
17802
17803 @node MIPS
17804 @subsection MIPS
17805
17806 @cindex stack on Alpha
17807 @cindex stack on MIPS
17808 @cindex Alpha stack
17809 @cindex MIPS stack
17810 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
17811 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
17812 find the beginning of a function.
17813
17814 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
17815 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
17816 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
17817 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
17818 commands:
17819
17820 @table @code
17821 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
17822 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
17823 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
17824 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
17825 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
17826 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
17827 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
17828 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
17829
17830 @item show heuristic-fence-post
17831 Display the current limit.
17832 @end table
17833
17834 @noindent
17835 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
17836 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
17837
17838 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
17839 programs:
17840
17841 @table @code
17842 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
17843 @kindex set mips abi
17844 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
17845 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
17846 values of @var{arg} are:
17847
17848 @table @samp
17849 @item auto
17850 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
17851 default).
17852 @item o32
17853 @item o64
17854 @item n32
17855 @item n64
17856 @item eabi32
17857 @item eabi64
17858 @item auto
17859 @end table
17860
17861 @item show mips abi
17862 @kindex show mips abi
17863 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
17864
17865 @item set mipsfpu
17866 @itemx show mipsfpu
17867 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
17868
17869 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
17870 @kindex set mips mask-address
17871 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
17872 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
17873 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
17874 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
17875 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
17876
17877 @item show mips mask-address
17878 @kindex show mips mask-address
17879 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
17880 not.
17881
17882 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17883 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17884 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
17885 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
17886 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
17887 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
17888
17889 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17890 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17891 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
17892
17893 @item set debug mips
17894 @kindex set debug mips
17895 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
17896 target code in @value{GDBN}.
17897
17898 @item show debug mips
17899 @kindex show debug mips
17900 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
17901 @end table
17902
17903
17904 @node HPPA
17905 @subsection HPPA
17906 @cindex HPPA support
17907
17908 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
17909 following special commands:
17910
17911 @table @code
17912 @item set debug hppa
17913 @kindex set debug hppa
17914 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
17915 messages are to be displayed.
17916
17917 @item show debug hppa
17918 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
17919
17920 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
17921 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
17922 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
17923 given @var{address}.
17924
17925 @end table
17926
17927
17928 @node SPU
17929 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17930 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
17931 @cindex SPU
17932
17933 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
17934 it provides the following special commands:
17935
17936 @table @code
17937 @item info spu event
17938 @kindex info spu
17939 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
17940 and pending event status.
17941
17942 @item info spu signal
17943 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
17944 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
17945 notification channels.
17946
17947 @item info spu mailbox
17948 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
17949 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
17950 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
17951
17952 @item info spu dma
17953 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17954 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17955 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17956
17957 @item info spu proxydma
17958 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17959 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17960 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17961
17962 @end table
17963
17964 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
17965 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
17966 special commands:
17967
17968 @table @code
17969 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
17970 @kindex set spu
17971 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
17972 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
17973 function. The default is @code{off}.
17974
17975 @item show spu stop-on-load
17976 @kindex show spu
17977 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
17978
17979 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
17980 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
17981 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
17982 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
17983 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
17984 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
17985
17986 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
17987 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
17988
17989 @end table
17990
17991 @node PowerPC
17992 @subsection PowerPC
17993 @cindex PowerPC architecture
17994
17995 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
17996 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
17997 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
17998 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
17999 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18000
18001 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18002 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18003 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18004
18005 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18006 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18007
18008
18009 @node Controlling GDB
18010 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18011
18012 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18013 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18014 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18015 described here.
18016
18017 @menu
18018 * Prompt:: Prompt
18019 * Editing:: Command editing
18020 * Command History:: Command history
18021 * Screen Size:: Screen size
18022 * Numbers:: Numbers
18023 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18024 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18025 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18026 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18027 @end menu
18028
18029 @node Prompt
18030 @section Prompt
18031
18032 @cindex prompt
18033
18034 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18035 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18036 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18037 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18038 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18039 which one you are talking to.
18040
18041 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18042 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18043 or a prompt that does not.
18044
18045 @table @code
18046 @kindex set prompt
18047 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18048 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18049
18050 @kindex show prompt
18051 @item show prompt
18052 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18053 @end table
18054
18055 @node Editing
18056 @section Command Editing
18057 @cindex readline
18058 @cindex command line editing
18059
18060 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18061 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18062 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18063 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18064 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18065 debugging sessions.
18066
18067 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18068 command @code{set}.
18069
18070 @table @code
18071 @kindex set editing
18072 @cindex editing
18073 @item set editing
18074 @itemx set editing on
18075 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18076
18077 @item set editing off
18078 Disable command line editing.
18079
18080 @kindex show editing
18081 @item show editing
18082 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18083 @end table
18084
18085 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18086 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18087 encouraged to read that chapter.
18088
18089 @node Command History
18090 @section Command History
18091 @cindex command history
18092
18093 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18094 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18095 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18096 history facility.
18097
18098 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18099 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18100 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18101
18102 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18103 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18104 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18105 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18106 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18107 pressed on a line by itself.
18108
18109 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18110 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18111 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18112 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18113
18114 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18115 history.
18116
18117 @table @code
18118 @cindex history substitution
18119 @cindex history file
18120 @kindex set history filename
18121 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18122 @item set history filename @var{fname}
18123 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18124 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18125 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18126 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18127 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18128 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18129 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18130 is not set.
18131
18132 @cindex save command history
18133 @kindex set history save
18134 @item set history save
18135 @itemx set history save on
18136 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18137 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18138
18139 @item set history save off
18140 Stop recording command history in a file.
18141
18142 @cindex history size
18143 @kindex set history size
18144 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18145 @item set history size @var{size}
18146 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18147 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18148 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
18149 @end table
18150
18151 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
18152 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
18153
18154 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
18155 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
18156 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
18157 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
18158 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
18159 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
18160 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
18161 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
18162
18163 The commands to control history expansion are:
18164
18165 @table @code
18166 @item set history expansion on
18167 @itemx set history expansion
18168 @kindex set history expansion
18169 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
18170
18171 @item set history expansion off
18172 Disable history expansion.
18173
18174 @c @group
18175 @kindex show history
18176 @item show history
18177 @itemx show history filename
18178 @itemx show history save
18179 @itemx show history size
18180 @itemx show history expansion
18181 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
18182 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
18183 @c @end group
18184 @end table
18185
18186 @table @code
18187 @kindex show commands
18188 @cindex show last commands
18189 @cindex display command history
18190 @item show commands
18191 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
18192
18193 @item show commands @var{n}
18194 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
18195
18196 @item show commands +
18197 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
18198 @end table
18199
18200 @node Screen Size
18201 @section Screen Size
18202 @cindex size of screen
18203 @cindex pauses in output
18204
18205 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
18206 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
18207 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
18208 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
18209 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
18210 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
18211 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
18212 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
18213
18214 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
18215 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
18216 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
18217 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
18218 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
18219 width} commands:
18220
18221 @table @code
18222 @kindex set height
18223 @kindex set width
18224 @kindex show width
18225 @kindex show height
18226 @item set height @var{lpp}
18227 @itemx show height
18228 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
18229 @itemx show width
18230 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
18231 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
18232 commands display the current settings.
18233
18234 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
18235 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
18236 file or to an editor buffer.
18237
18238 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
18239 from wrapping its output.
18240
18241 @item set pagination on
18242 @itemx set pagination off
18243 @kindex set pagination
18244 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
18245 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
18246
18247 @item show pagination
18248 @kindex show pagination
18249 Show the current pagination mode.
18250 @end table
18251
18252 @node Numbers
18253 @section Numbers
18254 @cindex number representation
18255 @cindex entering numbers
18256
18257 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
18258 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
18259 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
18260 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
18261 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
18262 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
18263 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
18264 both input and output with the commands described below.
18265
18266 @table @code
18267 @kindex set input-radix
18268 @item set input-radix @var{base}
18269 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
18270 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18271 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
18272 example, any of
18273
18274 @smallexample
18275 set input-radix 012
18276 set input-radix 10.
18277 set input-radix 0xa
18278 @end smallexample
18279
18280 @noindent
18281 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
18282 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
18283 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
18284 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
18285 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
18286 change the radix.
18287
18288 @kindex set output-radix
18289 @item set output-radix @var{base}
18290 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
18291 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18292 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
18293
18294 @kindex show input-radix
18295 @item show input-radix
18296 Display the current default base for numeric input.
18297
18298 @kindex show output-radix
18299 @item show output-radix
18300 Display the current default base for numeric display.
18301
18302 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
18303 @itemx show radix
18304 @kindex set radix
18305 @kindex show radix
18306 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
18307 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
18308 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
18309 default value of 10.
18310
18311 @end table
18312
18313 @node ABI
18314 @section Configuring the Current ABI
18315
18316 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
18317 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
18318 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
18319 current ABI.
18320
18321 @cindex OS ABI
18322 @kindex set osabi
18323 @kindex show osabi
18324
18325 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
18326 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
18327 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
18328 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
18329 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
18330 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
18331 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
18332 platform provides.
18333
18334 @table @code
18335 @item show osabi
18336 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
18337
18338 @item set osabi
18339 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
18340
18341 @item set osabi @var{abi}
18342 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
18343 @end table
18344
18345 @cindex float promotion
18346
18347 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
18348 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
18349 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
18350 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
18351 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
18352 @code{double} and then passed.
18353
18354 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
18355 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
18356 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
18357
18358 @table @code
18359 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
18360 @item set coerce-float-to-double
18361 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
18362 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
18363 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
18364
18365 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
18366 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
18367 functions.
18368
18369 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
18370 @item show coerce-float-to-double
18371 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
18372 @end table
18373
18374 @kindex set cp-abi
18375 @kindex show cp-abi
18376 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
18377 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
18378 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
18379 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
18380 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
18381 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
18382 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
18383 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
18384 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
18385 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
18386 ``auto''.
18387
18388 @table @code
18389 @item show cp-abi
18390 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
18391
18392 @item set cp-abi
18393 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
18394
18395 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
18396 @itemx set cp-abi auto
18397 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
18398 @end table
18399
18400 @node Messages/Warnings
18401 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
18402
18403 @cindex verbose operation
18404 @cindex optional warnings
18405 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
18406 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
18407 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
18408 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
18409
18410 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
18411 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
18412 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
18413
18414 @table @code
18415 @kindex set verbose
18416 @item set verbose on
18417 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18418
18419 @item set verbose off
18420 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18421
18422 @kindex show verbose
18423 @item show verbose
18424 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
18425 @end table
18426
18427 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
18428 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
18429 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
18430 Symbol Files}).
18431
18432 @table @code
18433
18434 @kindex set complaints
18435 @item set complaints @var{limit}
18436 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
18437 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
18438 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
18439 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
18440
18441 @kindex show complaints
18442 @item show complaints
18443 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
18444
18445 @end table
18446
18447 @anchor{confirmation requests}
18448 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
18449 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
18450 you try to run a program which is already running:
18451
18452 @smallexample
18453 (@value{GDBP}) run
18454 The program being debugged has been started already.
18455 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
18456 @end smallexample
18457
18458 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
18459 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
18460
18461 @table @code
18462
18463 @kindex set confirm
18464 @cindex flinching
18465 @cindex confirmation
18466 @cindex stupid questions
18467 @item set confirm off
18468 Disables confirmation requests.
18469
18470 @item set confirm on
18471 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
18472
18473 @kindex show confirm
18474 @item show confirm
18475 Displays state of confirmation requests.
18476
18477 @end table
18478
18479 @cindex command tracing
18480 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
18481 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
18482 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
18483 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
18484
18485 @table @code
18486 @kindex set trace-commands
18487 @cindex command scripts, debugging
18488 @item set trace-commands on
18489 Enable command tracing.
18490 @item set trace-commands off
18491 Disable command tracing.
18492 @item show trace-commands
18493 Display the current state of command tracing.
18494 @end table
18495
18496 @node Debugging Output
18497 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
18498 @cindex optional debugging messages
18499
18500 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
18501 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
18502 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
18503 section documents those commands.
18504
18505 @table @code
18506 @kindex set exec-done-display
18507 @item set exec-done-display
18508 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
18509 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
18510 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
18511 @kindex show exec-done-display
18512 @item show exec-done-display
18513 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
18514 notification.
18515 @kindex set debug
18516 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
18517 @cindex architecture debugging info
18518 @item set debug arch
18519 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
18520 @kindex show debug
18521 @item show debug arch
18522 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
18523 @item set debug aix-thread
18524 @cindex AIX threads
18525 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
18526 module.
18527 @item show debug aix-thread
18528 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
18529 @item set debug dwarf2-die
18530 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
18531 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
18532 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
18533 A value of zero turns off the display.
18534 @item show debug dwarf2-die
18535 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
18536 @item set debug displaced
18537 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
18538 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
18539 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
18540 @item show debug displaced
18541 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
18542 related to displaced stepping.
18543 @item set debug event
18544 @cindex event debugging info
18545 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
18546 default is off.
18547 @item show debug event
18548 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
18549 info.
18550 @item set debug expression
18551 @cindex expression debugging info
18552 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
18553 expression parsing. The default is off.
18554 @item show debug expression
18555 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
18556 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
18557 @item set debug frame
18558 @cindex frame debugging info
18559 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
18560 default is off.
18561 @item show debug frame
18562 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
18563 info.
18564 @item set debug gnu-nat
18565 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
18566 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
18567 @item show debug gnu-nat
18568 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
18569 @item set debug infrun
18570 @cindex inferior debugging info
18571 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
18572 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
18573 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
18574 @item show debug infrun
18575 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
18576 @item set debug lin-lwp
18577 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
18578 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
18579 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
18580 @item show debug lin-lwp
18581 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
18582 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
18583 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
18584 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
18585 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
18586 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
18587 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
18588 @item set debug observer
18589 @cindex observer debugging info
18590 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
18591 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
18592 @item show debug observer
18593 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
18594 @item set debug overload
18595 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
18596 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
18597 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
18598 is off.
18599 @item show debug overload
18600 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
18601 debugging info.
18602 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
18603 @cindex serial connections, debugging
18604 @cindex debug remote protocol
18605 @cindex remote protocol debugging
18606 @cindex display remote packets
18607 @item set debug remote
18608 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
18609 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
18610 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
18611 @item show debug remote
18612 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
18613 @item set debug serial
18614 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
18615 default is off.
18616 @item show debug serial
18617 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
18618 info.
18619 @item set debug solib-frv
18620 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
18621 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
18622 @item show debug solib-frv
18623 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
18624 messages.
18625 @item set debug target
18626 @cindex target debugging info
18627 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
18628 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
18629 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
18630 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
18631 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
18632 @item show debug target
18633 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
18634 info.
18635 @item set debug timestamp
18636 @cindex timestampping debugging info
18637 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
18638 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
18639 message.
18640 @item show debug timestamp
18641 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
18642 debugging info.
18643 @item set debugvarobj
18644 @cindex variable object debugging info
18645 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
18646 info. The default is off.
18647 @item show debugvarobj
18648 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
18649 debugging info.
18650 @item set debug xml
18651 @cindex XML parser debugging
18652 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
18653 @item show debug xml
18654 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
18655 @end table
18656
18657 @node Other Misc Settings
18658 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
18659 @cindex miscellaneous settings
18660
18661 @table @code
18662 @kindex set interactive-mode
18663 @item set interactive-mode
18664 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
18665 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
18666 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
18667 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
18668
18669 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
18670 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
18671 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
18672 inside a cygwin window.
18673
18674 @kindex show interactive-mode
18675 @item show interactive-mode
18676 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
18677 @end table
18678
18679 @node Extending GDB
18680 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
18681 @cindex extending GDB
18682
18683 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
18684 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
18685 Python scripting language.
18686
18687 @menu
18688 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
18689 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
18690 @end menu
18691
18692 @node Sequences
18693 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
18694
18695 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
18696 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
18697 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
18698 files.
18699
18700 @menu
18701 * Define:: How to define your own commands
18702 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
18703 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
18704 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
18705 @end menu
18706
18707 @node Define
18708 @subsection User-defined Commands
18709
18710 @cindex user-defined command
18711 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
18712 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
18713 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
18714 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
18715 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
18716 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
18717
18718 @smallexample
18719 define adder
18720 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18721 end
18722 @end smallexample
18723
18724 @noindent
18725 To execute the command use:
18726
18727 @smallexample
18728 adder 1 2 3
18729 @end smallexample
18730
18731 @noindent
18732 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
18733 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
18734 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
18735 functions calls.
18736
18737 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
18738 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
18739 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
18740 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
18741
18742 @smallexample
18743 define adder
18744 if $argc == 2
18745 print $arg0 + $arg1
18746 end
18747 if $argc == 3
18748 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18749 end
18750 end
18751 @end smallexample
18752
18753 @table @code
18754
18755 @kindex define
18756 @item define @var{commandname}
18757 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
18758 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
18759 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
18760 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
18761 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
18762 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
18763
18764 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
18765 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
18766 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18767
18768 @kindex document
18769 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
18770 @item document @var{commandname}
18771 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
18772 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
18773 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
18774 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
18775 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
18776 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
18777
18778 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
18779 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
18780 does not change the documentation.
18781
18782 @kindex dont-repeat
18783 @cindex don't repeat command
18784 @item dont-repeat
18785 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
18786 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
18787 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
18788
18789 @kindex help user-defined
18790 @item help user-defined
18791 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
18792 (if any) for each.
18793
18794 @kindex show user
18795 @item show user
18796 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
18797 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
18798 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
18799 definitions for all user-defined commands.
18800
18801 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
18802 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
18803 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
18804 @item show max-user-call-depth
18805 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
18806 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
18807 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
18808 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
18809 @end table
18810
18811 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
18812 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
18813
18814 When user-defined commands are executed, the
18815 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
18816 stops execution of the user-defined command.
18817
18818 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
18819 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
18820 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
18821 messages when used in a user-defined command.
18822
18823 @node Hooks
18824 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
18825 @cindex command hooks
18826 @cindex hooks, for commands
18827 @cindex hooks, pre-command
18828
18829 @kindex hook
18830 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
18831 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
18832 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
18833 before that command.
18834
18835 @cindex hooks, post-command
18836 @kindex hookpost
18837 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
18838 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
18839 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
18840 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
18841 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
18842
18843 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
18844 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
18845
18846 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
18847 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
18848
18849 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
18850 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
18851 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
18852 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
18853 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
18854
18855 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
18856 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
18857 you could define:
18858
18859 @smallexample
18860 define hook-stop
18861 handle SIGALRM nopass
18862 end
18863
18864 define hook-run
18865 handle SIGALRM pass
18866 end
18867
18868 define hook-continue
18869 handle SIGALRM pass
18870 end
18871 @end smallexample
18872
18873 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
18874 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
18875 you could define:
18876
18877 @smallexample
18878 define hook-echo
18879 echo <<<---
18880 end
18881
18882 define hookpost-echo
18883 echo --->>>\n
18884 end
18885
18886 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
18887 <<<---Hello World--->>>
18888 (@value{GDBP})
18889
18890 @end smallexample
18891
18892 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
18893 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
18894 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
18895 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
18896 @c or not?
18897 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
18898 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
18899 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
18900
18901 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
18902 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
18903 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
18904
18905 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
18906 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
18907
18908 @node Command Files
18909 @subsection Command Files
18910
18911 @cindex command files
18912 @cindex scripting commands
18913 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
18914 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
18915 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
18916 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
18917 terminal.
18918
18919 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
18920 command:
18921
18922 @table @code
18923 @kindex source
18924 @cindex execute commands from a file
18925 @item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
18926 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
18927 @end table
18928
18929 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
18930 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
18931 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
18932 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
18933 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
18934
18935 @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
18936 on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
18937
18938 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
18939 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
18940 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
18941
18942 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
18943 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
18944 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
18945 when called from command files.
18946
18947 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
18948 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
18949 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
18950 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
18951 the next command.
18952
18953 @smallexample
18954 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
18955 @end smallexample
18956
18957 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
18958 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
18959 would be directed to @file{log}.
18960
18961 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
18962 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
18963 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
18964 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
18965 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
18966 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
18967 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
18968 conditionally, etc.
18969
18970 @table @code
18971 @kindex if
18972 @kindex else
18973 @item if
18974 @itemx else
18975 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
18976 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
18977 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
18978 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
18979 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
18980 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
18981 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18982
18983 @kindex while
18984 @item while
18985 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
18986 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
18987 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
18988 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
18989 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
18990 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
18991
18992 @kindex loop_break
18993 @item loop_break
18994 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
18995 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
18996 line.
18997
18998 @kindex loop_continue
18999 @item loop_continue
19000 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19001 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19002 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19003 the controlling expression.
19004
19005 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19006 @item end
19007 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19008 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19009 @end table
19010
19011
19012 @node Output
19013 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19014
19015 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19016 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19017 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19018 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19019 want.
19020
19021 @table @code
19022 @kindex echo
19023 @item echo @var{text}
19024 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19025 @c because it is not in ANSI.
19026 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19027 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19028 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19029 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19030 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19031 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19032 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19033 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19034 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19035
19036 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19037 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19038
19039 @smallexample
19040 echo This is some text\n\
19041 which is continued\n\
19042 onto several lines.\n
19043 @end smallexample
19044
19045 produces the same output as
19046
19047 @smallexample
19048 echo This is some text\n
19049 echo which is continued\n
19050 echo onto several lines.\n
19051 @end smallexample
19052
19053 @kindex output
19054 @item output @var{expression}
19055 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19056 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19057 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19058 on expressions.
19059
19060 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19061 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19062 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19063 Formats}, for more information.
19064
19065 @kindex printf
19066 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19067 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19068 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19069 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19070 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19071 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19072 executing the code below:
19073
19074 @smallexample
19075 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19076 @end smallexample
19077
19078 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19079 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19080 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19081 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
19082 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
19083 printed.
19084
19085 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
19086
19087 @smallexample
19088 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
19089 @end smallexample
19090
19091 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
19092 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
19093 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
19094
19095 @itemize @bullet
19096 @item
19097 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
19098
19099 @item
19100 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
19101 width.
19102
19103 @item
19104 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
19105 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
19106
19107 @item
19108 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
19109 supported.
19110
19111 @item
19112 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
19113
19114 @item
19115 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
19116 @end itemize
19117
19118 @noindent
19119 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
19120 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
19121 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
19122 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
19123
19124 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
19125 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
19126 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
19127 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
19128 supported.
19129
19130 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
19131 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
19132 together with a floating point specifier.
19133 letters:
19134
19135 @itemize @bullet
19136 @item
19137 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
19138
19139 @item
19140 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
19141
19142 @item
19143 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
19144 @end itemize
19145
19146 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
19147 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
19148 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
19149
19150 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
19151 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
19152
19153 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
19154 @smallexample
19155 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
19156 @end smallexample
19157
19158 @end table
19159
19160 @node Python
19161 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19162 @cindex python scripting
19163 @cindex scripting with python
19164
19165 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
19166 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
19167 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
19168
19169 @menu
19170 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
19171 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
19172 @end menu
19173
19174 @node Python Commands
19175 @subsection Python Commands
19176 @cindex python commands
19177 @cindex commands to access python
19178
19179 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
19180 and one related setting:
19181
19182 @table @code
19183 @kindex python
19184 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
19185 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
19186
19187 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
19188 argument as a Python command. For example:
19189
19190 @smallexample
19191 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
19192 23
19193 @end smallexample
19194
19195 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
19196 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
19197 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
19198 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
19199 containing @code{end}. For example:
19200
19201 @smallexample
19202 (@value{GDBP}) python
19203 Type python script
19204 End with a line saying just "end".
19205 >print 23
19206 >end
19207 23
19208 @end smallexample
19209
19210 @kindex maint set python print-stack
19211 @item maint set python print-stack
19212 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
19213 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
19214 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
19215 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
19216 disabled.
19217 @end table
19218
19219 @node Python API
19220 @subsection Python API
19221 @cindex python api
19222 @cindex programming in python
19223
19224 @cindex python stdout
19225 @cindex python pagination
19226 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
19227 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
19228 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
19229 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
19230 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
19231
19232 @menu
19233 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
19234 * Exception Handling::
19235 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
19236 * Values From Inferior::
19237 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
19238 * Pretty Printing:: Pretty-printing values.
19239 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
19240 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
19241 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
19242 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
19243 * Frames In Python:: Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
19244 @end menu
19245
19246 @node Basic Python
19247 @subsubsection Basic Python
19248
19249 @cindex python functions
19250 @cindex python module
19251 @cindex gdb module
19252 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
19253 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
19254 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
19255 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
19256
19257 @findex gdb.execute
19258 @defun execute command [from_tty]
19259 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
19260 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
19261 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
19262 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
19263
19264 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
19265 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
19266 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
19267 @end defun
19268
19269 @findex gdb.parameter
19270 @defun parameter parameter
19271 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
19272 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
19273 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
19274 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
19275
19276 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
19277 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
19278 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
19279 @end defun
19280
19281 @findex gdb.history
19282 @defun history number
19283 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
19284 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
19285 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
19286 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
19287 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
19288 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
19289 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
19290 raised.
19291
19292 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
19293 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
19294 @end defun
19295
19296 @findex gdb.write
19297 @defun write string
19298 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
19299 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
19300 call this function.
19301 @end defun
19302
19303 @findex gdb.flush
19304 @defun flush
19305 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
19306 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
19307 function.
19308 @end defun
19309
19310 @node Exception Handling
19311 @subsubsection Exception Handling
19312 @cindex python exceptions
19313 @cindex exceptions, python
19314
19315 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
19316 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
19317 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
19318 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
19319 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
19320 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
19321 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
19322
19323 @smallexample
19324 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
19325 Traceback (most recent call last):
19326 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
19327 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
19328 @end smallexample
19329
19330 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
19331 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
19332 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
19333 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
19334 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
19335 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
19336 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
19337 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
19338 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
19339 traceback.
19340
19341 @node Auto-loading
19342 @subsubsection Auto-loading
19343 @cindex auto-loading, Python
19344
19345 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
19346 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
19347 @value{GDBN} will look for a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
19348 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
19349 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
19350 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
19351 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
19352
19353 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
19354 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
19355 then @value{GDBN} will use the file named
19356 @file{@var{debug-file-directory}/@var{real-name}}, where
19357 @var{real-name} is the object file's real name, as described above.
19358
19359 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
19360 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
19361 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
19362 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
19363 is the object file's real name, as described above.
19364
19365 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the ``current
19366 objfile''. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
19367 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
19368 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
19369
19370 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
19371 debugging commands and scripts. You can enable or disable this
19372 feature, and view its current state.
19373
19374 @table @code
19375 @kindex maint set python auto-load
19376 @item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
19377 Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
19378
19379 @kindex show python auto-load
19380 @item show python auto-load
19381 Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
19382 @end table
19383
19384 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded.
19385 So, your @samp{-gdb.py} file should take care to ensure that it may be
19386 evaluated multiple times without error.
19387
19388 @node Values From Inferior
19389 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
19390 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
19391 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
19392
19393 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
19394 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
19395 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
19396 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
19397 fetching values when necessary.
19398
19399 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
19400 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
19401 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
19402
19403 @smallexample
19404 bar = some_val + 2
19405 @end smallexample
19406
19407 @noindent
19408 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
19409 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
19410
19411 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
19412 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
19413 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
19414 can access its @code{foo} element with:
19415
19416 @smallexample
19417 bar = some_val['foo']
19418 @end smallexample
19419
19420 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
19421
19422 The following attributes are provided:
19423
19424 @table @code
19425 @defivar Value address
19426 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
19427 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
19428 this attribute holds @code{None}.
19429 @end defivar
19430
19431 @cindex optimized out value in Python
19432 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
19433 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
19434 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
19435 @end defivar
19436
19437 @defivar Value type
19438 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
19439 @code{gdb.Type} object.
19440 @end defivar
19441 @end table
19442
19443 The following methods are provided:
19444
19445 @table @code
19446 @defmethod Value dereference
19447 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
19448 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
19449 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
19450
19451 @smallexample
19452 int *foo;
19453 @end smallexample
19454
19455 @noindent
19456 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
19457 @code{foo} points to like this:
19458
19459 @smallexample
19460 bar = foo.dereference ()
19461 @end smallexample
19462
19463 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
19464 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
19465 @end defmethod
19466
19467 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
19468 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
19469 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
19470 throw an exception.
19471
19472 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
19473 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
19474 language.
19475
19476 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
19477 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
19478 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
19479 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
19480 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
19481
19482 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
19483 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
19484 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
19485 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
19486 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
19487 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
19488 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
19489 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
19490 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
19491
19492 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
19493 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
19494
19495 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
19496 fetched and converted to the given length.
19497 @end defmethod
19498 @end table
19499
19500 @node Types In Python
19501 @subsubsection Types In Python
19502 @cindex types in Python
19503 @cindex Python, working with types
19504
19505 @tindex gdb.Type
19506 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
19507 @code{gdb.Type}.
19508
19509 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
19510 module:
19511
19512 @findex gdb.lookup_type
19513 @defun lookup_type name [block]
19514 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
19515 type to look up. It must be a string.
19516
19517 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
19518 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
19519 @end defun
19520
19521 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
19522
19523 @table @code
19524 @defivar Type code
19525 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
19526 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
19527 @end defivar
19528
19529 @defivar Type sizeof
19530 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
19531 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
19532 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
19533 @end defivar
19534
19535 @defivar Type tag
19536 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
19537 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
19538 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
19539 @code{None} is returned.
19540 @end defivar
19541 @end table
19542
19543 The following methods are provided:
19544
19545 @table @code
19546 @defmethod Type fields
19547 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
19548 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
19549 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
19550 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
19551 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
19552 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
19553
19554 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
19555 @table @code
19556 @item bitpos
19557 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
19558 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
19559 position of the field.
19560
19561 @item name
19562 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
19563
19564 @item artificial
19565 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
19566 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
19567 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
19568
19569 @item bitsize
19570 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
19571 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
19572 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
19573
19574 @item type
19575 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
19576 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
19577 @end table
19578 @end defmethod
19579
19580 @defmethod Type const
19581 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19582 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
19583 @end defmethod
19584
19585 @defmethod Type volatile
19586 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19587 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
19588 @end defmethod
19589
19590 @defmethod Type unqualified
19591 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
19592 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
19593 @code{volatile}.
19594 @end defmethod
19595
19596 @defmethod Type reference
19597 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
19598 type.
19599 @end defmethod
19600
19601 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
19602 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
19603 after removing all layers of typedefs.
19604 @end defmethod
19605
19606 @defmethod Type target
19607 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
19608 of this type.
19609
19610 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
19611 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
19612 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
19613 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
19614 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
19615 target type is the aliased type.
19616
19617 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
19618 exception.
19619 @end defmethod
19620
19621 @defmethod Type template_argument n
19622 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
19623 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
19624 @var{n}th template argument.
19625
19626 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
19627 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
19628
19629 @var{name} is searched for globally.
19630 @end defmethod
19631 @end table
19632
19633
19634 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
19635 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
19636 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
19637
19638 @table @code
19639 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
19640 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
19641 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
19642 The type is a pointer.
19643
19644 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19645 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19646 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19647 The type is an array.
19648
19649 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19650 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19651 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19652 The type is a structure.
19653
19654 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
19655 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
19656 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
19657 The type is a union.
19658
19659 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19660 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19661 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19662 The type is an enum.
19663
19664 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19665 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19666 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19667 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
19668
19669 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19670 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19671 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19672 The type is a function.
19673
19674 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
19675 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
19676 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
19677 The type is an integer type.
19678
19679 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
19680 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
19681 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
19682 A floating point type.
19683
19684 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
19685 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
19686 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
19687 The special type @code{void}.
19688
19689 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
19690 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
19691 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
19692 A Pascal set type.
19693
19694 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19695 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19696 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19697 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
19698
19699 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
19700 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
19701 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
19702 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
19703 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
19704
19705 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19706 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19707 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19708 A string of bits.
19709
19710 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19711 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19712 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19713 An unknown or erroneous type.
19714
19715 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19716 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19717 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19718 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
19719
19720 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19721 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19722 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19723 A pointer-to-member-function.
19724
19725 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19726 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19727 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19728 A pointer-to-member.
19729
19730 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
19731 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
19732 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
19733 A reference type.
19734
19735 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19736 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19737 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19738 A character type.
19739
19740 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19741 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19742 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19743 A boolean type.
19744
19745 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19746 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19747 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19748 A complex float type.
19749
19750 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19751 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19752 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19753 A typedef to some other type.
19754
19755 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19756 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19757 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19758 A C@t{++} namespace.
19759
19760 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19761 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19762 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19763 A decimal floating point type.
19764
19765 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19766 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19767 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19768 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
19769 convenience functions.
19770 @end table
19771
19772 @node Pretty Printing
19773 @subsubsection Pretty Printing
19774
19775 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values
19776 using Python code. The pretty-printer API allows application-specific
19777 code to greatly simplify the display of complex objects. This
19778 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
19779
19780 For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
19781 pretty-printer:
19782
19783 @smallexample
19784 (@value{GDBP}) print s
19785 $1 = @{
19786 static npos = 4294967295,
19787 _M_dataplus = @{
19788 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
19789 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{<No data fields>@}, <No data fields>@},
19790 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
19791 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
19792 @}
19793 @}
19794 @end smallexample
19795
19796 After a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} has been installed, only
19797 the contents are printed:
19798
19799 @smallexample
19800 (@value{GDBP}) print s
19801 $2 = "abcd"
19802 @end smallexample
19803
19804 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
19805 specific interface, defined here.
19806
19807 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
19808 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
19809 children of the pretty-printer's value.
19810
19811 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
19812 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
19813 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
19814 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
19815 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
19816
19817 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
19818 as though the value has no children.
19819 @end defop
19820
19821 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
19822 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
19823 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
19824 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
19825 printed.
19826
19827 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
19828 string.
19829
19830 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
19831
19832 @table @samp
19833 @item array
19834 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
19835 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
19836 @code{set print array}.
19837
19838 @item map
19839 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
19840 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
19841 values.
19842
19843 @item string
19844 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
19845 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
19846 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
19847 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
19848 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
19849 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
19850 @end table
19851 @end defop
19852
19853 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
19854 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
19855 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
19856
19857 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
19858 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
19859 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
19860 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
19861 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
19862 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
19863 the result of @code{children}.
19864
19865 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
19866
19867 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
19868 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
19869 another pretty-printer.
19870
19871 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
19872 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
19873 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
19874 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
19875 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
19876
19877 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
19878 @end defop
19879
19880 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
19881 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
19882
19883 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
19884 functions that have been registered via addition as a pretty-printer.
19885 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
19886 attribute.
19887
19888 A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
19889 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
19890 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing}). If a function
19891 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
19892 @code{None}.
19893
19894 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
19895 @code{gdb.Objfile} and iteratively calls each function in the list for
19896 that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives a pretty-printer object.
19897 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
19898 @code{gdb.pretty-printers} list, again calling each function until an
19899 object is returned.
19900
19901 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
19902 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
19903 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
19904 object is returned.
19905
19906 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
19907 written:
19908
19909 @smallexample
19910 class StdStringPrinter:
19911 "Print a std::string"
19912
19913 def __init__ (self, val):
19914 self.val = val
19915
19916 def to_string (self):
19917 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
19918
19919 def display_hint (self):
19920 return 'string'
19921 @end smallexample
19922
19923 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
19924 example above might be written.
19925
19926 @smallexample
19927 def str_lookup_function (val):
19928
19929 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
19930 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
19931 if lookup_tag == None:
19932 return None
19933 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
19934 return StdStringPrinter (val)
19935
19936 return None
19937 @end smallexample
19938
19939 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
19940 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
19941 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
19942 returns @code{None}.
19943
19944 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
19945 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
19946 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
19947 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
19948 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
19949 different names.
19950
19951 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
19952 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
19953 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
19954 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
19955 the current objfile.
19956
19957 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
19958 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
19959 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
19960 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
19961 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
19962 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
19963 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
19964 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
19965 inferior.
19966
19967 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
19968 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
19969
19970 @smallexample
19971 def register_printers (objfile):
19972 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
19973 @end smallexample
19974
19975 @noindent
19976 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
19977
19978 @smallexample
19979 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
19980 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
19981 @end smallexample
19982
19983 @node Commands In Python
19984 @subsubsection Commands In Python
19985
19986 @cindex commands in python
19987 @cindex python commands
19988 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
19989 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
19990 class, most commonly using a subclass.
19991
19992 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
19993 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
19994 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
19995 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
19996
19997 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
19998 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
19999 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
20000 an exception is raised.
20001
20002 There is no support for multi-line commands.
20003
20004 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
20005 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
20006 new command in the help system.
20007
20008 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
20009 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
20010 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
20011 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
20012 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
20013 error will occur when completion is attempted.
20014
20015 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
20016 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
20017 registered.
20018
20019 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
20020 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
20021 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
20022 not documented.'' is used.
20023 @end defmethod
20024
20025 @cindex don't repeat Python command
20026 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
20027 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
20028 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
20029 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
20030 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
20031 @end defmethod
20032
20033 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
20034 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
20035
20036 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
20037 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
20038
20039 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
20040 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
20041 that the command came from elsewhere.
20042
20043 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
20044 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
20045 @end defmethod
20046
20047 @cindex completion of Python commands
20048 @defmethod Command complete text word
20049 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
20050 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
20051 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
20052 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
20053 complete}).
20054
20055 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
20056 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
20057 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
20058 using a word-breaking heuristic.
20059
20060 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
20061 @itemize @bullet
20062 @item
20063 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
20064 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
20065 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
20066 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
20067 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
20068 sequence are ignored.
20069
20070 @item
20071 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
20072 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
20073 function is invoked, and its result is used.
20074
20075 @item
20076 All other results are treated as though there were no available
20077 completions.
20078 @end itemize
20079 @end defmethod
20080
20081 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
20082 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
20083 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
20084 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
20085 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
20086 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20087
20088 @table @code
20089 @findex COMMAND_NONE
20090 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
20091 @item COMMAND_NONE
20092 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
20093 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
20094
20095 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
20096 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
20097 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
20098 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
20099 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
20100 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20101 commands in this category.
20102
20103 @findex COMMAND_DATA
20104 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
20105 @item COMMAND_DATA
20106 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
20107 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
20108 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
20109 in this category.
20110
20111 @findex COMMAND_STACK
20112 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
20113 @item COMMAND_STACK
20114 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
20115 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
20116 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
20117 list of commands in this category.
20118
20119 @findex COMMAND_FILES
20120 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
20121 @item COMMAND_FILES
20122 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
20123 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
20124 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20125 commands in this category.
20126
20127 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
20128 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
20129 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
20130 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
20131 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
20132 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
20133 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
20134 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20135 commands in this category.
20136
20137 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
20138 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
20139 @item COMMAND_STATUS
20140 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
20141 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
20142 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
20143 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
20144
20145 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20146 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20147 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20148 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
20149 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20150 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
20151 this category.
20152
20153 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20154 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20155 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20156 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
20157 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
20158 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20159 commands in this category.
20160
20161 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
20162 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
20163 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
20164 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
20165 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
20166 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20167 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
20168 category.
20169
20170 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20171 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20172 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20173 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
20174 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
20175 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20176 commands in this category.
20177 @end table
20178
20179 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
20180 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
20181 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
20182 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20183
20184 @table @code
20185 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
20186 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
20187 @item COMPLETE_NONE
20188 This constant means that no completion should be done.
20189
20190 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
20191 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
20192 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
20193 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
20194
20195 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
20196 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
20197 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
20198 This constant means that location completion should be done.
20199 @xref{Specify Location}.
20200
20201 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
20202 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
20203 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
20204 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
20205 command names.
20206
20207 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20208 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20209 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20210 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
20211 as the source.
20212 @end table
20213
20214 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
20215 implemented in Python:
20216
20217 @smallexample
20218 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20219 """Greet the whole world."""
20220
20221 def __init__ (self):
20222 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20223
20224 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
20225 print "Hello, World!"
20226
20227 HelloWorld ()
20228 @end smallexample
20229
20230 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20231 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20232 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20233 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
20234
20235 @node Functions In Python
20236 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
20237
20238 @cindex writing convenience functions
20239 @cindex convenience functions in python
20240 @cindex python convenience functions
20241 @tindex gdb.Function
20242 @tindex Function
20243 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
20244 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
20245 class @code{gdb.Function}.
20246
20247 @defmethod Function __init__ name
20248 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
20249 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
20250 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
20251 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
20252 the given @var{name}.
20253
20254 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
20255 string for the new class.
20256 @end defmethod
20257
20258 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
20259 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
20260 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
20261 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
20262 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
20263 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
20264 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
20265 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
20266
20267 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
20268 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
20269 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
20270 @end defmethod
20271
20272 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
20273 be implemented in Python:
20274
20275 @smallexample
20276 class Greet (gdb.Function):
20277 """Return string to greet someone.
20278 Takes a name as argument."""
20279
20280 def __init__ (self):
20281 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
20282
20283 def invoke (self, name):
20284 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
20285
20286 Greet ()
20287 @end smallexample
20288
20289 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20290 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20291 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20292 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
20293
20294 @node Objfiles In Python
20295 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
20296
20297 @cindex objfiles in python
20298 @tindex gdb.Objfile
20299 @tindex Objfile
20300 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
20301 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
20302 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
20303 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
20304 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
20305
20306 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
20307 @code{gdb} module:
20308
20309 @findex gdb.current_objfile
20310 @defun current_objfile
20311 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
20312 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
20313 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
20314 this function returns @code{None}.
20315 @end defun
20316
20317 @findex gdb.objfiles
20318 @defun objfiles
20319 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
20320 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
20321 @end defun
20322
20323 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
20324 class.
20325
20326 @defivar Objfile filename
20327 The file name of the objfile as a string.
20328 @end defivar
20329
20330 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
20331 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
20332 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
20333 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
20334 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
20335 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing}, for more
20336 information.
20337 @end defivar
20338
20339 @node Frames In Python
20340 @subsubsection Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20341
20342 @cindex frames in python
20343 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
20344 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
20345 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
20346 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
20347 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
20348 exception.
20349
20350 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
20351 operator, like:
20352
20353 @smallexample
20354 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
20355 True
20356 @end smallexample
20357
20358 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
20359
20360 @findex gdb.selected_frame
20361 @defun selected_frame
20362 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
20363 @end defun
20364
20365 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
20366 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
20367 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
20368 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
20369 @end defun
20370
20371 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
20372
20373 @table @code
20374 @defmethod Frame is_valid
20375 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
20376 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
20377 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
20378 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
20379 @end defmethod
20380
20381 @defmethod Frame name
20382 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
20383 obtained.
20384 @end defmethod
20385
20386 @defmethod Frame type
20387 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
20388 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
20389 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
20390 @end defmethod
20391
20392 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
20393 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
20394 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
20395 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
20396 function to a string.
20397 @end defmethod
20398
20399 @defmethod Frame pc
20400 Returns the frame's resume address.
20401 @end defmethod
20402
20403 @defmethod Frame older
20404 Return the frame that called this frame.
20405 @end defmethod
20406
20407 @defmethod Frame newer
20408 Return the frame called by this frame.
20409 @end defmethod
20410
20411 @defmethod Frame read_var variable
20412 Return the value of the given variable in this frame. @var{variable} must
20413 be a string.
20414 @end defmethod
20415 @end table
20416
20417 @node Interpreters
20418 @chapter Command Interpreters
20419 @cindex command interpreters
20420
20421 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
20422 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
20423 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
20424
20425 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
20426 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
20427 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
20428 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
20429
20430 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
20431 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
20432 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
20433 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
20434
20435 @table @code
20436 @item console
20437 @cindex console interpreter
20438 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
20439 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
20440 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
20441
20442 @item mi
20443 @cindex mi interpreter
20444 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
20445 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
20446 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
20447 Interface}.
20448
20449 @item mi2
20450 @cindex mi2 interpreter
20451 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
20452
20453 @item mi1
20454 @cindex mi1 interpreter
20455 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
20456
20457 @end table
20458
20459 @cindex invoke another interpreter
20460 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
20461 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
20462 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
20463 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
20464 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
20465 the IDE inoperable!
20466
20467 @kindex interpreter-exec
20468 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
20469 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
20470 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
20471 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
20472
20473 @smallexample
20474 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
20475 @end smallexample
20476
20477 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
20478 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
20479
20480 @node TUI
20481 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
20482 @cindex TUI
20483 @cindex Text User Interface
20484
20485 @menu
20486 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
20487 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
20488 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
20489 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
20490 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
20491 @end menu
20492
20493 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
20494 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
20495 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
20496 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
20497 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
20498 is available.
20499
20500 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
20501 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
20502 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
20503 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
20504 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
20505 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
20506
20507 @node TUI Overview
20508 @section TUI Overview
20509
20510 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
20511
20512 @table @emph
20513 @item command
20514 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
20515 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
20516 managed using readline.
20517
20518 @item source
20519 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
20520 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
20521
20522 @item assembly
20523 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
20524
20525 @item register
20526 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
20527 when their values change.
20528 @end table
20529
20530 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
20531 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
20532 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
20533 indicates the breakpoint type:
20534
20535 @table @code
20536 @item B
20537 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20538
20539 @item b
20540 Breakpoint which was never hit.
20541
20542 @item H
20543 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20544
20545 @item h
20546 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
20547 @end table
20548
20549 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
20550
20551 @table @code
20552 @item +
20553 Breakpoint is enabled.
20554
20555 @item -
20556 Breakpoint is disabled.
20557 @end table
20558
20559 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
20560 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
20561 changes.
20562
20563 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
20564 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
20565 layouts:
20566
20567 @itemize @bullet
20568 @item
20569 source only,
20570
20571 @item
20572 assembly only,
20573
20574 @item
20575 source and assembly,
20576
20577 @item
20578 source and registers, or
20579
20580 @item
20581 assembly and registers.
20582 @end itemize
20583
20584 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
20585
20586 @table @emph
20587 @item target
20588 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
20589 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
20590
20591 @item process
20592 Gives the current process or thread number.
20593 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
20594
20595 @item function
20596 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
20597 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
20598 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
20599 the string @code{??} is displayed.
20600
20601 @item line
20602 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
20603 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
20604
20605 @item pc
20606 Indicates the current program counter address.
20607 @end table
20608
20609 @node TUI Keys
20610 @section TUI Key Bindings
20611 @cindex TUI key bindings
20612
20613 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
20614 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
20615 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
20616
20617 @table @kbd
20618 @kindex C-x C-a
20619 @item C-x C-a
20620 @kindex C-x a
20621 @itemx C-x a
20622 @kindex C-x A
20623 @itemx C-x A
20624 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
20625 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
20626 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
20627 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
20628 The screen is then refreshed.
20629
20630 @kindex C-x 1
20631 @item C-x 1
20632 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
20633 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
20634 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
20635
20636 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
20637
20638 @kindex C-x 2
20639 @item C-x 2
20640 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
20641 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
20642 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
20643 previous layout and the new one.
20644
20645 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
20646
20647 @kindex C-x o
20648 @item C-x o
20649 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
20650 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
20651 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
20652
20653 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
20654
20655 @kindex C-x s
20656 @item C-x s
20657 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
20658 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
20659 @end table
20660
20661 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
20662
20663 @table @asis
20664 @kindex PgUp
20665 @item @key{PgUp}
20666 Scroll the active window one page up.
20667
20668 @kindex PgDn
20669 @item @key{PgDn}
20670 Scroll the active window one page down.
20671
20672 @kindex Up
20673 @item @key{Up}
20674 Scroll the active window one line up.
20675
20676 @kindex Down
20677 @item @key{Down}
20678 Scroll the active window one line down.
20679
20680 @kindex Left
20681 @item @key{Left}
20682 Scroll the active window one column left.
20683
20684 @kindex Right
20685 @item @key{Right}
20686 Scroll the active window one column right.
20687
20688 @kindex C-L
20689 @item @kbd{C-L}
20690 Refresh the screen.
20691 @end table
20692
20693 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
20694 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
20695 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
20696 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
20697 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
20698
20699 @node TUI Single Key Mode
20700 @section TUI Single Key Mode
20701 @cindex TUI single key mode
20702
20703 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
20704 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
20705 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
20706
20707 @table @kbd
20708 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20709 @item c
20710 continue
20711
20712 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20713 @item d
20714 down
20715
20716 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20717 @item f
20718 finish
20719
20720 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20721 @item n
20722 next
20723
20724 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20725 @item q
20726 exit the SingleKey mode.
20727
20728 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20729 @item r
20730 run
20731
20732 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20733 @item s
20734 step
20735
20736 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20737 @item u
20738 up
20739
20740 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20741 @item v
20742 info locals
20743
20744 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20745 @item w
20746 where
20747 @end table
20748
20749 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
20750 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
20751 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
20752 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
20753 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
20754 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
20755
20756
20757 @node TUI Commands
20758 @section TUI-specific Commands
20759 @cindex TUI commands
20760
20761 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
20762 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
20763 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
20764 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
20765
20766 @table @code
20767 @item info win
20768 @kindex info win
20769 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
20770
20771 @item layout next
20772 @kindex layout
20773 Display the next layout.
20774
20775 @item layout prev
20776 Display the previous layout.
20777
20778 @item layout src
20779 Display the source window only.
20780
20781 @item layout asm
20782 Display the assembly window only.
20783
20784 @item layout split
20785 Display the source and assembly window.
20786
20787 @item layout regs
20788 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
20789
20790 @item focus next
20791 @kindex focus
20792 Make the next window active for scrolling.
20793
20794 @item focus prev
20795 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
20796
20797 @item focus src
20798 Make the source window active for scrolling.
20799
20800 @item focus asm
20801 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
20802
20803 @item focus regs
20804 Make the register window active for scrolling.
20805
20806 @item focus cmd
20807 Make the command window active for scrolling.
20808
20809 @item refresh
20810 @kindex refresh
20811 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
20812
20813 @item tui reg float
20814 @kindex tui reg
20815 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
20816
20817 @item tui reg general
20818 Show the general registers in the register window.
20819
20820 @item tui reg next
20821 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
20822 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
20823 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
20824 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
20825
20826 @item tui reg system
20827 Show the system registers in the register window.
20828
20829 @item update
20830 @kindex update
20831 Update the source window and the current execution point.
20832
20833 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
20834 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
20835 @kindex winheight
20836 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
20837 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
20838 decrease it.
20839
20840 @item tabset @var{nchars}
20841 @kindex tabset
20842 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
20843 @end table
20844
20845 @node TUI Configuration
20846 @section TUI Configuration Variables
20847 @cindex TUI configuration variables
20848
20849 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
20850
20851 @table @code
20852 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
20853 @kindex set tui border-kind
20854 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
20855 The possible values are the following:
20856 @table @code
20857 @item space
20858 Use a space character to draw the border.
20859
20860 @item ascii
20861 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
20862
20863 @item acs
20864 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
20865 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
20866 @end table
20867
20868 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
20869 @kindex set tui border-mode
20870 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
20871 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
20872 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
20873 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
20874 @table @code
20875 @item normal
20876 Use normal attributes to display the border.
20877
20878 @item standout
20879 Use standout mode.
20880
20881 @item reverse
20882 Use reverse video mode.
20883
20884 @item half
20885 Use half bright mode.
20886
20887 @item half-standout
20888 Use half bright and standout mode.
20889
20890 @item bold
20891 Use extra bright or bold mode.
20892
20893 @item bold-standout
20894 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
20895 @end table
20896 @end table
20897
20898 @node Emacs
20899 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
20900
20901 @cindex Emacs
20902 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
20903 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
20904 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
20905 @value{GDBN}.
20906
20907 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
20908 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
20909 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
20910 created Emacs buffer.
20911 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
20912
20913 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
20914 things:
20915
20916 @itemize @bullet
20917 @item
20918 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
20919 the GUD buffer.
20920
20921 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
20922 and output done by the program you are debugging.
20923
20924 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
20925 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
20926 in this way.
20927
20928 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
20929 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
20930 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
20931 stop.
20932
20933 @item
20934 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
20935
20936 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
20937 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
20938 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
20939 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
20940 and the source.
20941
20942 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
20943 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
20944 @end itemize
20945
20946 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
20947 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
20948 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
20949 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
20950
20951 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
20952 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
20953 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
20954 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
20955 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
20956 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
20957 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
20958 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
20959 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
20960
20961 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
20962 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
20963 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
20964 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
20965
20966 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
20967 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
20968 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
20969 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
20970 one you want.
20971
20972 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
20973 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
20974
20975 @table @kbd
20976 @item C-h m
20977 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
20978
20979 @item C-c C-s
20980 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
20981 update the display window to show the current file and location.
20982
20983 @item C-c C-n
20984 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
20985 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
20986 to show the current file and location.
20987
20988 @item C-c C-i
20989 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
20990 display window accordingly.
20991
20992 @item C-c C-f
20993 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
20994 @code{finish} command.
20995
20996 @item C-c C-r
20997 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
20998 command.
20999
21000 @item C-c <
21001 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
21002 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
21003 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
21004
21005 @item C-c >
21006 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
21007 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
21008 @end table
21009
21010 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
21011 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
21012
21013 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
21014 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
21015 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
21016 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
21017 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
21018 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
21019 speedbar displays watch expressions.
21020
21021 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
21022 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
21023 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
21024 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
21025 frame.
21026
21027 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
21028 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
21029 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
21030 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
21031 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
21032 to correspond properly with the code.
21033
21034 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
21035 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
21036 Emacs Manual}).
21037
21038 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
21039 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
21040 @ignore
21041 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
21042 @kindex Epoch
21043 @kindex inspect
21044
21045 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
21046 called the @code{epoch}
21047 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
21048 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
21049 each value is printed in its own window.
21050 @end ignore
21051
21052
21053 @node GDB/MI
21054 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
21055
21056 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
21057
21058 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
21059 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
21060 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
21061 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
21062 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
21063 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
21064
21065 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
21066 in the form of a reference manual.
21067
21068 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
21069 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
21070 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
21071
21072 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
21073
21074 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
21075 This chapter uses the following notation:
21076
21077 @itemize @bullet
21078 @item
21079 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
21080
21081 @item
21082 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
21083 it may or may not be given.
21084
21085 @item
21086 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
21087 may repeat zero or more times.
21088
21089 @item
21090 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
21091 may repeat one or more times.
21092
21093 @item
21094 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
21095 @end itemize
21096
21097 @ignore
21098 @heading Dependencies
21099 @end ignore
21100
21101 @menu
21102 * GDB/MI General Design::
21103 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
21104 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
21105 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
21106 * GDB/MI Output Records::
21107 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
21108 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
21109 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
21110 * GDB/MI Program Context::
21111 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
21112 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
21113 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
21114 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
21115 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
21116 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
21117 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
21118 * GDB/MI File Commands::
21119 @ignore
21120 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
21121 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
21122 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
21123 @end ignore
21124 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
21125 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
21126 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
21127 @end menu
21128
21129 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21130 @node GDB/MI General Design
21131 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
21132 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
21133
21134 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
21135 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
21136 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
21137 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
21138 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
21139 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
21140 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
21141 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
21142 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
21143 a command and reported as part of that command response.
21144
21145 The important examples of notifications are:
21146 @itemize @bullet
21147
21148 @item
21149 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
21150 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
21151 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
21152 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
21153 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
21154 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
21155 command itself was successfully executed.
21156
21157 @item
21158 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
21159 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
21160 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
21161 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
21162 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
21163 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
21164
21165 @item
21166 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
21167 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
21168 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
21169 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
21170 orthogonal frontend design.
21171
21172 @end itemize
21173
21174 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
21175 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
21176 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
21177 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
21178 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
21179 the user interface.
21180
21181
21182 @menu
21183 * Context management::
21184 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
21185 * Thread groups::
21186 @end menu
21187
21188 @node Context management
21189 @subsection Context management
21190
21191 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
21192 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
21193 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
21194 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
21195 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
21196 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
21197 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
21198 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
21199 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
21200
21201 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
21202 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
21203 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
21204 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
21205 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
21206 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
21207 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
21208 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
21209 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
21210 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
21211 for thread and frame to operate on.
21212
21213 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
21214 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
21215 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
21216 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
21217 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
21218 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
21219 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
21220 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
21221 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
21222 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
21223
21224 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
21225 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
21226 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
21227 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
21228 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
21229 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
21230 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
21231 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
21232 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
21233 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
21234 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
21235 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
21236 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
21237 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
21238 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
21239 @samp{--frame} options.
21240
21241 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
21242 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
21243
21244 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
21245 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
21246 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
21247 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
21248 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
21249 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
21250 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
21251 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
21252 @code{-list-target-features} command.
21253
21254 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
21255 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
21256 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
21257 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
21258 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
21259 are running.
21260
21261 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
21262 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
21263 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
21264 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
21265 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
21266 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
21267 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
21268 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
21269 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
21270 @samp{--thread} option).
21271
21272 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
21273 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
21274 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
21275 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
21276
21277 @node Thread groups
21278 @subsection Thread groups
21279 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
21280 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
21281 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
21282 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
21283 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
21284
21285 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
21286 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
21287 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
21288 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
21289 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
21290 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
21291 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
21292 into processes.
21293
21294 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
21295 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
21296 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
21297 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
21298 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
21299 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
21300 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
21301 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
21302 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
21303 the members of specific thread group.
21304
21305 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
21306 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
21307 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
21308 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
21309 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
21310 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
21311 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
21312 after attaching to that thread group.
21313
21314 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21315 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
21316 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
21317
21318 @menu
21319 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
21320 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
21321 @end menu
21322
21323 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
21324 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
21325
21326 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
21327 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
21328 @table @code
21329 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
21330 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
21331
21332 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
21333 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
21334 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21335
21336 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
21337 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
21338 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
21339
21340 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
21341 "any sequence of digits"
21342
21343 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
21344 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
21345
21346 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
21347 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
21348
21349 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
21350 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
21351
21352 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
21353 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
21354 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
21355
21356 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
21357 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
21358
21359 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
21360 @code{CR | CR-LF}
21361 @end table
21362
21363 @noindent
21364 Notes:
21365
21366 @itemize @bullet
21367 @item
21368 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
21369 output is described below.
21370
21371 @item
21372 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
21373 finishes.
21374
21375 @item
21376 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
21377 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
21378 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
21379 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
21380 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
21381 @end itemize
21382
21383 Pragmatics:
21384
21385 @itemize @bullet
21386 @item
21387 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
21388
21389 @item
21390 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
21391 @end itemize
21392
21393 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
21394 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
21395
21396 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
21397 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
21398 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
21399 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
21400 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
21401 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
21402
21403 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
21404 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
21405 @var{token}.
21406
21407 @table @code
21408 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
21409 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
21410
21411 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
21412 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
21413
21414 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
21415 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
21416
21417 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
21418 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
21419
21420 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
21421 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
21422
21423 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
21424 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
21425
21426 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
21427 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
21428
21429 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
21430 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
21431
21432 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
21433 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
21434
21435 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
21436 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
21437 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
21438
21439 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
21440 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
21441
21442 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
21443 @code{ @var{string} }
21444
21445 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
21446 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
21447
21448 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
21449 @code{@var{c-string}}
21450
21451 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
21452 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
21453
21454 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
21455 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
21456 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
21457
21458 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
21459 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
21460
21461 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
21462 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
21463
21464 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
21465 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
21466
21467 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
21468 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
21469
21470 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
21471 @code{CR | CR-LF}
21472
21473 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
21474 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
21475 @end table
21476
21477 @noindent
21478 Notes:
21479
21480 @itemize @bullet
21481 @item
21482 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
21483
21484 @item
21485 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
21486 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
21487 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
21488 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
21489 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
21490 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
21491 prior command.
21492
21493 @item
21494 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21495 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
21496 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
21497 prefixed by @samp{+}.
21498
21499 @item
21500 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21501 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
21502 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
21503 @samp{*}.
21504
21505 @item
21506 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21507 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
21508 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
21509 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
21510
21511 @item
21512 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21513 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
21514 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
21515 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
21516
21517 @item
21518 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21519 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
21520 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
21521
21522 @item
21523 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21524 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
21525 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
21526 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
21527
21528 @item
21529 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21530 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
21531 @var{values}.
21532
21533
21534 @end itemize
21535
21536 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
21537 details about the various output records.
21538
21539 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21540 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
21541 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
21542
21543 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
21544 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
21545
21546 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
21547 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
21548 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
21549 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
21550 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
21551 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
21552
21553 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
21554 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
21555 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
21556
21557 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21558 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
21559 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
21560 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
21561
21562 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
21563 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
21564
21565 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
21566 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
21567 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
21568 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
21569 might change.
21570
21571 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
21572 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
21573 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
21574 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
21575
21576 @itemize @bullet
21577 @item
21578 New MI commands may be added.
21579
21580 @item
21581 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
21582
21583 @item
21584 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
21585 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
21586
21587 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
21588 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
21589
21590 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
21591 @c resolve inconsistencies.
21592 @end itemize
21593
21594 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
21595 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
21596 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
21597 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
21598 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
21599
21600 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
21601 @c version?
21602
21603 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
21604 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
21605 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
21606 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
21607 @cindex mailing lists
21608
21609 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21610 @node GDB/MI Output Records
21611 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
21612
21613 @menu
21614 * GDB/MI Result Records::
21615 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
21616 * GDB/MI Async Records::
21617 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
21618 @end menu
21619
21620 @node GDB/MI Result Records
21621 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
21622
21623 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21624 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
21625 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
21626 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
21627
21628 @table @code
21629 @findex ^done
21630 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
21631 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
21632 values.
21633
21634 @item "^running"
21635 @findex ^running
21636 @c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
21637 The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
21638 running.
21639
21640 @item "^connected"
21641 @findex ^connected
21642 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
21643
21644 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
21645 @findex ^error
21646 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
21647 error message.
21648
21649 @item "^exit"
21650 @findex ^exit
21651 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
21652
21653 @end table
21654
21655 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
21656 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
21657
21658 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
21659 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21660 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
21661 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
21662 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
21663
21664 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
21665 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
21666 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
21667 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
21668 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
21669
21670 @table @code
21671 @item "~" @var{string-output}
21672 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
21673 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
21674
21675 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
21676 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
21677 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
21678 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
21679
21680 @item "&" @var{string-output}
21681 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
21682 internals.
21683 @end table
21684
21685 @node GDB/MI Async Records
21686 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
21687
21688 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21689 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
21690 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
21691 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
21692 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
21693 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
21694
21695 The following is the list of possible async records:
21696
21697 @table @code
21698
21699 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
21700 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
21701 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
21702 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
21703 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
21704 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
21705 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
21706 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
21707 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
21708 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
21709
21710 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}"
21711 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
21712 following values:
21713
21714 @table @code
21715 @item breakpoint-hit
21716 A breakpoint was reached.
21717 @item watchpoint-trigger
21718 A watchpoint was triggered.
21719 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
21720 A read watchpoint was triggered.
21721 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
21722 An access watchpoint was triggered.
21723 @item function-finished
21724 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21725 @item location-reached
21726 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21727 @item watchpoint-scope
21728 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
21729 @item end-stepping-range
21730 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
21731 similar CLI command was accomplished.
21732 @item exited-signalled
21733 The inferior exited because of a signal.
21734 @item exited
21735 The inferior exited.
21736 @item exited-normally
21737 The inferior exited normally.
21738 @item signal-received
21739 A signal was received by the inferior.
21740 @end table
21741
21742 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
21743 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
21744 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
21745 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
21746 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
21747 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
21748 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
21749 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
21750 several threads in the list.
21751
21752 @item =thread-group-created,id="@var{id}"
21753 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
21754 A thread thread group either was attached to, or has exited/detached
21755 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
21756 thread group.
21757
21758 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21759 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21760 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
21761 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
21762 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
21763
21764 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
21765 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
21766 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
21767 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
21768 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
21769 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
21770 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
21771
21772 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
21773 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
21774 that thread.
21775
21776 @item =library-loaded,...
21777 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
21778 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
21779 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
21780 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
21781 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
21782 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
21783 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
21784 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
21785 library are loaded.
21786
21787 @item =library-unloaded,...
21788 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
21789 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
21790 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification
21791
21792 @end table
21793
21794 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
21795 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
21796
21797 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
21798 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
21799 fields:
21800
21801 @table @code
21802 @item level
21803 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
21804 zero. This field is always present.
21805
21806 @item func
21807 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
21808 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
21809
21810 @item addr
21811 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
21812
21813 @item file
21814 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
21815 address. This field may be absent.
21816
21817 @item line
21818 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
21819 may be absent.
21820
21821 @item from
21822 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
21823 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
21824
21825 @end table
21826
21827
21828 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21829 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
21830 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
21831 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
21832
21833 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
21834 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
21835 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
21836 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
21837
21838 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
21839 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
21840
21841 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
21842
21843 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
21844 information of the breakpoint.
21845
21846 @smallexample
21847 -> -break-insert main
21848 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
21849 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
21850 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
21851 <- (gdb)
21852 @end smallexample
21853
21854 @subheading Program Execution
21855
21856 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
21857 reason that execution stopped.
21858
21859 @smallexample
21860 -> -exec-run
21861 <- ^running
21862 <- (gdb)
21863 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
21864 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
21865 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
21866 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
21867 <- (gdb)
21868 -> -exec-continue
21869 <- ^running
21870 <- (gdb)
21871 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
21872 <- (gdb)
21873 @end smallexample
21874
21875 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
21876
21877 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
21878
21879 @smallexample
21880 -> (gdb)
21881 <- -gdb-exit
21882 <- ^exit
21883 @end smallexample
21884
21885 @subheading A Bad Command
21886
21887 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
21888
21889 @smallexample
21890 -> -rubbish
21891 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
21892 <- (gdb)
21893 @end smallexample
21894
21895
21896 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21897 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
21898 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
21899
21900 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
21901 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
21902
21903 @subheading Motivation
21904
21905 The motivation for this collection of commands.
21906
21907 @subheading Introduction
21908
21909 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
21910
21911 @subheading Commands
21912
21913 For each command in the block, the following is described:
21914
21915 @subsubheading Synopsis
21916
21917 @smallexample
21918 -command @var{args}@dots{}
21919 @end smallexample
21920
21921 @subsubheading Result
21922
21923 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21924
21925 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
21926
21927 @subsubheading Example
21928
21929 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
21930 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
21931
21932
21933 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21934 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
21935 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
21936
21937 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
21938 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
21939 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
21940 breakpoints.
21941
21942 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
21943 @findex -break-after
21944
21945 @subsubheading Synopsis
21946
21947 @smallexample
21948 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
21949 @end smallexample
21950
21951 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
21952 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
21953 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
21954 @samp{-break-list} command below.
21955
21956 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21957
21958 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
21959
21960 @subsubheading Example
21961
21962 @smallexample
21963 (gdb)
21964 -break-insert main
21965 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
21966 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
21967 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
21968 (gdb)
21969 -break-after 1 3
21970 ~
21971 ^done
21972 (gdb)
21973 -break-list
21974 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21975 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21976 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21977 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21978 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21979 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21980 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21981 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21982 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21983 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
21984 (gdb)
21985 @end smallexample
21986
21987 @ignore
21988 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
21989 @findex -break-catch
21990 @end ignore
21991
21992 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
21993 @findex -break-commands
21994
21995 @subsubheading Synopsis
21996
21997 @smallexample
21998 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
21999 @end smallexample
22000
22001 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
22002 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
22003 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
22004 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
22005 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
22006 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
22007
22008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22009
22010 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
22011
22012 @subsubheading Example
22013
22014 @smallexample
22015 (gdb)
22016 -break-insert main
22017 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
22018 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
22019 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
22020 (gdb)
22021 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
22022 ^done
22023 (gdb)
22024 @end smallexample
22025
22026 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
22027 @findex -break-condition
22028
22029 @subsubheading Synopsis
22030
22031 @smallexample
22032 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
22033 @end smallexample
22034
22035 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
22036 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
22037 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
22038 command below).
22039
22040 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22041
22042 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
22043
22044 @subsubheading Example
22045
22046 @smallexample
22047 (gdb)
22048 -break-condition 1 1
22049 ^done
22050 (gdb)
22051 -break-list
22052 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22053 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22054 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22055 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22056 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22057 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22058 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22059 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22060 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22061 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
22062 (gdb)
22063 @end smallexample
22064
22065 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
22066 @findex -break-delete
22067
22068 @subsubheading Synopsis
22069
22070 @smallexample
22071 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22072 @end smallexample
22073
22074 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
22075 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
22076
22077 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22078
22079 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
22080
22081 @subsubheading Example
22082
22083 @smallexample
22084 (gdb)
22085 -break-delete 1
22086 ^done
22087 (gdb)
22088 -break-list
22089 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
22090 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22091 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22092 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22093 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22094 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22095 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22096 body=[]@}
22097 (gdb)
22098 @end smallexample
22099
22100 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
22101 @findex -break-disable
22102
22103 @subsubheading Synopsis
22104
22105 @smallexample
22106 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22107 @end smallexample
22108
22109 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
22110 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
22111
22112 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22113
22114 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
22115
22116 @subsubheading Example
22117
22118 @smallexample
22119 (gdb)
22120 -break-disable 2
22121 ^done
22122 (gdb)
22123 -break-list
22124 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22125 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22126 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22127 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22128 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22129 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22130 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22131 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
22132 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22133 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
22134 (gdb)
22135 @end smallexample
22136
22137 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
22138 @findex -break-enable
22139
22140 @subsubheading Synopsis
22141
22142 @smallexample
22143 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22144 @end smallexample
22145
22146 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
22147
22148 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22149
22150 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
22151
22152 @subsubheading Example
22153
22154 @smallexample
22155 (gdb)
22156 -break-enable 2
22157 ^done
22158 (gdb)
22159 -break-list
22160 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22161 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22162 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22163 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22164 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22165 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22166 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22167 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22168 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22169 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
22170 (gdb)
22171 @end smallexample
22172
22173 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
22174 @findex -break-info
22175
22176 @subsubheading Synopsis
22177
22178 @smallexample
22179 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
22180 @end smallexample
22181
22182 @c REDUNDANT???
22183 Get information about a single breakpoint.
22184
22185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22186
22187 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
22188
22189 @subsubheading Example
22190 N.A.
22191
22192 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
22193 @findex -break-insert
22194
22195 @subsubheading Synopsis
22196
22197 @smallexample
22198 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
22199 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
22200 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
22201 @end smallexample
22202
22203 @noindent
22204 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
22205
22206 @itemize @bullet
22207 @item function
22208 @c @item +offset
22209 @c @item -offset
22210 @c @item linenum
22211 @item filename:linenum
22212 @item filename:function
22213 @item *address
22214 @end itemize
22215
22216 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
22217
22218 @table @samp
22219 @item -t
22220 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
22221 @item -h
22222 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
22223 @item -c @var{condition}
22224 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
22225 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
22226 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
22227 @item -f
22228 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
22229 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
22230 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
22231 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
22232 cannot be parsed.
22233 @item -d
22234 Create a disabled breakpoint.
22235 @end table
22236
22237 @subsubheading Result
22238
22239 The result is in the form:
22240
22241 @smallexample
22242 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
22243 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
22244 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
22245 times="@var{times}"@}
22246 @end smallexample
22247
22248 @noindent
22249 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
22250 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
22251 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
22252 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
22253 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
22254 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
22255 which use the same output).
22256
22257 Note: this format is open to change.
22258 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
22259
22260 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22261
22262 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
22263 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
22264
22265 @subsubheading Example
22266
22267 @smallexample
22268 (gdb)
22269 -break-insert main
22270 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
22271 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
22272 (gdb)
22273 -break-insert -t foo
22274 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
22275 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
22276 (gdb)
22277 -break-list
22278 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22279 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22280 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22281 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22282 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22283 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22284 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22285 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22286 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
22287 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
22288 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
22289 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
22290 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
22291 (gdb)
22292 -break-insert -r foo.*
22293 ~int foo(int, int);
22294 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
22295 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
22296 (gdb)
22297 @end smallexample
22298
22299 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
22300 @findex -break-list
22301
22302 @subsubheading Synopsis
22303
22304 @smallexample
22305 -break-list
22306 @end smallexample
22307
22308 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
22309
22310 @table @samp
22311 @item Number
22312 number of the breakpoint
22313 @item Type
22314 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
22315 @item Disposition
22316 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
22317 or @samp{nokeep}
22318 @item Enabled
22319 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
22320 @item Address
22321 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
22322 @item What
22323 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
22324 name, line number
22325 @item Times
22326 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
22327 @end table
22328
22329 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
22330 @code{body} field is an empty list.
22331
22332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22333
22334 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
22335
22336 @subsubheading Example
22337
22338 @smallexample
22339 (gdb)
22340 -break-list
22341 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22342 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22343 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22344 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22345 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22346 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22347 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22348 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22349 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
22350 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22351 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22352 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
22353 (gdb)
22354 @end smallexample
22355
22356 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
22357
22358 @smallexample
22359 (gdb)
22360 -break-list
22361 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
22362 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22363 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22364 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22365 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22366 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22367 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22368 body=[]@}
22369 (gdb)
22370 @end smallexample
22371
22372 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
22373 @findex -break-watch
22374
22375 @subsubheading Synopsis
22376
22377 @smallexample
22378 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
22379 @end smallexample
22380
22381 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
22382 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
22383 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
22384 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
22385 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
22386 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
22387 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
22388 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
22389
22390 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
22391 breakpoints inserted.
22392
22393 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22394
22395 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
22396 @samp{rwatch}.
22397
22398 @subsubheading Example
22399
22400 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
22401
22402 @smallexample
22403 (gdb)
22404 -break-watch x
22405 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
22406 (gdb)
22407 -exec-continue
22408 ^running
22409 (gdb)
22410 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
22411 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
22412 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
22413 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
22414 (gdb)
22415 @end smallexample
22416
22417 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
22418 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
22419 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
22420
22421 @smallexample
22422 (gdb)
22423 -break-watch C
22424 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
22425 (gdb)
22426 -exec-continue
22427 ^running
22428 (gdb)
22429 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
22430 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
22431 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
22432 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22433 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
22434 (gdb)
22435 -exec-continue
22436 ^running
22437 (gdb)
22438 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
22439 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
22440 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
22441 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22442 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
22443 (gdb)
22444 @end smallexample
22445
22446 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
22447 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
22448 deleted.
22449
22450 @smallexample
22451 (gdb)
22452 -break-watch C
22453 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
22454 (gdb)
22455 -break-list
22456 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22457 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22458 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22459 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22460 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22461 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22462 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22463 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22464 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22465 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22466 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
22467 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
22468 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
22469 (gdb)
22470 -exec-continue
22471 ^running
22472 (gdb)
22473 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
22474 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
22475 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
22476 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22477 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
22478 (gdb)
22479 -break-list
22480 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22481 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22482 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22483 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22484 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22485 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22486 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22487 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22488 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22489 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22490 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
22491 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
22492 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
22493 (gdb)
22494 -exec-continue
22495 ^running
22496 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
22497 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
22498 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
22499 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22500 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
22501 (gdb)
22502 -break-list
22503 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22504 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22505 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22506 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22507 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22508 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22509 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22510 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22511 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22512 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22513 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
22514 times="1"@}]@}
22515 (gdb)
22516 @end smallexample
22517
22518 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22519 @node GDB/MI Program Context
22520 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
22521
22522 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
22523 @findex -exec-arguments
22524
22525
22526 @subsubheading Synopsis
22527
22528 @smallexample
22529 -exec-arguments @var{args}
22530 @end smallexample
22531
22532 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
22533 @samp{-exec-run}.
22534
22535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22536
22537 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
22538
22539 @subsubheading Example
22540
22541 @smallexample
22542 (gdb)
22543 -exec-arguments -v word
22544 ^done
22545 (gdb)
22546 @end smallexample
22547
22548
22549 @ignore
22550 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
22551 @findex -exec-show-arguments
22552
22553 @subsubheading Synopsis
22554
22555 @smallexample
22556 -exec-show-arguments
22557 @end smallexample
22558
22559 Print the arguments of the program.
22560
22561 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22562
22563 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
22564
22565 @subsubheading Example
22566 N.A.
22567 @end ignore
22568
22569
22570 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
22571 @findex -environment-cd
22572
22573 @subsubheading Synopsis
22574
22575 @smallexample
22576 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
22577 @end smallexample
22578
22579 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
22580
22581 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22582
22583 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
22584
22585 @subsubheading Example
22586
22587 @smallexample
22588 (gdb)
22589 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22590 ^done
22591 (gdb)
22592 @end smallexample
22593
22594
22595 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
22596 @findex -environment-directory
22597
22598 @subsubheading Synopsis
22599
22600 @smallexample
22601 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22602 @end smallexample
22603
22604 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
22605 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
22606 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
22607 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22608 occurs as normal.
22609 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22610 multiple directories in a single command
22611 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22612 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22613 If blanks are needed as
22614 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22615 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22616 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22617 character must not be used
22618 in any directory name.
22619 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
22620
22621 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22622
22623 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
22624
22625 @subsubheading Example
22626
22627 @smallexample
22628 (gdb)
22629 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22630 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22631 (gdb)
22632 -environment-directory ""
22633 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22634 (gdb)
22635 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
22636 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
22637 (gdb)
22638 -environment-directory -r
22639 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
22640 (gdb)
22641 @end smallexample
22642
22643
22644 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
22645 @findex -environment-path
22646
22647 @subsubheading Synopsis
22648
22649 @smallexample
22650 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22651 @end smallexample
22652
22653 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
22654 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
22655 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
22656 supplied in addition to the
22657 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22658 occurs as normal.
22659 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22660 multiple directories in a single command
22661 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22662 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22663 If blanks are needed as
22664 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22665 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22666 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22667 character must not be used
22668 in any directory name.
22669 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
22670
22671
22672 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22673
22674 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
22675
22676 @subsubheading Example
22677
22678 @smallexample
22679 (gdb)
22680 -environment-path
22681 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
22682 (gdb)
22683 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
22684 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
22685 (gdb)
22686 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
22687 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
22688 (gdb)
22689 @end smallexample
22690
22691
22692 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
22693 @findex -environment-pwd
22694
22695 @subsubheading Synopsis
22696
22697 @smallexample
22698 -environment-pwd
22699 @end smallexample
22700
22701 Show the current working directory.
22702
22703 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22704
22705 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
22706
22707 @subsubheading Example
22708
22709 @smallexample
22710 (gdb)
22711 -environment-pwd
22712 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
22713 (gdb)
22714 @end smallexample
22715
22716 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22717 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
22718 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
22719
22720
22721 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
22722 @findex -thread-info
22723
22724 @subsubheading Synopsis
22725
22726 @smallexample
22727 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
22728 @end smallexample
22729
22730 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
22731 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
22732 threads. When printing information about all threads,
22733 also reports the current thread.
22734
22735 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22736
22737 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
22738 about all threads.
22739
22740 @subsubheading Example
22741
22742 @smallexample
22743 -thread-info
22744 ^done,threads=[
22745 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
22746 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
22747 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
22748 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
22749 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
22750 current-thread-id="1"
22751 (gdb)
22752 @end smallexample
22753
22754 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
22755
22756 @table @code
22757 @item stopped
22758 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
22759 threads.
22760
22761 @item running
22762 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
22763 threads.
22764
22765 @end table
22766
22767 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
22768 @findex -thread-list-ids
22769
22770 @subsubheading Synopsis
22771
22772 @smallexample
22773 -thread-list-ids
22774 @end smallexample
22775
22776 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
22777 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
22778
22779 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
22780 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
22781
22782 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22783
22784 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
22785
22786 @subsubheading Example
22787
22788 @smallexample
22789 (gdb)
22790 -thread-list-ids
22791 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
22792 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
22793 (gdb)
22794 @end smallexample
22795
22796
22797 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
22798 @findex -thread-select
22799
22800 @subsubheading Synopsis
22801
22802 @smallexample
22803 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
22804 @end smallexample
22805
22806 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
22807 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
22808
22809 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
22810 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
22811
22812 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22813
22814 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
22815
22816 @subsubheading Example
22817
22818 @smallexample
22819 (gdb)
22820 -exec-next
22821 ^running
22822 (gdb)
22823 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
22824 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
22825 (gdb)
22826 -thread-list-ids
22827 ^done,
22828 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
22829 number-of-threads="3"
22830 (gdb)
22831 -thread-select 3
22832 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
22833 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
22834 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
22835 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
22836 (gdb)
22837 @end smallexample
22838
22839 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22840 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
22841 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
22842
22843 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
22844 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
22845 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
22846 other cases.
22847
22848 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
22849 @findex -exec-continue
22850
22851 @subsubheading Synopsis
22852
22853 @smallexample
22854 -exec-continue [--all|--thread-group N]
22855 @end smallexample
22856
22857 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
22858 encountered, or until the inferior exits. In all-stop mode
22859 (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads,
22860 depending on the value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. In
22861 non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), if the @samp{--all} is not
22862 specified, only the thread specified with the @samp{--thread} option
22863 (or current thread, if no @samp{--thread} is provided) is resumed. If
22864 @samp{--all} is specified, all threads will be resumed. The
22865 @samp{--all} option is ignored in all-stop mode. If the
22866 @samp{--thread-group} options is specified, then all threads in that
22867 thread group are resumed.
22868
22869 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22870
22871 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
22872
22873 @subsubheading Example
22874
22875 @smallexample
22876 -exec-continue
22877 ^running
22878 (gdb)
22879 @@Hello world
22880 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
22881 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
22882 line="13"@}
22883 (gdb)
22884 @end smallexample
22885
22886
22887 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
22888 @findex -exec-finish
22889
22890 @subsubheading Synopsis
22891
22892 @smallexample
22893 -exec-finish
22894 @end smallexample
22895
22896 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
22897 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
22898
22899 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22900
22901 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
22902
22903 @subsubheading Example
22904
22905 Function returning @code{void}.
22906
22907 @smallexample
22908 -exec-finish
22909 ^running
22910 (gdb)
22911 @@hello from foo
22912 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
22913 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
22914 (gdb)
22915 @end smallexample
22916
22917 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
22918 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
22919 value itself.
22920
22921 @smallexample
22922 -exec-finish
22923 ^running
22924 (gdb)
22925 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
22926 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
22927 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22928 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
22929 (gdb)
22930 @end smallexample
22931
22932
22933 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
22934 @findex -exec-interrupt
22935
22936 @subsubheading Synopsis
22937
22938 @smallexample
22939 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
22940 @end smallexample
22941
22942 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
22943 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
22944 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
22945 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
22946 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
22947
22948 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
22949 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
22950 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
22951 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
22952
22953 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
22954 All threads will be interrupted if the @samp{--all} option is
22955 specified. If the @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, all
22956 threads in that group will be interrupted.
22957
22958 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22959
22960 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
22961
22962 @subsubheading Example
22963
22964 @smallexample
22965 (gdb)
22966 111-exec-continue
22967 111^running
22968
22969 (gdb)
22970 222-exec-interrupt
22971 222^done
22972 (gdb)
22973 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
22974 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
22975 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
22976 (gdb)
22977
22978 (gdb)
22979 -exec-interrupt
22980 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
22981 (gdb)
22982 @end smallexample
22983
22984 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
22985 @findex -exec-jump
22986
22987 @subsubheading Synopsis
22988
22989 @smallexample
22990 -exec-jump @var{location}
22991 @end smallexample
22992
22993 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
22994 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
22995 different forms of @var{location}.
22996
22997 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22998
22999 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
23000
23001 @subsubheading Example
23002
23003 @smallexample
23004 -exec-jump foo.c:10
23005 *running,thread-id="all"
23006 ^running
23007 @end smallexample
23008
23009
23010 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
23011 @findex -exec-next
23012
23013 @subsubheading Synopsis
23014
23015 @smallexample
23016 -exec-next
23017 @end smallexample
23018
23019 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
23020 of the next source line is reached.
23021
23022 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23023
23024 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
23025
23026 @subsubheading Example
23027
23028 @smallexample
23029 -exec-next
23030 ^running
23031 (gdb)
23032 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
23033 (gdb)
23034 @end smallexample
23035
23036
23037 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
23038 @findex -exec-next-instruction
23039
23040 @subsubheading Synopsis
23041
23042 @smallexample
23043 -exec-next-instruction
23044 @end smallexample
23045
23046 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
23047 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
23048 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
23049 printed as well.
23050
23051 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23052
23053 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
23054
23055 @subsubheading Example
23056
23057 @smallexample
23058 (gdb)
23059 -exec-next-instruction
23060 ^running
23061
23062 (gdb)
23063 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23064 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
23065 (gdb)
23066 @end smallexample
23067
23068
23069 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
23070 @findex -exec-return
23071
23072 @subsubheading Synopsis
23073
23074 @smallexample
23075 -exec-return
23076 @end smallexample
23077
23078 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
23079 Displays the new current frame.
23080
23081 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23082
23083 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
23084
23085 @subsubheading Example
23086
23087 @smallexample
23088 (gdb)
23089 200-break-insert callee4
23090 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
23091 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
23092 (gdb)
23093 000-exec-run
23094 000^running
23095 (gdb)
23096 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
23097 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
23098 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23099 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
23100 (gdb)
23101 205-break-delete
23102 205^done
23103 (gdb)
23104 111-exec-return
23105 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
23106 args=[@{name="strarg",
23107 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
23108 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23109 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
23110 (gdb)
23111 @end smallexample
23112
23113
23114 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
23115 @findex -exec-run
23116
23117 @subsubheading Synopsis
23118
23119 @smallexample
23120 -exec-run
23121 @end smallexample
23122
23123 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
23124 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
23125 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
23126 the program has exited exceptionally.
23127
23128 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23129
23130 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
23131
23132 @subsubheading Examples
23133
23134 @smallexample
23135 (gdb)
23136 -break-insert main
23137 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
23138 (gdb)
23139 -exec-run
23140 ^running
23141 (gdb)
23142 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
23143 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
23144 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
23145 (gdb)
23146 @end smallexample
23147
23148 @noindent
23149 Program exited normally:
23150
23151 @smallexample
23152 (gdb)
23153 -exec-run
23154 ^running
23155 (gdb)
23156 x = 55
23157 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23158 (gdb)
23159 @end smallexample
23160
23161 @noindent
23162 Program exited exceptionally:
23163
23164 @smallexample
23165 (gdb)
23166 -exec-run
23167 ^running
23168 (gdb)
23169 x = 55
23170 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
23171 (gdb)
23172 @end smallexample
23173
23174 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
23175 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
23176
23177 @smallexample
23178 (gdb)
23179 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
23180 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
23181 @end smallexample
23182
23183
23184 @c @subheading -exec-signal
23185
23186
23187 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
23188 @findex -exec-step
23189
23190 @subsubheading Synopsis
23191
23192 @smallexample
23193 -exec-step
23194 @end smallexample
23195
23196 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
23197 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
23198 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
23199 function.
23200
23201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23202
23203 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
23204
23205 @subsubheading Example
23206
23207 Stepping into a function:
23208
23209 @smallexample
23210 -exec-step
23211 ^running
23212 (gdb)
23213 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23214 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
23215 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
23216 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
23217 (gdb)
23218 @end smallexample
23219
23220 Regular stepping:
23221
23222 @smallexample
23223 -exec-step
23224 ^running
23225 (gdb)
23226 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
23227 (gdb)
23228 @end smallexample
23229
23230
23231 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
23232 @findex -exec-step-instruction
23233
23234 @subsubheading Synopsis
23235
23236 @smallexample
23237 -exec-step-instruction
23238 @end smallexample
23239
23240 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
23241 output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
23242 we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
23243 case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
23244 well.
23245
23246 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23247
23248 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
23249
23250 @subsubheading Example
23251
23252 @smallexample
23253 (gdb)
23254 -exec-step-instruction
23255 ^running
23256
23257 (gdb)
23258 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23259 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
23260 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
23261 (gdb)
23262 -exec-step-instruction
23263 ^running
23264
23265 (gdb)
23266 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23267 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
23268 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
23269 (gdb)
23270 @end smallexample
23271
23272
23273 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
23274 @findex -exec-until
23275
23276 @subsubheading Synopsis
23277
23278 @smallexample
23279 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
23280 @end smallexample
23281
23282 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
23283 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
23284 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
23285 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
23286
23287 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23288
23289 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
23290
23291 @subsubheading Example
23292
23293 @smallexample
23294 (gdb)
23295 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
23296 ^running
23297 (gdb)
23298 x = 55
23299 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
23300 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
23301 (gdb)
23302 @end smallexample
23303
23304 @ignore
23305 @subheading -file-clear
23306 Is this going away????
23307 @end ignore
23308
23309 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23310 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
23311 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
23312
23313
23314 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
23315 @findex -stack-info-frame
23316
23317 @subsubheading Synopsis
23318
23319 @smallexample
23320 -stack-info-frame
23321 @end smallexample
23322
23323 Get info on the selected frame.
23324
23325 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23326
23327 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
23328 (without arguments).
23329
23330 @subsubheading Example
23331
23332 @smallexample
23333 (gdb)
23334 -stack-info-frame
23335 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
23336 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23337 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
23338 (gdb)
23339 @end smallexample
23340
23341 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
23342 @findex -stack-info-depth
23343
23344 @subsubheading Synopsis
23345
23346 @smallexample
23347 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
23348 @end smallexample
23349
23350 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
23351 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
23352
23353 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23354
23355 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
23356
23357 @subsubheading Example
23358
23359 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
23360
23361 @smallexample
23362 (gdb)
23363 -stack-info-depth
23364 ^done,depth="12"
23365 (gdb)
23366 -stack-info-depth 4
23367 ^done,depth="4"
23368 (gdb)
23369 -stack-info-depth 12
23370 ^done,depth="12"
23371 (gdb)
23372 -stack-info-depth 11
23373 ^done,depth="11"
23374 (gdb)
23375 -stack-info-depth 13
23376 ^done,depth="12"
23377 (gdb)
23378 @end smallexample
23379
23380 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
23381 @findex -stack-list-arguments
23382
23383 @subsubheading Synopsis
23384
23385 @smallexample
23386 -stack-list-arguments @var{show-values}
23387 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
23388 @end smallexample
23389
23390 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
23391 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
23392 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
23393 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
23394 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
23395 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
23396 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
23397 which case only existing frames will be returned.
23398
23399 The @var{show-values} argument must have a value of 0 or 1. A value of
23400 0 means that only the names of the arguments are listed, a value of 1
23401 means that both names and values of the arguments are printed.
23402
23403 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
23404 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
23405
23406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23407
23408 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
23409 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
23410 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
23411
23412 @subsubheading Example
23413
23414 @smallexample
23415 (gdb)
23416 -stack-list-frames
23417 ^done,
23418 stack=[
23419 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
23420 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23421 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
23422 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
23423 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23424 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
23425 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
23426 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23427 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
23428 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
23429 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23430 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
23431 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
23432 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23433 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
23434 (gdb)
23435 -stack-list-arguments 0
23436 ^done,
23437 stack-args=[
23438 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
23439 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
23440 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
23441 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
23442 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
23443 (gdb)
23444 -stack-list-arguments 1
23445 ^done,
23446 stack-args=[
23447 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
23448 frame=@{level="1",
23449 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
23450 frame=@{level="2",args=[
23451 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23452 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
23453 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
23454 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23455 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
23456 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
23457 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
23458 (gdb)
23459 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
23460 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
23461 (gdb)
23462 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
23463 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
23464 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23465 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
23466 (gdb)
23467 @end smallexample
23468
23469 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
23470
23471
23472 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
23473 @findex -stack-list-frames
23474
23475 @subsubheading Synopsis
23476
23477 @smallexample
23478 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
23479 @end smallexample
23480
23481 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
23482 following info:
23483
23484 @table @samp
23485 @item @var{level}
23486 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
23487 @item @var{addr}
23488 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
23489 @item @var{func}
23490 Function name.
23491 @item @var{file}
23492 File name of the source file where the function lives.
23493 @item @var{line}
23494 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
23495 @end table
23496
23497 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
23498 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
23499 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
23500 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
23501 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
23502 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
23503 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
23504
23505 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23506
23507 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
23508
23509 @subsubheading Example
23510
23511 Full stack backtrace:
23512
23513 @smallexample
23514 (gdb)
23515 -stack-list-frames
23516 ^done,stack=
23517 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
23518 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
23519 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23520 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23521 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23522 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23523 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23524 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23525 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23526 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23527 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23528 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23529 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23530 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23531 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23532 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23533 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23534 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23535 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23536 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23537 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23538 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23539 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
23540 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
23541 (gdb)
23542 @end smallexample
23543
23544 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
23545
23546 @smallexample
23547 (gdb)
23548 -stack-list-frames 3 5
23549 ^done,stack=
23550 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23551 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23552 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23553 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23554 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23555 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23556 (gdb)
23557 @end smallexample
23558
23559 Show a single frame:
23560
23561 @smallexample
23562 (gdb)
23563 -stack-list-frames 3 3
23564 ^done,stack=
23565 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23566 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23567 (gdb)
23568 @end smallexample
23569
23570
23571 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
23572 @findex -stack-list-locals
23573
23574 @subsubheading Synopsis
23575
23576 @smallexample
23577 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
23578 @end smallexample
23579
23580 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
23581 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23582 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23583 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23584 type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
23585 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
23586 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
23587 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
23588 more detail.
23589
23590 This command is deprecated in favor of the
23591 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
23592
23593 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23594
23595 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
23596
23597 @subsubheading Example
23598
23599 @smallexample
23600 (gdb)
23601 -stack-list-locals 0
23602 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
23603 (gdb)
23604 -stack-list-locals --all-values
23605 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
23606 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
23607 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
23608 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
23609 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
23610 (gdb)
23611 @end smallexample
23612
23613 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
23614 @findex -stack-list-variables
23615
23616 @subsubheading Synopsis
23617
23618 @smallexample
23619 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
23620 @end smallexample
23621
23622 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
23623 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23624 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23625 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23626 type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
23627 structures and unions.
23628
23629 @subsubheading Example
23630
23631 @smallexample
23632 (gdb)
23633 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
23634 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
23635 (gdb)
23636 @end smallexample
23637
23638
23639 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
23640 @findex -stack-select-frame
23641
23642 @subsubheading Synopsis
23643
23644 @smallexample
23645 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
23646 @end smallexample
23647
23648 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
23649 the stack.
23650
23651 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
23652 option to every command.
23653
23654 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23655
23656 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
23657 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
23658
23659 @subsubheading Example
23660
23661 @smallexample
23662 (gdb)
23663 -stack-select-frame 2
23664 ^done
23665 (gdb)
23666 @end smallexample
23667
23668 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23669 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
23670 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
23671
23672 @ignore
23673
23674 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23675
23676 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
23677 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
23678 used by @code{Insight}.
23679
23680 The two main reasons for that are:
23681
23682 @enumerate 1
23683 @item
23684 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
23685
23686 @item
23687 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
23688 now).
23689 @end enumerate
23690
23691 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
23692 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
23693 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
23694 hints about their use.
23695
23696 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
23697 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
23698 least, the following operations:
23699
23700 @itemize @bullet
23701 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
23702 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
23703 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
23704 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
23705 @end itemize
23706
23707 @end ignore
23708
23709 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
23710
23711 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23712
23713 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
23714 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
23715 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
23716 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
23717 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
23718 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
23719 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
23720 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
23721 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
23722 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
23723 object, or to change display format.
23724
23725 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
23726 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
23727 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
23728 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
23729 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
23730 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
23731 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
23732 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
23733 child will be created.
23734
23735 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
23736 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
23737 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
23738 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
23739 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
23740
23741 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
23742 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
23743 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
23744 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
23745 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
23746 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
23747 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
23748 variables that frontend has created.
23749
23750 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
23751 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
23752 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
23753 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
23754 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
23755 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
23756 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
23757 implicitly updated.
23758
23759 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
23760 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
23761 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
23762 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
23763 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
23764 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
23765 frame. Consider this example:
23766
23767 @smallexample
23768 void do_work(...)
23769 @{
23770 struct work_state state;
23771
23772 if (...)
23773 do_work(...);
23774 @}
23775 @end smallexample
23776
23777 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
23778 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
23779 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
23780 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
23781 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
23782
23783 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
23784 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
23785 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
23786 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
23787 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
23788 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
23789
23790 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
23791 access this functionality:
23792
23793 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
23794 @item @strong{Operation}
23795 @tab @strong{Description}
23796
23797 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
23798 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
23799 @item @code{-var-create}
23800 @tab create a variable object
23801 @item @code{-var-delete}
23802 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
23803 @item @code{-var-set-format}
23804 @tab set the display format of this variable
23805 @item @code{-var-show-format}
23806 @tab show the display format of this variable
23807 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
23808 @tab tells how many children this object has
23809 @item @code{-var-list-children}
23810 @tab return a list of the object's children
23811 @item @code{-var-info-type}
23812 @tab show the type of this variable object
23813 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
23814 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
23815 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
23816 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
23817 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
23818 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
23819 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
23820 @tab get the value of this variable
23821 @item @code{-var-assign}
23822 @tab set the value of this variable
23823 @item @code{-var-update}
23824 @tab update the variable and its children
23825 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
23826 @tab set frozeness attribute
23827 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
23828 @tab set range of children to display on update
23829 @end multitable
23830
23831 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
23832 how it can be used.
23833
23834 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
23835
23836 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
23837 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
23838
23839 @smallexample
23840 -enable-pretty-printing
23841 @end smallexample
23842
23843 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
23844 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
23845 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
23846 request that this functionality be enabled.
23847
23848 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
23849
23850 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
23851 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
23852
23853 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
23854 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
23855
23856 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
23857 @findex -var-create
23858
23859 @subsubheading Synopsis
23860
23861 @smallexample
23862 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
23863 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
23864 @end smallexample
23865
23866 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
23867 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
23868 register.
23869
23870 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
23871 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
23872 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
23873 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
23874 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
23875
23876 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
23877 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
23878 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
23879 object must be created.
23880
23881 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
23882 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
23883
23884 @itemize @bullet
23885 @item
23886 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
23887
23888 @item
23889 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
23890
23891 @item
23892 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
23893 @end itemize
23894
23895 @cindex dynamic varobj
23896 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
23897 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
23898 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
23899 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
23900 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
23901 compatibility for existing clients.
23902
23903 @subsubheading Result
23904
23905 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
23906 are:
23907
23908 @table @samp
23909 @item name
23910 The name of the varobj.
23911
23912 @item numchild
23913 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
23914 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
23915 @samp{has_more} attribute.
23916
23917 @item value
23918 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
23919 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
23920 will not be interesting.
23921
23922 @item type
23923 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
23924 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
23925
23926 @item thread-id
23927 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
23928 thread's identifier.
23929
23930 @item has_more
23931 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
23932 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
23933
23934 @item dynamic
23935 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
23936 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
23937 then this attribute will not be present.
23938
23939 @item displayhint
23940 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
23941 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
23942 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
23943 @end table
23944
23945 Typical output will look like this:
23946
23947 @smallexample
23948 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
23949 has_more="@var{has_more}"
23950 @end smallexample
23951
23952
23953 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
23954 @findex -var-delete
23955
23956 @subsubheading Synopsis
23957
23958 @smallexample
23959 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
23960 @end smallexample
23961
23962 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
23963 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
23964
23965 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
23966
23967
23968 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
23969 @findex -var-set-format
23970
23971 @subsubheading Synopsis
23972
23973 @smallexample
23974 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
23975 @end smallexample
23976
23977 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
23978 @var{format-spec}.
23979
23980 @anchor{-var-set-format}
23981 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
23982
23983 @smallexample
23984 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
23985 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
23986 @end smallexample
23987
23988 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
23989 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
23990 for pointers, etc.).
23991
23992 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
23993 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
23994
23995 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
23996 @findex -var-show-format
23997
23998 @subsubheading Synopsis
23999
24000 @smallexample
24001 -var-show-format @var{name}
24002 @end smallexample
24003
24004 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
24005
24006 @smallexample
24007 @var{format} @expansion{}
24008 @var{format-spec}
24009 @end smallexample
24010
24011
24012 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
24013 @findex -var-info-num-children
24014
24015 @subsubheading Synopsis
24016
24017 @smallexample
24018 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
24019 @end smallexample
24020
24021 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
24022
24023 @smallexample
24024 numchild=@var{n}
24025 @end smallexample
24026
24027 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
24028 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
24029 be available.
24030
24031
24032 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
24033 @findex -var-list-children
24034
24035 @subsubheading Synopsis
24036
24037 @smallexample
24038 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
24039 @end smallexample
24040 @anchor{-var-list-children}
24041
24042 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
24043 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
24044 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
24045 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
24046 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
24047 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
24048 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
24049 and unions.
24050
24051 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
24052 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
24053 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
24054 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
24055 reported.
24056
24057 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
24058 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
24059 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
24060 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
24061 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
24062 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
24063 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
24064 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
24065 the visible items.
24066
24067 For each child the following results are returned:
24068
24069 @table @var
24070
24071 @item name
24072 Name of the variable object created for this child.
24073
24074 @item exp
24075 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
24076 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
24077
24078 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
24079 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
24080
24081 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
24082 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
24083 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
24084 type and value are not present.
24085
24086 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
24087 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
24088 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
24089
24090 @item numchild
24091 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
24092 0.
24093
24094 @item type
24095 The type of the child.
24096
24097 @item value
24098 If values were requested, this is the value.
24099
24100 @item thread-id
24101 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
24102 Otherwise this result is not present.
24103
24104 @item frozen
24105 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
24106 @end table
24107
24108 The result may have its own attributes:
24109
24110 @table @samp
24111 @item displayhint
24112 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
24113 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
24114 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
24115
24116 @item has_more
24117 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
24118 remaining after the end of the selected range.
24119 @end table
24120
24121 @subsubheading Example
24122
24123 @smallexample
24124 (gdb)
24125 -var-list-children n
24126 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
24127 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
24128 (gdb)
24129 -var-list-children --all-values n
24130 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
24131 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
24132 @end smallexample
24133
24134
24135 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
24136 @findex -var-info-type
24137
24138 @subsubheading Synopsis
24139
24140 @smallexample
24141 -var-info-type @var{name}
24142 @end smallexample
24143
24144 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
24145 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
24146 @value{GDBN} CLI:
24147
24148 @smallexample
24149 type=@var{typename}
24150 @end smallexample
24151
24152
24153 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
24154 @findex -var-info-expression
24155
24156 @subsubheading Synopsis
24157
24158 @smallexample
24159 -var-info-expression @var{name}
24160 @end smallexample
24161
24162 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
24163 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
24164 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
24165
24166 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
24167 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
24168
24169 @smallexample
24170 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
24171 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
24172 @end smallexample
24173
24174 @noindent
24175 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
24176
24177 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
24178 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
24179 is of limited use.
24180
24181 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
24182 @findex -var-info-path-expression
24183
24184 @subsubheading Synopsis
24185
24186 @smallexample
24187 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
24188 @end smallexample
24189
24190 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
24191 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
24192 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
24193 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
24194 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
24195 watchpoint from a variable object.
24196
24197 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
24198 and will give an error when invoked on one.
24199
24200 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
24201 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
24202 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
24203 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
24204 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
24205 @smallexample
24206 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
24207 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
24208 @end smallexample
24209
24210 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
24211 @findex -var-show-attributes
24212
24213 @subsubheading Synopsis
24214
24215 @smallexample
24216 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
24217 @end smallexample
24218
24219 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
24220
24221 @smallexample
24222 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
24223 @end smallexample
24224
24225 @noindent
24226 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
24227
24228 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
24229 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
24230
24231 @subsubheading Synopsis
24232
24233 @smallexample
24234 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
24235 @end smallexample
24236
24237 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
24238 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
24239 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
24240 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
24241 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
24242 the current display format will be used. The current display format
24243 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
24244
24245 @smallexample
24246 value=@var{value}
24247 @end smallexample
24248
24249 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
24250 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
24251
24252 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
24253 @findex -var-assign
24254
24255 @subsubheading Synopsis
24256
24257 @smallexample
24258 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
24259 @end smallexample
24260
24261 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
24262 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
24263 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
24264 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
24265
24266 @subsubheading Example
24267
24268 @smallexample
24269 (gdb)
24270 -var-assign var1 3
24271 ^done,value="3"
24272 (gdb)
24273 -var-update *
24274 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
24275 (gdb)
24276 @end smallexample
24277
24278 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
24279 @findex -var-update
24280
24281 @subsubheading Synopsis
24282
24283 @smallexample
24284 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
24285 @end smallexample
24286
24287 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
24288 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
24289 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
24290 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
24291 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
24292 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
24293 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
24294 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
24295 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
24296 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
24297 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
24298 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
24299 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
24300
24301 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
24302 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
24303 diagnostic.
24304
24305 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
24306 only the selected range of children will be reported.
24307
24308 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
24309 @samp{changelist}.
24310
24311 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
24312
24313 @table @samp
24314 @item name
24315 The name of the varobj.
24316
24317 @item value
24318 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
24319 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
24320
24321 @item in_scope
24322 @anchor{-var-update}
24323 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
24324
24325 @table @code
24326 @item "true"
24327 The variable object's current value is valid.
24328
24329 @item "false"
24330 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
24331 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
24332 scope.
24333
24334 @item "invalid"
24335 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
24336 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
24337 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
24338 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
24339 objects.
24340 @end table
24341
24342 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
24343 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
24344
24345 @item type_changed
24346 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
24347 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
24348 be @samp{false}.
24349
24350 @item new_type
24351 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
24352 hold the new type.
24353
24354 @item new_num_children
24355 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
24356 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
24357
24358 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
24359 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
24360 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
24361 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
24362 children which may be available.
24363
24364 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
24365 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
24366 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
24367 only happen at the end of the update range).
24368
24369 @item displayhint
24370 The display hint, if any.
24371
24372 @item has_more
24373 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
24374 available outside the varobj's update range.
24375
24376 @item dynamic
24377 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
24378 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
24379 then this attribute will not be present.
24380
24381 @item new_children
24382 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
24383 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
24384 be listed in this attribute.
24385 @end table
24386
24387 @subsubheading Example
24388
24389 @smallexample
24390 (gdb)
24391 -var-assign var1 3
24392 ^done,value="3"
24393 (gdb)
24394 -var-update --all-values var1
24395 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
24396 type_changed="false"@}]
24397 (gdb)
24398 @end smallexample
24399
24400 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
24401 @findex -var-set-frozen
24402 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
24403
24404 @subsubheading Synopsis
24405
24406 @smallexample
24407 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
24408 @end smallexample
24409
24410 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
24411 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
24412 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
24413 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
24414 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
24415 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
24416 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
24417 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
24418 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
24419 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
24420 @code{-var-update} does.
24421
24422 @subsubheading Example
24423
24424 @smallexample
24425 (gdb)
24426 -var-set-frozen V 1
24427 ^done
24428 (gdb)
24429 @end smallexample
24430
24431 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
24432 @findex -var-set-update-range
24433 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
24434
24435 @subsubheading Synopsis
24436
24437 @smallexample
24438 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
24439 @end smallexample
24440
24441 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
24442 @code{-var-update}.
24443
24444 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
24445 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
24446 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
24447 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
24448
24449 @subsubheading Example
24450
24451 @smallexample
24452 (gdb)
24453 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
24454 ^done
24455 @end smallexample
24456
24457 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
24458 @findex -var-set-visualizer
24459 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
24460
24461 @subsubheading Synopsis
24462
24463 @smallexample
24464 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
24465 @end smallexample
24466
24467 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
24468
24469 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
24470 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
24471
24472 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
24473 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
24474 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
24475 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
24476 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
24477 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
24478 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24479
24480 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
24481 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
24482 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
24483 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
24484
24485 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
24486 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
24487 can be used to check this.
24488
24489 @subsubheading Example
24490
24491 Resetting the visualizer:
24492
24493 @smallexample
24494 (gdb)
24495 -var-set-visualizer V None
24496 ^done
24497 @end smallexample
24498
24499 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
24500
24501 @smallexample
24502 (gdb)
24503 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
24504 ^done
24505 @end smallexample
24506
24507 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
24508 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
24509
24510 @smallexample
24511 (gdb)
24512 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
24513 ^done
24514 @end smallexample
24515
24516 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24517 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
24518 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
24519
24520 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
24521 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
24522 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
24523 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
24524
24525 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
24526 @c @subheading -data-assign
24527 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
24528 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
24529 @c set variable
24530 @c @subsubheading Example
24531 @c N.A.
24532
24533 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
24534 @findex -data-disassemble
24535
24536 @subsubheading Synopsis
24537
24538 @smallexample
24539 -data-disassemble
24540 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
24541 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
24542 -- @var{mode}
24543 @end smallexample
24544
24545 @noindent
24546 Where:
24547
24548 @table @samp
24549 @item @var{start-addr}
24550 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
24551 @item @var{end-addr}
24552 is the end address
24553 @item @var{filename}
24554 is the name of the file to disassemble
24555 @item @var{linenum}
24556 is the line number to disassemble around
24557 @item @var{lines}
24558 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
24559 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
24560 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
24561 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
24562 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
24563 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
24564 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
24565 are displayed.
24566 @item @var{mode}
24567 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
24568 disassembly).
24569 @end table
24570
24571 @subsubheading Result
24572
24573 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
24574
24575 @itemize @bullet
24576 @item Address
24577 @item Func-name
24578 @item Offset
24579 @item Instruction
24580 @end itemize
24581
24582 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
24583 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
24584
24585 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24586
24587 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
24588
24589 @subsubheading Example
24590
24591 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
24592
24593 @smallexample
24594 (gdb)
24595 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
24596 ^done,
24597 asm_insns=[
24598 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24599 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24600 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24601 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24602 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
24603 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
24604 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
24605 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24606 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
24607 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
24608 (gdb)
24609 @end smallexample
24610
24611 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
24612 @code{main}.
24613
24614 @smallexample
24615 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
24616 ^done,asm_insns=[
24617 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24618 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
24619 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24620 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24621 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24622 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24623 [@dots{}]
24624 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
24625 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
24626 (gdb)
24627 @end smallexample
24628
24629 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
24630
24631 @smallexample
24632 (gdb)
24633 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
24634 ^done,asm_insns=[
24635 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24636 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
24637 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24638 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24639 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24640 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
24641 (gdb)
24642 @end smallexample
24643
24644 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
24645
24646 @smallexample
24647 (gdb)
24648 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
24649 ^done,asm_insns=[
24650 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
24651 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
24652 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
24653 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24654 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
24655 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
24656 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
24657 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
24658 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24659 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24660 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24661 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
24662 (gdb)
24663 @end smallexample
24664
24665
24666 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
24667 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
24668
24669 @subsubheading Synopsis
24670
24671 @smallexample
24672 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
24673 @end smallexample
24674
24675 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
24676 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
24677 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
24678
24679 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24680
24681 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
24682 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
24683 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
24684
24685 @subsubheading Example
24686
24687 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
24688 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
24689 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
24690 output.
24691
24692 @smallexample
24693 211-data-evaluate-expression A
24694 211^done,value="1"
24695 (gdb)
24696 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
24697 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
24698 (gdb)
24699 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
24700 411^done,value="4"
24701 (gdb)
24702 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
24703 511^done,value="4"
24704 (gdb)
24705 @end smallexample
24706
24707
24708 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
24709 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
24710
24711 @subsubheading Synopsis
24712
24713 @smallexample
24714 -data-list-changed-registers
24715 @end smallexample
24716
24717 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
24718
24719 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24720
24721 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
24722 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
24723
24724 @subsubheading Example
24725
24726 On a PPC MBX board:
24727
24728 @smallexample
24729 (gdb)
24730 -exec-continue
24731 ^running
24732
24733 (gdb)
24734 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
24735 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
24736 line="5"@}
24737 (gdb)
24738 -data-list-changed-registers
24739 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
24740 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
24741 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
24742 (gdb)
24743 @end smallexample
24744
24745
24746 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
24747 @findex -data-list-register-names
24748
24749 @subsubheading Synopsis
24750
24751 @smallexample
24752 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
24753 @end smallexample
24754
24755 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
24756 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
24757 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
24758 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
24759 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
24760 include empty register names.
24761
24762 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24763
24764 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
24765 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
24766 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
24767
24768 @subsubheading Example
24769
24770 For the PPC MBX board:
24771 @smallexample
24772 (gdb)
24773 -data-list-register-names
24774 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
24775 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
24776 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
24777 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
24778 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
24779 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
24780 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
24781 (gdb)
24782 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
24783 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
24784 (gdb)
24785 @end smallexample
24786
24787 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
24788 @findex -data-list-register-values
24789
24790 @subsubheading Synopsis
24791
24792 @smallexample
24793 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
24794 @end smallexample
24795
24796 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
24797 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
24798 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
24799 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
24800
24801 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
24802
24803 @table @code
24804 @item x
24805 Hexadecimal
24806 @item o
24807 Octal
24808 @item t
24809 Binary
24810 @item d
24811 Decimal
24812 @item r
24813 Raw
24814 @item N
24815 Natural
24816 @end table
24817
24818 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24819
24820 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
24821 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
24822
24823 @subsubheading Example
24824
24825 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
24826 don't appear in the actual output):
24827
24828 @smallexample
24829 (gdb)
24830 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
24831 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
24832 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
24833 (gdb)
24834 -data-list-register-values x
24835 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
24836 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
24837 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
24838 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
24839 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
24840 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
24841 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
24842 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
24843 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
24844 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
24845 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
24846 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
24847 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
24848 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
24849 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
24850 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
24851 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
24852 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
24853 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
24854 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
24855 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
24856 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
24857 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
24858 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
24859 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
24860 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
24861 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
24862 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
24863 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
24864 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
24865 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
24866 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
24867 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
24868 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
24869 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
24870 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
24871 (gdb)
24872 @end smallexample
24873
24874
24875 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
24876 @findex -data-read-memory
24877
24878 @subsubheading Synopsis
24879
24880 @smallexample
24881 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
24882 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
24883 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
24884 @end smallexample
24885
24886 @noindent
24887 where:
24888
24889 @table @samp
24890 @item @var{address}
24891 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
24892 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
24893 quoted using the C convention.
24894
24895 @item @var{word-format}
24896 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
24897 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
24898 ,Output Formats}).
24899
24900 @item @var{word-size}
24901 The size of each memory word in bytes.
24902
24903 @item @var{nr-rows}
24904 The number of rows in the output table.
24905
24906 @item @var{nr-cols}
24907 The number of columns in the output table.
24908
24909 @item @var{aschar}
24910 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
24911 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
24912 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
24913 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
24914
24915 @item @var{byte-offset}
24916 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
24917 @end table
24918
24919 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
24920 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
24921 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
24922 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
24923 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
24924 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
24925 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
24926 @samp{addr}.
24927
24928 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
24929 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
24930 @samp{prev-page}.
24931
24932 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24933
24934 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
24935 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
24936
24937 @subsubheading Example
24938
24939 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
24940 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
24941 word. Display each word in hex.
24942
24943 @smallexample
24944 (gdb)
24945 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
24946 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
24947 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
24948 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
24949 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
24950 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
24951 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
24952 (gdb)
24953 @end smallexample
24954
24955 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
24956 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
24957
24958 @smallexample
24959 (gdb)
24960 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
24961 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
24962 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
24963 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
24964 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
24965 (gdb)
24966 @end smallexample
24967
24968 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
24969 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
24970 used as the non-printable character.
24971
24972 @smallexample
24973 (gdb)
24974 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
24975 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
24976 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
24977 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
24978 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24979 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24980 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24981 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24982 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
24983 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
24984 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
24985 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
24986 (gdb)
24987 @end smallexample
24988
24989 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24990 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
24991 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
24992
24993 The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
24994
24995 @c @subheading -trace-actions
24996
24997 @c @subheading -trace-delete
24998
24999 @c @subheading -trace-disable
25000
25001 @c @subheading -trace-dump
25002
25003 @c @subheading -trace-enable
25004
25005 @c @subheading -trace-exists
25006
25007 @c @subheading -trace-find
25008
25009 @c @subheading -trace-frame-number
25010
25011 @c @subheading -trace-info
25012
25013 @c @subheading -trace-insert
25014
25015 @c @subheading -trace-list
25016
25017 @c @subheading -trace-pass-count
25018
25019 @c @subheading -trace-save
25020
25021 @c @subheading -trace-start
25022
25023 @c @subheading -trace-stop
25024
25025
25026 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25027 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
25028 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
25029
25030
25031 @ignore
25032 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
25033 @findex -symbol-info-address
25034
25035 @subsubheading Synopsis
25036
25037 @smallexample
25038 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
25039 @end smallexample
25040
25041 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
25042
25043 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25044
25045 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
25046
25047 @subsubheading Example
25048 N.A.
25049
25050
25051 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
25052 @findex -symbol-info-file
25053
25054 @subsubheading Synopsis
25055
25056 @smallexample
25057 -symbol-info-file
25058 @end smallexample
25059
25060 Show the file for the symbol.
25061
25062 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25063
25064 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
25065 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
25066
25067 @subsubheading Example
25068 N.A.
25069
25070
25071 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
25072 @findex -symbol-info-function
25073
25074 @subsubheading Synopsis
25075
25076 @smallexample
25077 -symbol-info-function
25078 @end smallexample
25079
25080 Show which function the symbol lives in.
25081
25082 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25083
25084 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
25085
25086 @subsubheading Example
25087 N.A.
25088
25089
25090 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
25091 @findex -symbol-info-line
25092
25093 @subsubheading Synopsis
25094
25095 @smallexample
25096 -symbol-info-line
25097 @end smallexample
25098
25099 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
25100
25101 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25102
25103 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
25104 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
25105
25106 @subsubheading Example
25107 N.A.
25108
25109
25110 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
25111 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
25112
25113 @subsubheading Synopsis
25114
25115 @smallexample
25116 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
25117 @end smallexample
25118
25119 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
25120
25121 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25122
25123 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
25124
25125 @subsubheading Example
25126 N.A.
25127
25128
25129 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
25130 @findex -symbol-list-functions
25131
25132 @subsubheading Synopsis
25133
25134 @smallexample
25135 -symbol-list-functions
25136 @end smallexample
25137
25138 List the functions in the executable.
25139
25140 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25141
25142 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
25143 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25144
25145 @subsubheading Example
25146 N.A.
25147 @end ignore
25148
25149
25150 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
25151 @findex -symbol-list-lines
25152
25153 @subsubheading Synopsis
25154
25155 @smallexample
25156 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
25157 @end smallexample
25158
25159 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
25160 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
25161 ascending PC order.
25162
25163 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25164
25165 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
25166
25167 @subsubheading Example
25168 @smallexample
25169 (gdb)
25170 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
25171 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
25172 (gdb)
25173 @end smallexample
25174
25175
25176 @ignore
25177 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
25178 @findex -symbol-list-types
25179
25180 @subsubheading Synopsis
25181
25182 @smallexample
25183 -symbol-list-types
25184 @end smallexample
25185
25186 List all the type names.
25187
25188 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25189
25190 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
25191 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25192
25193 @subsubheading Example
25194 N.A.
25195
25196
25197 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
25198 @findex -symbol-list-variables
25199
25200 @subsubheading Synopsis
25201
25202 @smallexample
25203 -symbol-list-variables
25204 @end smallexample
25205
25206 List all the global and static variable names.
25207
25208 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25209
25210 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25211
25212 @subsubheading Example
25213 N.A.
25214
25215
25216 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
25217 @findex -symbol-locate
25218
25219 @subsubheading Synopsis
25220
25221 @smallexample
25222 -symbol-locate
25223 @end smallexample
25224
25225 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25226
25227 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
25228
25229 @subsubheading Example
25230 N.A.
25231
25232
25233 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
25234 @findex -symbol-type
25235
25236 @subsubheading Synopsis
25237
25238 @smallexample
25239 -symbol-type @var{variable}
25240 @end smallexample
25241
25242 Show type of @var{variable}.
25243
25244 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25245
25246 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
25247 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
25248
25249 @subsubheading Example
25250 N.A.
25251 @end ignore
25252
25253
25254 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25255 @node GDB/MI File Commands
25256 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
25257
25258 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
25259 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
25260
25261 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
25262 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
25263
25264 @subsubheading Synopsis
25265
25266 @smallexample
25267 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
25268 @end smallexample
25269
25270 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
25271 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
25272 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
25273 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
25274 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
25275 notification.
25276
25277 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25278
25279 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
25280
25281 @subsubheading Example
25282
25283 @smallexample
25284 (gdb)
25285 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25286 ^done
25287 (gdb)
25288 @end smallexample
25289
25290
25291 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
25292 @findex -file-exec-file
25293
25294 @subsubheading Synopsis
25295
25296 @smallexample
25297 -file-exec-file @var{file}
25298 @end smallexample
25299
25300 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
25301 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
25302 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
25303 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
25304 notification.
25305
25306 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25307
25308 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
25309
25310 @subsubheading Example
25311
25312 @smallexample
25313 (gdb)
25314 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25315 ^done
25316 (gdb)
25317 @end smallexample
25318
25319
25320 @ignore
25321 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
25322 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
25323
25324 @subsubheading Synopsis
25325
25326 @smallexample
25327 -file-list-exec-sections
25328 @end smallexample
25329
25330 List the sections of the current executable file.
25331
25332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25333
25334 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
25335 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
25336 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
25337
25338 @subsubheading Example
25339 N.A.
25340 @end ignore
25341
25342
25343 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
25344 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
25345
25346 @subsubheading Synopsis
25347
25348 @smallexample
25349 -file-list-exec-source-file
25350 @end smallexample
25351
25352 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
25353 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
25354 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
25355 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
25356
25357 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25358
25359 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
25360
25361 @subsubheading Example
25362
25363 @smallexample
25364 (gdb)
25365 123-file-list-exec-source-file
25366 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
25367 (gdb)
25368 @end smallexample
25369
25370
25371 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
25372 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
25373
25374 @subsubheading Synopsis
25375
25376 @smallexample
25377 -file-list-exec-source-files
25378 @end smallexample
25379
25380 List the source files for the current executable.
25381
25382 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
25383 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
25384
25385 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25386
25387 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
25388 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
25389
25390 @subsubheading Example
25391 @smallexample
25392 (gdb)
25393 -file-list-exec-source-files
25394 ^done,files=[
25395 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
25396 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
25397 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
25398 (gdb)
25399 @end smallexample
25400
25401 @ignore
25402 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
25403 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
25404
25405 @subsubheading Synopsis
25406
25407 @smallexample
25408 -file-list-shared-libraries
25409 @end smallexample
25410
25411 List the shared libraries in the program.
25412
25413 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25414
25415 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
25416
25417 @subsubheading Example
25418 N.A.
25419
25420
25421 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
25422 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
25423
25424 @subsubheading Synopsis
25425
25426 @smallexample
25427 -file-list-symbol-files
25428 @end smallexample
25429
25430 List symbol files.
25431
25432 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25433
25434 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
25435
25436 @subsubheading Example
25437 N.A.
25438 @end ignore
25439
25440
25441 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
25442 @findex -file-symbol-file
25443
25444 @subsubheading Synopsis
25445
25446 @smallexample
25447 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
25448 @end smallexample
25449
25450 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
25451 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
25452 produced, except for a completion notification.
25453
25454 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25455
25456 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
25457
25458 @subsubheading Example
25459
25460 @smallexample
25461 (gdb)
25462 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25463 ^done
25464 (gdb)
25465 @end smallexample
25466
25467 @ignore
25468 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25469 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
25470 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
25471
25472 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
25473
25474 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
25475
25476 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
25477
25478 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
25479
25480 @c @subheading -overlay-map
25481
25482 @c @subheading -overlay-off
25483
25484 @c @subheading -overlay-on
25485
25486 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
25487
25488 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25489 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
25490 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
25491
25492 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
25493
25494 @c @subheading -signal-handle
25495
25496 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
25497
25498 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
25499 @end ignore
25500
25501
25502 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25503 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
25504 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
25505
25506
25507 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
25508 @findex -target-attach
25509
25510 @subsubheading Synopsis
25511
25512 @smallexample
25513 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
25514 @end smallexample
25515
25516 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
25517 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
25518 group, the id previously returned by
25519 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
25520
25521 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25522
25523 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
25524
25525 @subsubheading Example
25526 @smallexample
25527 (gdb)
25528 -target-attach 34
25529 =thread-created,id="1"
25530 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
25531 ^done
25532 (gdb)
25533 @end smallexample
25534
25535 @ignore
25536 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
25537 @findex -target-compare-sections
25538
25539 @subsubheading Synopsis
25540
25541 @smallexample
25542 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
25543 @end smallexample
25544
25545 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
25546 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
25547
25548 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25549
25550 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
25551
25552 @subsubheading Example
25553 N.A.
25554 @end ignore
25555
25556
25557 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
25558 @findex -target-detach
25559
25560 @subsubheading Synopsis
25561
25562 @smallexample
25563 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
25564 @end smallexample
25565
25566 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
25567 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
25568 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
25569
25570 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25571
25572 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
25573
25574 @subsubheading Example
25575
25576 @smallexample
25577 (gdb)
25578 -target-detach
25579 ^done
25580 (gdb)
25581 @end smallexample
25582
25583
25584 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
25585 @findex -target-disconnect
25586
25587 @subsubheading Synopsis
25588
25589 @smallexample
25590 -target-disconnect
25591 @end smallexample
25592
25593 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
25594 generally not resumed.
25595
25596 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25597
25598 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
25599
25600 @subsubheading Example
25601
25602 @smallexample
25603 (gdb)
25604 -target-disconnect
25605 ^done
25606 (gdb)
25607 @end smallexample
25608
25609
25610 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
25611 @findex -target-download
25612
25613 @subsubheading Synopsis
25614
25615 @smallexample
25616 -target-download
25617 @end smallexample
25618
25619 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
25620 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
25621
25622 @table @samp
25623 @item section
25624 The name of the section.
25625 @item section-sent
25626 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
25627 @item section-size
25628 The size of the section.
25629 @item total-sent
25630 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
25631 @item total-size
25632 The size of the overall executable to download.
25633 @end table
25634
25635 @noindent
25636 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
25637 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
25638
25639 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
25640 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
25641
25642 @table @samp
25643 @item section
25644 The name of the section.
25645 @item section-size
25646 The size of the section.
25647 @item total-size
25648 The size of the overall executable to download.
25649 @end table
25650
25651 @noindent
25652 At the end, a summary is printed.
25653
25654 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25655
25656 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
25657
25658 @subsubheading Example
25659
25660 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
25661 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
25662
25663 @smallexample
25664 (gdb)
25665 -target-download
25666 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
25667 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
25668 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
25669 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
25670 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
25671 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
25672 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
25673 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
25674 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
25675 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
25676 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
25677 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
25678 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
25679 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
25680 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
25681 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
25682 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
25683 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
25684 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
25685 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
25686 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
25687 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
25688 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
25689 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
25690 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
25691 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
25692 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
25693 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
25694 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
25695 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
25696 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
25697 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
25698 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
25699 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
25700 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
25701 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
25702 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
25703 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
25704 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
25705 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
25706 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
25707 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
25708 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
25709 write-rate="429"
25710 (gdb)
25711 @end smallexample
25712
25713
25714 @ignore
25715 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
25716 @findex -target-exec-status
25717
25718 @subsubheading Synopsis
25719
25720 @smallexample
25721 -target-exec-status
25722 @end smallexample
25723
25724 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
25725 not, for instance).
25726
25727 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25728
25729 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25730
25731 @subsubheading Example
25732 N.A.
25733
25734
25735 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
25736 @findex -target-list-available-targets
25737
25738 @subsubheading Synopsis
25739
25740 @smallexample
25741 -target-list-available-targets
25742 @end smallexample
25743
25744 List the possible targets to connect to.
25745
25746 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25747
25748 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
25749
25750 @subsubheading Example
25751 N.A.
25752
25753
25754 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
25755 @findex -target-list-current-targets
25756
25757 @subsubheading Synopsis
25758
25759 @smallexample
25760 -target-list-current-targets
25761 @end smallexample
25762
25763 Describe the current target.
25764
25765 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25766
25767 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
25768 other things).
25769
25770 @subsubheading Example
25771 N.A.
25772
25773
25774 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
25775 @findex -target-list-parameters
25776
25777 @subsubheading Synopsis
25778
25779 @smallexample
25780 -target-list-parameters
25781 @end smallexample
25782
25783 @c ????
25784 @end ignore
25785
25786 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25787
25788 No equivalent.
25789
25790 @subsubheading Example
25791 N.A.
25792
25793
25794 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
25795 @findex -target-select
25796
25797 @subsubheading Synopsis
25798
25799 @smallexample
25800 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
25801 @end smallexample
25802
25803 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
25804
25805 @table @samp
25806 @item @var{type}
25807 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
25808 @item @var{parameters}
25809 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
25810 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
25811 @end table
25812
25813 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
25814 which the target program is, in the following form:
25815
25816 @smallexample
25817 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
25818 args=[@var{arg list}]
25819 @end smallexample
25820
25821 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25822
25823 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
25824
25825 @subsubheading Example
25826
25827 @smallexample
25828 (gdb)
25829 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
25830 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
25831 (gdb)
25832 @end smallexample
25833
25834 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25835 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
25836 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
25837
25838
25839 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
25840 @findex -target-file-put
25841
25842 @subsubheading Synopsis
25843
25844 @smallexample
25845 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
25846 @end smallexample
25847
25848 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
25849 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
25850
25851 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25852
25853 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
25854
25855 @subsubheading Example
25856
25857 @smallexample
25858 (gdb)
25859 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
25860 ^done
25861 (gdb)
25862 @end smallexample
25863
25864
25865 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
25866 @findex -target-file-get
25867
25868 @subsubheading Synopsis
25869
25870 @smallexample
25871 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
25872 @end smallexample
25873
25874 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
25875 on the host system.
25876
25877 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25878
25879 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
25880
25881 @subsubheading Example
25882
25883 @smallexample
25884 (gdb)
25885 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
25886 ^done
25887 (gdb)
25888 @end smallexample
25889
25890
25891 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
25892 @findex -target-file-delete
25893
25894 @subsubheading Synopsis
25895
25896 @smallexample
25897 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
25898 @end smallexample
25899
25900 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
25901
25902 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25903
25904 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
25905
25906 @subsubheading Example
25907
25908 @smallexample
25909 (gdb)
25910 -target-file-delete remotefile
25911 ^done
25912 (gdb)
25913 @end smallexample
25914
25915
25916 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25917 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
25918 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
25919
25920 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
25921
25922 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
25923 @findex -gdb-exit
25924
25925 @subsubheading Synopsis
25926
25927 @smallexample
25928 -gdb-exit
25929 @end smallexample
25930
25931 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
25932
25933 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25934
25935 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
25936
25937 @subsubheading Example
25938
25939 @smallexample
25940 (gdb)
25941 -gdb-exit
25942 ^exit
25943 @end smallexample
25944
25945
25946 @ignore
25947 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
25948 @findex -exec-abort
25949
25950 @subsubheading Synopsis
25951
25952 @smallexample
25953 -exec-abort
25954 @end smallexample
25955
25956 Kill the inferior running program.
25957
25958 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25959
25960 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
25961
25962 @subsubheading Example
25963 N.A.
25964 @end ignore
25965
25966
25967 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
25968 @findex -gdb-set
25969
25970 @subsubheading Synopsis
25971
25972 @smallexample
25973 -gdb-set
25974 @end smallexample
25975
25976 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
25977 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
25978
25979 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25980
25981 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
25982
25983 @subsubheading Example
25984
25985 @smallexample
25986 (gdb)
25987 -gdb-set $foo=3
25988 ^done
25989 (gdb)
25990 @end smallexample
25991
25992
25993 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
25994 @findex -gdb-show
25995
25996 @subsubheading Synopsis
25997
25998 @smallexample
25999 -gdb-show
26000 @end smallexample
26001
26002 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
26003
26004 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26005
26006 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
26007
26008 @subsubheading Example
26009
26010 @smallexample
26011 (gdb)
26012 -gdb-show annotate
26013 ^done,value="0"
26014 (gdb)
26015 @end smallexample
26016
26017 @c @subheading -gdb-source
26018
26019
26020 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
26021 @findex -gdb-version
26022
26023 @subsubheading Synopsis
26024
26025 @smallexample
26026 -gdb-version
26027 @end smallexample
26028
26029 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
26030
26031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26032
26033 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
26034 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
26035
26036 @subsubheading Example
26037
26038 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
26039 @c box in TeX.
26040 @smallexample
26041 (gdb)
26042 -gdb-version
26043 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
26044 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
26045 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
26046 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
26047 ~ certain conditions.
26048 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
26049 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
26050 ~ details.
26051 ~This GDB was configured as
26052 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
26053 ^done
26054 (gdb)
26055 @end smallexample
26056
26057 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
26058 @findex -list-features
26059
26060 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
26061 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
26062 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
26063 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
26064 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
26065 startup.
26066
26067 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
26068 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
26069 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
26070 is given below.
26071
26072 Example output:
26073
26074 @smallexample
26075 (gdb) -list-features
26076 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
26077 @end smallexample
26078
26079 The current list of features is:
26080
26081 @table @samp
26082 @item frozen-varobjs
26083 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
26084 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
26085 of @code{-varobj-create}.
26086 @item pending-breakpoints
26087 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
26088 @item python
26089 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
26090 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
26091 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
26092 @item thread-info
26093 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
26094
26095 @end table
26096
26097 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
26098 @findex -list-target-features
26099
26100 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
26101 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
26102 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
26103 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
26104 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
26105 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
26106 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
26107 Example output:
26108
26109 @smallexample
26110 (gdb) -list-features
26111 ^done,result=["async"]
26112 @end smallexample
26113
26114 The current list of features is:
26115
26116 @table @samp
26117 @item async
26118 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
26119 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
26120 while the target is running.
26121
26122 @end table
26123
26124 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
26125 @findex -list-thread-groups
26126
26127 @subheading Synopsis
26128
26129 @smallexample
26130 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ @var{group} ]
26131 @end smallexample
26132
26133 When used without the @var{group} parameter, lists top-level thread
26134 groups that are being debugged. When used with the @var{group}
26135 parameter, the children of the specified group are listed. The
26136 children can be either threads, or other groups. At present,
26137 @value{GDBN} will not report both threads and groups as children at
26138 the same time, but it may change in future.
26139
26140 With the @samp{--available} option, instead of reporting groups that
26141 are been debugged, GDB will report all thread groups available on the
26142 target. Using the @samp{--available} option together with @var{group}
26143 is not allowed.
26144
26145 @subheading Example
26146
26147 @smallexample
26148 @value{GDBP}
26149 -list-thread-groups
26150 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
26151 -list-thread-groups 17
26152 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
26153 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
26154 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
26155 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
26156 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
26157 @end smallexample
26158
26159 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
26160 @findex -interpreter-exec
26161
26162 @subheading Synopsis
26163
26164 @smallexample
26165 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
26166 @end smallexample
26167 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
26168
26169 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
26170
26171 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26172
26173 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
26174
26175 @subheading Example
26176
26177 @smallexample
26178 (gdb)
26179 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
26180 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
26181 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
26182 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
26183 ^done
26184 (gdb)
26185 @end smallexample
26186
26187 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
26188 @findex -inferior-tty-set
26189
26190 @subheading Synopsis
26191
26192 @smallexample
26193 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26194 @end smallexample
26195
26196 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
26197
26198 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26199
26200 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
26201
26202 @subheading Example
26203
26204 @smallexample
26205 (gdb)
26206 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26207 ^done
26208 (gdb)
26209 @end smallexample
26210
26211 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
26212 @findex -inferior-tty-show
26213
26214 @subheading Synopsis
26215
26216 @smallexample
26217 -inferior-tty-show
26218 @end smallexample
26219
26220 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
26221
26222 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26223
26224 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
26225
26226 @subheading Example
26227
26228 @smallexample
26229 (gdb)
26230 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26231 ^done
26232 (gdb)
26233 -inferior-tty-show
26234 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
26235 (gdb)
26236 @end smallexample
26237
26238 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
26239 @findex -enable-timings
26240
26241 @subheading Synopsis
26242
26243 @smallexample
26244 -enable-timings [yes | no]
26245 @end smallexample
26246
26247 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
26248 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
26249 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
26250 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
26251
26252 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26253
26254 No equivalent.
26255
26256 @subheading Example
26257
26258 @smallexample
26259 (gdb)
26260 -enable-timings
26261 ^done
26262 (gdb)
26263 -break-insert main
26264 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26265 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26266 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
26267 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
26268 (gdb)
26269 -enable-timings no
26270 ^done
26271 (gdb)
26272 -exec-run
26273 ^running
26274 (gdb)
26275 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26276 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
26277 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
26278 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
26279 (gdb)
26280 @end smallexample
26281
26282 @node Annotations
26283 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
26284
26285 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
26286 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
26287 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
26288 relatively high level.
26289
26290 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
26291 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
26292
26293 @ignore
26294 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
26295 @end ignore
26296
26297 @menu
26298 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
26299 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
26300 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
26301 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
26302 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
26303 * Annotations for Running::
26304 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
26305 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
26306 @end menu
26307
26308 @node Annotations Overview
26309 @section What is an Annotation?
26310 @cindex annotations
26311
26312 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
26313 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
26314 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
26315 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
26316 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
26317 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
26318 cannot contain newline characters.
26319
26320 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
26321 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
26322 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
26323 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
26324 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
26325 means those three characters as output.
26326
26327 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
26328 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
26329 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
26330 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
26331 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
26332 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
26333 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
26334 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
26335 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
26336
26337 @table @code
26338 @kindex set annotate
26339 @item set annotate @var{level}
26340 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
26341 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
26342
26343 @item show annotate
26344 @kindex show annotate
26345 Show the current annotation level.
26346 @end table
26347
26348 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
26349
26350 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
26351
26352 @smallexample
26353 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
26354 GNU gdb 6.0
26355 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
26356 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
26357 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
26358 under certain conditions.
26359 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
26360 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
26361 for details.
26362 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
26363
26364 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
26365 (@value{GDBP})
26366 ^Z^Zprompt
26367 @kbd{quit}
26368
26369 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
26370 $
26371 @end smallexample
26372
26373 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
26374 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
26375 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
26376 output from @value{GDBN}.
26377
26378 @node Server Prefix
26379 @section The Server Prefix
26380 @cindex server prefix
26381
26382 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
26383 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
26384 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
26385 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
26386 a transparent manner.
26387
26388 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
26389 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
26390 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
26391 @code{print} command.
26392
26393 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
26394 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
26395
26396 @node Prompting
26397 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
26398
26399 @cindex annotations for prompts
26400 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
26401 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
26402 over, etc.
26403
26404 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
26405 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
26406 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
26407 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
26408 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
26409 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
26410 features the following annotations:
26411
26412 @smallexample
26413 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
26414 ^Z^Zprompt
26415 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
26416 @end smallexample
26417
26418 The input types are
26419
26420 @table @code
26421 @findex pre-prompt annotation
26422 @findex prompt annotation
26423 @findex post-prompt annotation
26424 @item prompt
26425 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
26426
26427 @findex pre-commands annotation
26428 @findex commands annotation
26429 @findex post-commands annotation
26430 @item commands
26431 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
26432 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
26433
26434 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
26435 @findex overload-choice annotation
26436 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
26437 @item overload-choice
26438 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
26439
26440 @findex pre-query annotation
26441 @findex query annotation
26442 @findex post-query annotation
26443 @item query
26444 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
26445
26446 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
26447 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
26448 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
26449 @item prompt-for-continue
26450 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
26451 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
26452 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
26453 presence of annotations.
26454 @end table
26455
26456 @node Errors
26457 @section Errors
26458 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
26459
26460 @findex quit annotation
26461 @smallexample
26462 ^Z^Zquit
26463 @end smallexample
26464
26465 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
26466
26467 @findex error annotation
26468 @smallexample
26469 ^Z^Zerror
26470 @end smallexample
26471
26472 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
26473
26474 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
26475 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
26476 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
26477 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
26478 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
26479 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
26480 to the top level.
26481
26482 @findex error-begin annotation
26483 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
26484
26485 @smallexample
26486 ^Z^Zerror-begin
26487 @end smallexample
26488
26489 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
26490 message.
26491
26492 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
26493 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
26494 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
26495
26496 @node Invalidation
26497 @section Invalidation Notices
26498
26499 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
26500 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
26501 changed.
26502
26503 @table @code
26504 @findex frames-invalid annotation
26505 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
26506
26507 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
26508 have changed.
26509
26510 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
26511 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
26512
26513 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
26514 deleted a breakpoint.
26515 @end table
26516
26517 @node Annotations for Running
26518 @section Running the Program
26519 @cindex annotations for running programs
26520
26521 @findex starting annotation
26522 @findex stopping annotation
26523 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
26524 @code{step} or @code{continue},
26525
26526 @smallexample
26527 ^Z^Zstarting
26528 @end smallexample
26529
26530 is output. When the program stops,
26531
26532 @smallexample
26533 ^Z^Zstopped
26534 @end smallexample
26535
26536 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
26537 annotations describe how the program stopped.
26538
26539 @table @code
26540 @findex exited annotation
26541 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
26542 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
26543 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
26544
26545 @findex signalled annotation
26546 @findex signal-name annotation
26547 @findex signal-name-end annotation
26548 @findex signal-string annotation
26549 @findex signal-string-end annotation
26550 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
26551 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
26552 annotation continues:
26553
26554 @smallexample
26555 @var{intro-text}
26556 ^Z^Zsignal-name
26557 @var{name}
26558 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
26559 @var{middle-text}
26560 ^Z^Zsignal-string
26561 @var{string}
26562 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
26563 @var{end-text}
26564 @end smallexample
26565
26566 @noindent
26567 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
26568 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
26569 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
26570 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
26571 user's benefit and have no particular format.
26572
26573 @findex signal annotation
26574 @item ^Z^Zsignal
26575 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
26576 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
26577 terminated with it.
26578
26579 @findex breakpoint annotation
26580 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
26581 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
26582
26583 @findex watchpoint annotation
26584 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
26585 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
26586 @end table
26587
26588 @node Source Annotations
26589 @section Displaying Source
26590 @cindex annotations for source display
26591
26592 @findex source annotation
26593 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
26594
26595 @smallexample
26596 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
26597 @end smallexample
26598
26599 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
26600 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
26601 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
26602 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
26603 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
26604 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
26605 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
26606 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
26607 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
26608 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
26609 depend on the language).
26610
26611 @node JIT Interface
26612 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
26613 @cindex just-in-time compilation
26614 @cindex JIT compilation interface
26615
26616 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
26617 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
26618 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
26619 performance while maintaining platform independence.
26620
26621 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
26622 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
26623 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
26624 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
26625 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
26626 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
26627
26628 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
26629 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
26630 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
26631 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
26632 LLVM JIT.
26633
26634 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
26635 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
26636 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
26637 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
26638 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
26639 out about additional code.
26640
26641 @menu
26642 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
26643 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
26644 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
26645 @end menu
26646
26647 @node Declarations
26648 @section JIT Declarations
26649
26650 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
26651 implement the interface:
26652
26653 @smallexample
26654 typedef enum
26655 @{
26656 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
26657 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
26658 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
26659 @} jit_actions_t;
26660
26661 struct jit_code_entry
26662 @{
26663 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
26664 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
26665 const char *symfile_addr;
26666 uint64_t symfile_size;
26667 @};
26668
26669 struct jit_descriptor
26670 @{
26671 uint32_t version;
26672 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
26673 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
26674 uint32_t action_flag;
26675 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
26676 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
26677 @};
26678
26679 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
26680 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
26681
26682 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
26683 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
26684 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
26685 @end smallexample
26686
26687 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
26688 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
26689 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
26690
26691 @node Registering Code
26692 @section Registering Code
26693
26694 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
26695
26696 @itemize @bullet
26697 @item
26698 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
26699 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
26700
26701 @item
26702 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
26703 file.
26704
26705 @item
26706 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
26707
26708 @item
26709 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
26710
26711 @item
26712 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
26713 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
26714 @end itemize
26715
26716 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
26717 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
26718 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
26719 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
26720
26721 @node Unregistering Code
26722 @section Unregistering Code
26723
26724 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
26725
26726 @itemize @bullet
26727 @item
26728 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
26729
26730 @item
26731 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
26732
26733 @item
26734 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
26735 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
26736 @end itemize
26737
26738 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
26739 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
26740
26741 @node GDB Bugs
26742 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
26743 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
26744 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
26745
26746 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
26747
26748 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
26749 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
26750 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
26751 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
26752
26753 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
26754 information that enables us to fix the bug.
26755
26756 @menu
26757 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
26758 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
26759 @end menu
26760
26761 @node Bug Criteria
26762 @section Have You Found a Bug?
26763 @cindex bug criteria
26764
26765 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
26766
26767 @itemize @bullet
26768 @cindex fatal signal
26769 @cindex debugger crash
26770 @cindex crash of debugger
26771 @item
26772 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
26773 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
26774
26775 @cindex error on valid input
26776 @item
26777 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
26778 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
26779 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
26780
26781 @cindex invalid input
26782 @item
26783 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
26784 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
26785 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
26786 for traditional practice''.
26787
26788 @item
26789 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
26790 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
26791 @end itemize
26792
26793 @node Bug Reporting
26794 @section How to Report Bugs
26795 @cindex bug reports
26796 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
26797
26798 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
26799 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
26800 contact that organization first.
26801
26802 You can find contact information for many support companies and
26803 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
26804 distribution.
26805 @c should add a web page ref...
26806
26807 @ifset BUGURL
26808 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
26809 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
26810 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
26811 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
26812 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
26813 be used.
26814
26815 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
26816 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
26817 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
26818 @samp{bug-gdb}.
26819
26820 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
26821 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
26822 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
26823 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
26824 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
26825 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
26826 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
26827 bug reports to the mailing list.
26828 @end ifset
26829 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
26830 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
26831 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
26832 @end ifclear
26833 @end ifset
26834
26835 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
26836 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
26837 fact or leave it out, state it!
26838
26839 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
26840 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
26841 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
26842 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
26843 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
26844 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
26845 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
26846 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
26847 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
26848
26849 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
26850 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
26851 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
26852 self-contained.
26853
26854 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
26855 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
26856 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
26857 bugs properly.
26858
26859 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
26860
26861 @itemize @bullet
26862 @item
26863 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
26864 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
26865 version}.
26866
26867 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
26868 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
26869
26870 @item
26871 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
26872 version number.
26873
26874 @item
26875 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
26876 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
26877
26878 @item
26879 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
26880 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
26881 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
26882 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
26883 those compilers.
26884
26885 @item
26886 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
26887 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
26888 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
26889 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
26890
26891 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
26892 and then we might not encounter the bug.
26893
26894 @item
26895 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
26896 reproduce the bug.
26897
26898 @item
26899 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
26900 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
26901
26902 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
26903 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
26904 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
26905 a chance to make a mistake.
26906
26907 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
26908 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
26909 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
26910 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
26911 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
26912 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
26913 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
26914 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
26915
26916 @pindex script
26917 @cindex recording a session script
26918 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
26919 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
26920 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
26921 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
26922
26923 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
26924 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
26925
26926 @item
26927 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
26928 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
26929 it by context, not by line number.
26930
26931 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
26932 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
26933
26934 @end itemize
26935
26936 Here are some things that are not necessary:
26937
26938 @itemize @bullet
26939 @item
26940 A description of the envelope of the bug.
26941
26942 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
26943 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
26944 changes will not affect it.
26945
26946 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
26947 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
26948 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
26949 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
26950
26951 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
26952 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
26953 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
26954 less time, and so on.
26955
26956 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
26957 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
26958
26959 @item
26960 A patch for the bug.
26961
26962 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
26963 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
26964 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
26965 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
26966
26967 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
26968 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
26969 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
26970 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
26971
26972 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
26973 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
26974 help us to understand.
26975
26976 @item
26977 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
26978
26979 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
26980 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
26981 @end itemize
26982
26983 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
26984 @c and consists of the two following files:
26985 @c rluser.texinfo
26986 @c inc-hist.texinfo
26987 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
26988 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
26989 @include rluser.texi
26990 @include inc-hist.texinfo
26991
26992
26993 @node Formatting Documentation
26994 @appendix Formatting Documentation
26995
26996 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
26997 @cindex reference card
26998 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
26999 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
27000 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
27001 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
27002 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
27003 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
27004
27005 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
27006 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
27007
27008 @smallexample
27009 make refcard.dvi
27010 @end smallexample
27011
27012 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
27013 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
27014 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
27015 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
27016 your @sc{dvi} output program.
27017
27018 @cindex documentation
27019
27020 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
27021 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
27022 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
27023 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
27024 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
27025 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
27026
27027 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
27028 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
27029 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
27030 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
27031 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
27032 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
27033 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
27034 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
27035
27036 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
27037 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
27038 @code{makeinfo}.
27039
27040 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
27041 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
27042 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
27043
27044 @smallexample
27045 cd gdb
27046 make gdb.info
27047 @end smallexample
27048
27049 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
27050 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
27051 Texinfo definitions file.
27052
27053 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
27054 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
27055 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
27056 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
27057 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
27058 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
27059 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
27060
27061 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
27062 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
27063 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
27064 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
27065 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
27066 directory.
27067
27068 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
27069 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
27070 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
27071 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
27072
27073 @smallexample
27074 make gdb.dvi
27075 @end smallexample
27076
27077 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
27078
27079 @node Installing GDB
27080 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
27081 @cindex installation
27082
27083 @menu
27084 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
27085 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
27086 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
27087 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
27088 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
27089 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
27090 @end menu
27091
27092 @node Requirements
27093 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
27094 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
27095
27096 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
27097 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
27098
27099 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
27100 @table @asis
27101 @item ISO C90 compiler
27102 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
27103 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
27104
27105 @end table
27106
27107 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
27108 @table @asis
27109 @item Expat
27110 @anchor{Expat}
27111 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
27112 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
27113 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
27114 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
27115 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
27116 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
27117
27118 Expat is used for:
27119
27120 @itemize @bullet
27121 @item
27122 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
27123 @item
27124 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
27125 @item
27126 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
27127 @item
27128 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
27129 @end itemize
27130
27131 @item zlib
27132 @cindex compressed debug sections
27133 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
27134 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
27135 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
27136 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
27137 information in such binaries.
27138
27139 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
27140 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
27141 @url{http://zlib.net}.
27142
27143 @item iconv
27144 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
27145 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
27146 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
27147 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
27148
27149 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
27150 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
27151 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
27152
27153 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
27154 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
27155 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
27156 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
27157 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
27158 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
27159 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
27160 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
27161 @end table
27162
27163 @node Running Configure
27164 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
27165 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
27166 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
27167 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
27168 build the @code{gdb} program.
27169 @iftex
27170 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
27171 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
27172 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
27173 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
27174 @end iftex
27175
27176 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
27177 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
27178 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
27179
27180 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
27181 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
27182
27183 @table @code
27184 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
27185 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
27186
27187 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
27188 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
27189
27190 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
27191 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
27192
27193 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
27194 @sc{gnu} include files
27195
27196 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
27197 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
27198
27199 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
27200 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
27201
27202 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
27203 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
27204
27205 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
27206 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
27207
27208 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
27209 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
27210 @end table
27211
27212 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
27213 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
27214 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
27215
27216 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
27217 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
27218 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
27219 argument.
27220
27221 For example:
27222
27223 @smallexample
27224 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
27225 ./configure @var{host}
27226 make
27227 @end smallexample
27228
27229 @noindent
27230 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
27231 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
27232 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
27233 correct value by examining your system.)
27234
27235 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
27236 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
27237 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
27238 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
27239
27240 @need 750
27241 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
27242 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
27243 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
27244
27245 @smallexample
27246 sh configure @var{host}
27247 @end smallexample
27248
27249 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
27250 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
27251 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
27252 @file{configure}
27253 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
27254 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
27255
27256 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
27257 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
27258 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
27259 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
27260 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
27261 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
27262 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
27263 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
27264 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
27265
27266 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
27267 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
27268 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
27269 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
27270 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
27271
27272 @node Separate Objdir
27273 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
27274
27275 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
27276 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
27277 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
27278 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
27279 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
27280 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
27281 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
27282 program specified there.
27283
27284 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
27285 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
27286 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
27287 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
27288 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
27289 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
27290
27291 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
27292 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
27293
27294 @smallexample
27295 @group
27296 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
27297 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
27298 cd ../gdb-sun4
27299 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
27300 make
27301 @end group
27302 @end smallexample
27303
27304 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
27305 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
27306 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
27307 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
27308 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
27309 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
27310
27311 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
27312 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
27313 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
27314 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
27315 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
27316
27317 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
27318 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
27319 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
27320 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
27321 You specify a cross-debugging target by
27322 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
27323
27324 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
27325 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
27326 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
27327
27328 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
27329 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
27330 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
27331 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
27332 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
27333
27334 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
27335 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
27336 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
27337 with each other.
27338
27339 @node Config Names
27340 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
27341
27342 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
27343 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
27344 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
27345 of information in the following pattern:
27346
27347 @smallexample
27348 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
27349 @end smallexample
27350
27351 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
27352 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
27353 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
27354
27355 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
27356 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
27357 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
27358 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
27359 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
27360 abbreviations---for example:
27361
27362 @smallexample
27363 % sh config.sub i386-linux
27364 i386-pc-linux-gnu
27365 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
27366 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
27367 % sh config.sub hp9k700
27368 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
27369 % sh config.sub sun4
27370 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
27371 % sh config.sub sun3
27372 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
27373 % sh config.sub i986v
27374 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
27375 @end smallexample
27376
27377 @noindent
27378 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
27379 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
27380
27381 @node Configure Options
27382 @section @file{configure} Options
27383
27384 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
27385 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
27386 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
27387 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
27388
27389 @smallexample
27390 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
27391 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
27392 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
27393 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
27394 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
27395 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
27396 @var{host}
27397 @end smallexample
27398
27399 @noindent
27400 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
27401 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
27402 @samp{--}.
27403
27404 @table @code
27405 @item --help
27406 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
27407
27408 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
27409 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
27410 @file{@var{dir}}.
27411
27412 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
27413 Configure the source to install programs under directory
27414 @file{@var{dir}}.
27415
27416 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
27417 @need 2000
27418 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
27419 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
27420 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
27421 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
27422 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
27423 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
27424 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
27425 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
27426 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
27427 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
27428 @var{dirname}.
27429
27430 @item --norecursion
27431 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
27432 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
27433
27434 @item --target=@var{target}
27435 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
27436 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
27437 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
27438
27439 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
27440
27441 @item @var{host} @dots{}
27442 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
27443
27444 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
27445 @end table
27446
27447 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
27448 needed for special purposes only.
27449
27450 @node System-wide configuration
27451 @section System-wide configuration and settings
27452 @cindex system-wide init file
27453
27454 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
27455 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
27456 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
27457
27458 Here is the corresponding configure option:
27459
27460 @table @code
27461 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
27462 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
27463 @var{file}.
27464 @end table
27465
27466 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
27467 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
27468
27469 @itemize @bullet
27470 @item
27471 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
27472 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
27473 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
27474 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
27475 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
27476 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
27477
27478 @item
27479 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
27480 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
27481 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
27482 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
27483 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
27484 @end itemize
27485
27486 @node Maintenance Commands
27487 @appendix Maintenance Commands
27488 @cindex maintenance commands
27489 @cindex internal commands
27490
27491 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
27492 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
27493 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
27494 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
27495 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
27496
27497 @table @code
27498 @kindex maint agent
27499 @kindex maint agent-eval
27500 @item maint agent @var{expression}
27501 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
27502 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
27503 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
27504 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
27505 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
27506 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
27507 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
27508 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
27509 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
27510 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
27511 addition and return the sum.
27512
27513 @kindex maint info breakpoints
27514 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
27515 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
27516 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
27517 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
27518 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
27519 is shown:
27520
27521 @table @code
27522 @item breakpoint
27523 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
27524
27525 @item watchpoint
27526 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
27527
27528 @item longjmp
27529 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
27530 @code{longjmp} calls.
27531
27532 @item longjmp resume
27533 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
27534
27535 @item until
27536 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
27537
27538 @item finish
27539 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
27540
27541 @item shlib events
27542 Shared library events.
27543
27544 @end table
27545
27546 @kindex set displaced-stepping
27547 @kindex show displaced-stepping
27548 @cindex displaced stepping support
27549 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
27550 @item set displaced-stepping
27551 @itemx show displaced-stepping
27552 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
27553 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
27554 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
27555 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
27556 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
27557
27558 @table @code
27559 @item set displaced-stepping on
27560 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
27561 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
27562
27563 @item set displaced-stepping off
27564 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
27565 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
27566
27567 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
27568 @item set displaced-stepping auto
27569 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
27570 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
27571 architecture supports displaced stepping.
27572 @end table
27573
27574 @kindex maint check-symtabs
27575 @item maint check-symtabs
27576 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
27577
27578 @kindex maint cplus first_component
27579 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
27580 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
27581
27582 @kindex maint cplus namespace
27583 @item maint cplus namespace
27584 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
27585
27586 @kindex maint demangle
27587 @item maint demangle @var{name}
27588 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
27589
27590 @kindex maint deprecate
27591 @kindex maint undeprecate
27592 @cindex deprecated commands
27593 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
27594 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
27595 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
27596 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
27597 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
27598 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
27599 the replacement as part of the warning.
27600
27601 @kindex maint dump-me
27602 @item maint dump-me
27603 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
27604 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
27605 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
27606 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
27607
27608 @kindex maint internal-error
27609 @kindex maint internal-warning
27610 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
27611 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
27612 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
27613 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
27614 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
27615 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
27616 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
27617 @value{GDBN} session.
27618
27619 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
27620 used as the text of the error or warning message.
27621
27622 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
27623
27624 @smallexample
27625 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
27626 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
27627 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
27628 debugging may prove unreliable.
27629 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
27630 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
27631 (@value{GDBP})
27632 @end smallexample
27633
27634 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
27635 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
27636
27637 @kindex maint set internal-error
27638 @kindex maint show internal-error
27639 @kindex maint set internal-warning
27640 @kindex maint show internal-warning
27641 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
27642 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
27643 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
27644 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
27645 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
27646 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
27647 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
27648 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
27649 described in the table below.
27650
27651 @table @samp
27652 @item quit
27653 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
27654 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
27655
27656 @item corefile
27657 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
27658 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
27659 @end table
27660
27661 @kindex maint packet
27662 @item maint packet @var{text}
27663 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
27664 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
27665 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
27666 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
27667 checksum.
27668
27669 @kindex maint print architecture
27670 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27671 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
27672 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
27673
27674 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
27675 @item maint print c-tdesc
27676 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
27677 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
27678 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
27679
27680 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
27681 @item maint print dummy-frames
27682 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
27683
27684 @smallexample
27685 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
27686 @dots{}
27687 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
27688 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
27689 58 return (a + b);
27690 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
27691 @dots{}
27692 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
27693 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
27694 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
27695 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
27696 (@value{GDBP})
27697 @end smallexample
27698
27699 Takes an optional file parameter.
27700
27701 @kindex maint print registers
27702 @kindex maint print raw-registers
27703 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
27704 @kindex maint print register-groups
27705 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27706 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27707 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27708 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27709 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
27710
27711 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
27712 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
27713 includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
27714 @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
27715 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
27716 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
27717
27718 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
27719 write the information.
27720
27721 @kindex maint print reggroups
27722 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27723 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
27724 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
27725 information.
27726
27727 The register groups info looks like this:
27728
27729 @smallexample
27730 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
27731 Group Type
27732 general user
27733 float user
27734 all user
27735 vector user
27736 system user
27737 save internal
27738 restore internal
27739 @end smallexample
27740
27741 @kindex flushregs
27742 @item flushregs
27743 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
27744
27745 @kindex maint print objfiles
27746 @cindex info for known object files
27747 @item maint print objfiles
27748 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
27749 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
27750 and symtabs.
27751
27752 @kindex maint print statistics
27753 @cindex bcache statistics
27754 @item maint print statistics
27755 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
27756 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
27757 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
27758 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
27759 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
27760 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
27761 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
27762 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
27763 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
27764 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
27765 lengths.
27766
27767 @kindex maint print target-stack
27768 @cindex target stack description
27769 @item maint print target-stack
27770 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
27771 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
27772 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
27773 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
27774 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
27775 address.
27776
27777 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
27778 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
27779
27780 @kindex maint print type
27781 @cindex type chain of a data type
27782 @item maint print type @var{expr}
27783 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
27784 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
27785 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
27786 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
27787 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
27788
27789 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
27790 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
27791 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
27792 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
27793 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
27794
27795 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
27796 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
27797 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
27798 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
27799 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
27800 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
27801 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
27802 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
27803 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
27804
27805 @kindex maint set profile
27806 @kindex maint show profile
27807 @cindex profiling GDB
27808 @item maint set profile
27809 @itemx maint show profile
27810 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
27811
27812 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
27813 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
27814 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
27815 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
27816 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
27817 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
27818 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
27819
27820 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
27821 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
27822
27823 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
27824 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
27825 @cindex hardware debug registers
27826 @item maint set show-debug-regs
27827 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
27828 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
27829 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
27830 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
27831 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
27832 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
27833
27834 @kindex maint space
27835 @cindex memory used by commands
27836 @item maint space
27837 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
27838 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
27839 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
27840 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
27841 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
27842
27843 @kindex maint time
27844 @cindex time of command execution
27845 @item maint time
27846 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
27847 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
27848 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
27849 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
27850 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
27851 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
27852 it's not possibly currently
27853 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
27854 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
27855
27856 @kindex maint translate-address
27857 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
27858 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
27859 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
27860 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
27861 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
27862 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
27863 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
27864
27865 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
27866 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
27867 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
27868
27869 @end table
27870
27871 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
27872 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
27873
27874 @table @code
27875 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
27876 @kindex set watchdog
27877 @cindex watchdog timer
27878 @cindex timeout for commands
27879 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
27880 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
27881 reports and error and the command is aborted.
27882
27883 @item show watchdog
27884 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
27885 @end table
27886
27887 @node Remote Protocol
27888 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
27889
27890 @menu
27891 * Overview::
27892 * Packets::
27893 * Stop Reply Packets::
27894 * General Query Packets::
27895 * Register Packet Format::
27896 * Tracepoint Packets::
27897 * Host I/O Packets::
27898 * Interrupts::
27899 * Notification Packets::
27900 * Remote Non-Stop::
27901 * Packet Acknowledgment::
27902 * Examples::
27903 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
27904 * Library List Format::
27905 * Memory Map Format::
27906 @end menu
27907
27908 @node Overview
27909 @section Overview
27910
27911 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
27912 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
27913 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
27914 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
27915
27916 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
27917 transmitted and received data, respectively.
27918
27919 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
27920 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
27921 @cindex remote serial protocol
27922 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
27923 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
27924 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
27925 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
27926 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
27927
27928 @smallexample
27929 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27930 @end smallexample
27931 @noindent
27932
27933 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
27934 @noindent
27935 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
27936 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
27937 eight bit unsigned checksum).
27938
27939 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
27940 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
27941
27942 @smallexample
27943 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27944 @end smallexample
27945
27946 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
27947 @noindent
27948 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
27949 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
27950 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
27951
27952 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
27953 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
27954 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
27955 retransmission):
27956
27957 @smallexample
27958 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27959 <- @code{+}
27960 @end smallexample
27961 @noindent
27962
27963 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
27964 once a connection is established.
27965 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
27966
27967 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
27968 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
27969 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
27970 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
27971 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
27972 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
27973 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
27974
27975 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
27976 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
27977 exceptions).
27978
27979 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
27980 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
27981 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
27982 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
27983
27984 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
27985 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
27986 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
27987
27988 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
27989 @anchor{Binary Data}
27990 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
27991 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
27992 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
27993 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
27994 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
27995 binary data.
27996
27997 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
27998 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
27999 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
28000 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
28001 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
28002 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
28003 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
28004 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
28005 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
28006 (described next).
28007
28008 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
28009 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
28010 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
28011 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
28012 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
28013 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
28014 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
28015 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
28016 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
28017 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
28018 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
28019 3}} more times.
28020
28021 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
28022 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
28023 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
28024 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
28025 @samp{0*"00}.
28026
28027 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
28028 error number. That number is not well defined.
28029
28030 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
28031 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
28032 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
28033 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
28034 on that response.
28035
28036 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
28037 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
28038 optional.
28039
28040 @node Packets
28041 @section Packets
28042
28043 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
28044 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
28045 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
28046 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
28047
28048 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
28049 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
28050 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
28051 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
28052 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
28053 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
28054 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
28055 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
28056 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
28057 @var{baz}.
28058
28059 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
28060 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
28061 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
28062 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
28063 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
28064 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
28065 pick any thread.
28066
28067 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
28068 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
28069 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
28070 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
28071 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
28072 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
28073 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
28074 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
28075 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
28076 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
28077 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
28078 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
28079 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
28080
28081 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
28082 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
28083 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
28084 more information.
28085
28086 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
28087 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
28088
28089 Here are the packet descriptions.
28090
28091 @table @samp
28092
28093 @item !
28094 @cindex @samp{!} packet
28095 @anchor{extended mode}
28096 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
28097 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
28098 debugged.
28099
28100 Reply:
28101 @table @samp
28102 @item OK
28103 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
28104 @end table
28105
28106 @item ?
28107 @cindex @samp{?} packet
28108 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
28109 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
28110 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
28111
28112 Reply:
28113 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28114
28115 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
28116 @cindex @samp{A} packet
28117 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
28118 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
28119 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
28120
28121 Reply:
28122 @table @samp
28123 @item OK
28124 The arguments were set.
28125 @item E @var{NN}
28126 An error occurred.
28127 @end table
28128
28129 @item b @var{baud}
28130 @cindex @samp{b} packet
28131 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
28132 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
28133
28134 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
28135 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
28136 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
28137
28138 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
28139 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
28140 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
28141 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
28142 of view, nothing actually happened.}
28143
28144 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
28145 @cindex @samp{B} packet
28146 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
28147 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
28148
28149 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
28150 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
28151
28152 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
28153 @anchor{bc}
28154 @item bc
28155 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
28156 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
28157
28158 Reply:
28159 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28160
28161 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
28162 @anchor{bs}
28163 @item bs
28164 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
28165 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
28166
28167 Reply:
28168 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28169
28170 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
28171 @cindex @samp{c} packet
28172 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
28173 resume at current address.
28174
28175 Reply:
28176 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28177
28178 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
28179 @cindex @samp{C} packet
28180 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
28181 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
28182
28183 Reply:
28184 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28185
28186 @item d
28187 @cindex @samp{d} packet
28188 Toggle debug flag.
28189
28190 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
28191 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
28192
28193 @item D
28194 @itemx D;@var{pid}
28195 @cindex @samp{D} packet
28196 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
28197 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
28198 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
28199
28200 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
28201 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
28202 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
28203 big-endian hex string.
28204
28205 Reply:
28206 @table @samp
28207 @item OK
28208 for success
28209 @item E @var{NN}
28210 for an error
28211 @end table
28212
28213 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
28214 @cindex @samp{F} packet
28215 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
28216 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
28217 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
28218
28219 @item g
28220 @anchor{read registers packet}
28221 @cindex @samp{g} packet
28222 Read general registers.
28223
28224 Reply:
28225 @table @samp
28226 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28227 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
28228 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
28229 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
28230 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
28231 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
28232 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
28233 @item E @var{NN}
28234 for an error.
28235 @end table
28236
28237 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
28238 @cindex @samp{G} packet
28239 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
28240 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
28241
28242 Reply:
28243 @table @samp
28244 @item OK
28245 for success
28246 @item E @var{NN}
28247 for an error
28248 @end table
28249
28250 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
28251 @cindex @samp{H} packet
28252 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
28253 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
28254 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
28255 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
28256 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28257
28258 Reply:
28259 @table @samp
28260 @item OK
28261 for success
28262 @item E @var{NN}
28263 for an error
28264 @end table
28265
28266 @c FIXME: JTC:
28267 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
28268 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
28269 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
28270 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
28271 @c described. For example:
28272 @c
28273 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
28274 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
28275 @c otherwise returns current registers.
28276 @c
28277 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
28278 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
28279 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
28280
28281 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
28282 @anchor{cycle step packet}
28283 @cindex @samp{i} packet
28284 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
28285 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
28286 step starting at that address.
28287
28288 @item I
28289 @cindex @samp{I} packet
28290 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
28291 step packet}.
28292
28293 @item k
28294 @cindex @samp{k} packet
28295 Kill request.
28296
28297 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
28298 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
28299 thread?)}.
28300
28301 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
28302 @cindex @samp{m} packet
28303 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
28304 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
28305
28306 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
28307 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
28308 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
28309 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
28310 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
28311 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
28312 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
28313 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
28314
28315 Reply:
28316 @table @samp
28317 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28318 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
28319 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
28320 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
28321 @item E @var{NN}
28322 @var{NN} is errno
28323 @end table
28324
28325 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28326 @cindex @samp{M} packet
28327 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
28328 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
28329 hexadecimal number.
28330
28331 Reply:
28332 @table @samp
28333 @item OK
28334 for success
28335 @item E @var{NN}
28336 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
28337 written).
28338 @end table
28339
28340 @item p @var{n}
28341 @cindex @samp{p} packet
28342 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
28343 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
28344 register value is encoded.
28345
28346 Reply:
28347 @table @samp
28348 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28349 the register's value
28350 @item E @var{NN}
28351 for an error
28352 @item
28353 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
28354 @end table
28355
28356 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
28357 @anchor{write register packet}
28358 @cindex @samp{P} packet
28359 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
28360 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
28361 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
28362
28363 Reply:
28364 @table @samp
28365 @item OK
28366 for success
28367 @item E @var{NN}
28368 for an error
28369 @end table
28370
28371 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
28372 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
28373 @cindex @samp{q} packet
28374 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
28375 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
28376 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
28377
28378 @item r
28379 @cindex @samp{r} packet
28380 Reset the entire system.
28381
28382 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
28383
28384 @item R @var{XX}
28385 @cindex @samp{R} packet
28386 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
28387 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28388
28389 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
28390
28391 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
28392 @cindex @samp{s} packet
28393 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
28394 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
28395
28396 Reply:
28397 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28398
28399 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
28400 @anchor{step with signal packet}
28401 @cindex @samp{S} packet
28402 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
28403 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
28404
28405 Reply:
28406 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28407
28408 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
28409 @cindex @samp{t} packet
28410 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
28411 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
28412 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
28413
28414 @item T @var{thread-id}
28415 @cindex @samp{T} packet
28416 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
28417
28418 Reply:
28419 @table @samp
28420 @item OK
28421 thread is still alive
28422 @item E @var{NN}
28423 thread is dead
28424 @end table
28425
28426 @item v
28427 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
28428 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
28429
28430 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
28431 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
28432 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
28433 The process ID is a
28434 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
28435 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
28436 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
28437
28438 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
28439 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
28440 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
28441 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
28442 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
28443 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
28444 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
28445 @c stopping or restarting threads.
28446
28447 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28448
28449 Reply:
28450 @table @samp
28451 @item E @var{nn}
28452 for an error
28453 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28454 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28455 @item OK
28456 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
28457 @end table
28458
28459 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
28460 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
28461 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
28462 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
28463 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
28464 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
28465 in their current state in non-stop mode.
28466 Specifying multiple
28467 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
28468 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28469
28470 Currently supported actions are:
28471
28472 @table @samp
28473 @item c
28474 Continue.
28475 @item C @var{sig}
28476 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
28477 @item s
28478 Step.
28479 @item S @var{sig}
28480 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
28481 @item t
28482 Stop.
28483 @end table
28484
28485 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
28486 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
28487 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
28488
28489 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
28490 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
28491 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
28492 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
28493 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
28494 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
28495 as an implementation detail.
28496
28497 Reply:
28498 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28499
28500 @item vCont?
28501 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
28502 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
28503
28504 Reply:
28505 @table @samp
28506 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
28507 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
28508 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
28509 @item
28510 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
28511 @end table
28512
28513 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
28514 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
28515 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
28516 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
28517
28518 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
28519 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
28520 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
28521 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
28522 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
28523 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
28524 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
28525 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
28526 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
28527 packet is received.
28528
28529 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
28530 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
28531 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
28532 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
28533 @var{thread-id}.
28534
28535 Reply:
28536 @table @samp
28537 @item OK
28538 for success
28539 @item E @var{NN}
28540 for an error
28541 @end table
28542
28543 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28544 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
28545 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
28546 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
28547 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
28548 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
28549 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
28550 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
28551 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
28552 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
28553 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
28554 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
28555
28556
28557 Reply:
28558 @table @samp
28559 @item OK
28560 for success
28561 @item E.memtype
28562 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
28563 @item E @var{NN}
28564 for an error
28565 @end table
28566
28567 @item vFlashDone
28568 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
28569 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
28570 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
28571 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
28572 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
28573 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
28574 request is completed.
28575
28576 @item vKill;@var{pid}
28577 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
28578 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
28579 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
28580 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
28581 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
28582
28583 Reply:
28584 @table @samp
28585 @item E @var{nn}
28586 for an error
28587 @item OK
28588 for success
28589 @end table
28590
28591 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
28592 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
28593 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
28594 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
28595 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
28596 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
28597 state.
28598
28599 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
28600
28601 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28602
28603 Reply:
28604 @table @samp
28605 @item E @var{nn}
28606 for an error
28607 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28608 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28609 @end table
28610
28611 @item vStopped
28612 @anchor{vStopped packet}
28613 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
28614
28615 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
28616 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
28617
28618 Reply:
28619 @table @samp
28620 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28621 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28622 @item OK
28623 if there are no unreported stop events
28624 @end table
28625
28626 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28627 @anchor{X packet}
28628 @cindex @samp{X} packet
28629 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
28630 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
28631 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
28632
28633 Reply:
28634 @table @samp
28635 @item OK
28636 for success
28637 @item E @var{NN}
28638 for an error
28639 @end table
28640
28641 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
28642 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
28643 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
28644 @cindex @samp{z} packet
28645 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
28646 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
28647 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
28648 @var{length} bytes.
28649
28650 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
28651 separately.
28652
28653 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
28654 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
28655 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
28656 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
28657 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
28658 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
28659
28660 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
28661 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
28662 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
28663 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
28664 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
28665 @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
28666
28667 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
28668 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
28669 @var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
28670 breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
28671 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
28672
28673 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
28674 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
28675 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
28676 target, is not defined.}
28677
28678 Reply:
28679 @table @samp
28680 @item OK
28681 success
28682 @item
28683 not supported
28684 @item E @var{NN}
28685 for an error
28686 @end table
28687
28688 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
28689 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
28690 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
28691 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
28692 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
28693 address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
28694
28695 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
28696 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
28697
28698 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
28699 movement.}
28700
28701 Reply:
28702 @table @samp
28703 @item OK
28704 success
28705 @item
28706 not supported
28707 @item E @var{NN}
28708 for an error
28709 @end table
28710
28711 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
28712 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
28713 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
28714 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
28715 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
28716
28717 Reply:
28718 @table @samp
28719 @item OK
28720 success
28721 @item
28722 not supported
28723 @item E @var{NN}
28724 for an error
28725 @end table
28726
28727 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
28728 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
28729 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
28730 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
28731 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
28732
28733 Reply:
28734 @table @samp
28735 @item OK
28736 success
28737 @item
28738 not supported
28739 @item E @var{NN}
28740 for an error
28741 @end table
28742
28743 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
28744 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
28745 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
28746 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
28747 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
28748
28749 Reply:
28750 @table @samp
28751 @item OK
28752 success
28753 @item
28754 not supported
28755 @item E @var{NN}
28756 for an error
28757 @end table
28758
28759 @end table
28760
28761 @node Stop Reply Packets
28762 @section Stop Reply Packets
28763 @cindex stop reply packets
28764
28765 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
28766 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
28767 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
28768 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
28769 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
28770 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
28771 @value{GDBN} source code.
28772
28773 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
28774 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
28775 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
28776 components.
28777
28778 @table @samp
28779
28780 @item S @var{AA}
28781 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
28782 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
28783 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
28784
28785 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
28786 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
28787 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
28788 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
28789 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
28790 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
28791 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
28792 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
28793
28794 @itemize @bullet
28795 @item
28796 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
28797 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
28798 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
28799 two-digit hex number.
28800
28801 @item
28802 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
28803 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28804
28805 @item
28806 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
28807 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
28808 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
28809 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
28810
28811 @item
28812 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
28813 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
28814 future.
28815 @end itemize
28816
28817 The currently defined stop reasons are:
28818
28819 @table @samp
28820 @item watch
28821 @itemx rwatch
28822 @itemx awatch
28823 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
28824 hex.
28825
28826 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
28827 @item library
28828 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
28829 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
28830 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
28831
28832 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
28833 @item replaylog
28834 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
28835 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
28836 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
28837 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
28838 for more information.
28839
28840
28841 @end table
28842
28843 @item W @var{AA}
28844 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
28845 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
28846 applicable to certain targets.
28847
28848 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
28849 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
28850 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
28851 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
28852
28853 @item X @var{AA}
28854 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
28855 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
28856
28857 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
28858 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
28859 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
28860 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
28861
28862 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
28863 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
28864 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
28865 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
28866 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
28867
28868 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
28869 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
28870 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
28871 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
28872 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
28873 system calls.
28874
28875 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
28876 this very system call.
28877
28878 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
28879 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
28880 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
28881 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
28882 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
28883 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
28884
28885 @end table
28886
28887 @node General Query Packets
28888 @section General Query Packets
28889 @cindex remote query requests
28890
28891 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
28892 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
28893 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
28894 sending information to and from the stub.
28895
28896 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
28897 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
28898 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
28899 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
28900 conventions:
28901
28902 @itemize @bullet
28903 @item
28904 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
28905 @item
28906 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
28907 letter.
28908 @item
28909 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
28910 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
28911 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
28912 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
28913 @end itemize
28914
28915 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
28916 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
28917 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
28918 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
28919 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
28920 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
28921 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
28922 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
28923 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
28924 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
28925 packet.}.
28926
28927 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
28928 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
28929 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
28930 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
28931 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
28932
28933 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
28934
28935 @table @samp
28936
28937 @item qC
28938 @cindex current thread, remote request
28939 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
28940 Return the current thread ID.
28941
28942 Reply:
28943 @table @samp
28944 @item QC @var{thread-id}
28945 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
28946 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28947 @item @r{(anything else)}
28948 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
28949 @end table
28950
28951 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
28952 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
28953 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
28954 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
28955 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
28956 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
28957 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
28958
28959 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
28960 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
28961 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
28962 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
28963 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
28964 detect trailing zeros.
28965
28966 Reply:
28967 @table @samp
28968 @item E @var{NN}
28969 An error (such as memory fault)
28970 @item C @var{crc32}
28971 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
28972 @end table
28973
28974 @item qfThreadInfo
28975 @itemx qsThreadInfo
28976 @cindex list active threads, remote request
28977 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
28978 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
28979 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
28980 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
28981 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
28982 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
28983 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
28984 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
28985
28986 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
28987
28988 Reply:
28989 @table @samp
28990 @item m @var{thread-id}
28991 A single thread ID
28992 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
28993 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
28994 @item l
28995 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
28996 @end table
28997
28998 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
28999 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
29000 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
29001 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
29002 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
29003 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
29004 fields.
29005
29006 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
29007 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
29008 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
29009 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
29010 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
29011
29012 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
29013 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
29014
29015 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
29016 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
29017 information associated with the variable.)
29018
29019 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
29020 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
29021 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
29022 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
29023 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
29024 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
29025
29026 Reply:
29027 @table @samp
29028 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
29029 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
29030 local storage requested.
29031
29032 @item E @var{nn}
29033 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29034
29035 @item
29036 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
29037 @end table
29038
29039 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
29040 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
29041 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
29042 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
29043 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
29044 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
29045 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
29046
29047 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
29048
29049 Reply:
29050 @table @samp
29051 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
29052 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
29053 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
29054 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
29055 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
29056 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
29057 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
29058 @end table
29059
29060 @item qOffsets
29061 @cindex section offsets, remote request
29062 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
29063 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
29064 image.
29065
29066 Reply:
29067 @table @samp
29068 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
29069 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
29070 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
29071 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
29072 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
29073 segments by the supplied offsets.
29074
29075 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
29076 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
29077 to the @code{Bss} section.}
29078
29079 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
29080 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
29081 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
29082 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
29083 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
29084 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
29085 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
29086 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
29087 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
29088 @end table
29089
29090 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
29091 @cindex thread information, remote request
29092 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
29093 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
29094 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
29095 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
29096
29097 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
29098 (see below).
29099
29100 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
29101
29102 @item QNonStop:1
29103 @item QNonStop:0
29104 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
29105 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
29106 @anchor{QNonStop}
29107 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
29108 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
29109
29110 Reply:
29111 @table @samp
29112 @item OK
29113 The request succeeded.
29114
29115 @item E @var{nn}
29116 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29117
29118 @item
29119 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
29120 the stub.
29121 @end table
29122
29123 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29124 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29125 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
29126 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
29127
29128 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
29129 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
29130 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
29131 @anchor{QPassSignals}
29132 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
29133 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
29134 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
29135 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
29136 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
29137 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
29138 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
29139 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
29140 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
29141
29142 Reply:
29143 @table @samp
29144 @item OK
29145 The request succeeded.
29146
29147 @item E @var{nn}
29148 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29149
29150 @item
29151 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
29152 the stub.
29153 @end table
29154
29155 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
29156 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
29157 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29158 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29159
29160 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
29161 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
29162 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
29163 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
29164 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
29165 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
29166 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
29167 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
29168 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
29169
29170 Reply:
29171 @table @samp
29172 @item OK
29173 A command response with no output.
29174 @item @var{OUTPUT}
29175 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
29176 @item E @var{NN}
29177 Indicate a badly formed request.
29178 @item
29179 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
29180 @end table
29181
29182 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
29183 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
29184 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
29185 packets.)
29186
29187 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
29188 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
29189 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
29190 @anchor{qSearch memory}
29191 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
29192 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
29193 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
29194
29195 Reply:
29196 @table @samp
29197 @item 0
29198 The pattern was not found.
29199 @item 1,address
29200 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
29201 @item E @var{NN}
29202 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
29203 @item
29204 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
29205 @end table
29206
29207 @item QStartNoAckMode
29208 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
29209 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
29210 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
29211 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
29212
29213 Reply:
29214 @table @samp
29215 @item OK
29216 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
29217 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
29218 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
29219 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
29220 @item
29221 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
29222 @end table
29223
29224 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
29225 @cindex supported packets, remote query
29226 @cindex features of the remote protocol
29227 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
29228 @anchor{qSupported}
29229 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
29230 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
29231 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
29232 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
29233 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
29234 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
29235 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
29236 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
29237 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
29238 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
29239 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
29240 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
29241 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
29242 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
29243
29244 Reply:
29245 @table @samp
29246 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
29247 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
29248 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
29249 possible forms).
29250 @item
29251 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
29252 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
29253 @end table
29254
29255 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
29256 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
29257 are:
29258
29259 @table @samp
29260 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
29261 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
29262 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
29263 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
29264 @item @var{name}+
29265 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
29266 need an associated value.
29267 @item @var{name}-
29268 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
29269 @item @var{name}?
29270 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
29271 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
29272 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
29273 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
29274 @end table
29275
29276 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
29277 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
29278 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
29279 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
29280 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
29281
29282 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
29283 are defined:
29284
29285 @table @samp
29286 @item multiprocess
29287 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
29288 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
29289 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
29290 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
29291 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
29292 @end table
29293
29294 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
29295 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
29296 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
29297 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
29298 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
29299 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
29300 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
29301 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
29302 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
29303 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
29304 all the features it supports.
29305
29306 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
29307 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
29308
29309 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
29310 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
29311 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
29312 form response.
29313
29314 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
29315 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
29316 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
29317 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
29318
29319 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
29320 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
29321 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
29322 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
29323 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
29324
29325 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
29326
29327 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
29328 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
29329 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
29330 @item Feature Name
29331 @tab Value Required
29332 @tab Default
29333 @tab Probe Allowed
29334
29335 @item @samp{PacketSize}
29336 @tab Yes
29337 @tab @samp{-}
29338 @tab No
29339
29340 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
29341 @tab No
29342 @tab @samp{-}
29343 @tab Yes
29344
29345 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
29346 @tab No
29347 @tab @samp{-}
29348 @tab Yes
29349
29350 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
29351 @tab No
29352 @tab @samp{-}
29353 @tab Yes
29354
29355 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
29356 @tab No
29357 @tab @samp{-}
29358 @tab Yes
29359
29360 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
29361 @tab No
29362 @tab @samp{-}
29363 @tab Yes
29364
29365 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
29366 @tab No
29367 @tab @samp{-}
29368 @tab Yes
29369
29370 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
29371 @tab No
29372 @tab @samp{-}
29373 @tab Yes
29374
29375 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
29376 @tab No
29377 @tab @samp{-}
29378 @tab Yes
29379
29380 @item @samp{QNonStop}
29381 @tab No
29382 @tab @samp{-}
29383 @tab Yes
29384
29385 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
29386 @tab No
29387 @tab @samp{-}
29388 @tab Yes
29389
29390 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
29391 @tab No
29392 @tab @samp{-}
29393 @tab Yes
29394
29395 @item @samp{multiprocess}
29396 @tab No
29397 @tab @samp{-}
29398 @tab No
29399
29400 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
29401 @tab No
29402 @tab @samp{-}
29403 @tab No
29404
29405 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
29406 @tab No
29407 @tab @samp{-}
29408 @tab No
29409
29410 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
29411 @tab No
29412 @tab @samp{-}
29413 @tab No
29414
29415 @end multitable
29416
29417 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
29418
29419 @table @samp
29420 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
29421 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
29422 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
29423 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
29424 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
29425 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
29426 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
29427 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
29428 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
29429 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
29430
29431 @item qXfer:auxv:read
29432 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
29433 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
29434
29435 @item qXfer:features:read
29436 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
29437 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
29438
29439 @item qXfer:libraries:read
29440 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
29441 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
29442
29443 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
29444 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
29445 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
29446
29447 @item qXfer:spu:read
29448 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
29449 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
29450
29451 @item qXfer:spu:write
29452 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
29453 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
29454
29455 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
29456 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
29457 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
29458
29459 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
29460 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
29461 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
29462
29463 @item QNonStop
29464 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
29465 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
29466
29467 @item QPassSignals
29468 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
29469 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
29470
29471 @item QStartNoAckMode
29472 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
29473 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
29474
29475 @item multiprocess
29476 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
29477 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
29478 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
29479 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
29480 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
29481 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
29482 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
29483 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
29484 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
29485 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
29486 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
29487
29488 @item qXfer:osdata:read
29489 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
29490 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
29491
29492 @item ConditionalTracepoints
29493 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
29494 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
29495
29496 @item ReverseContinue
29497 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
29498 (@pxref{bc}).
29499
29500 @item ReverseStep
29501 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
29502 (@pxref{bs}).
29503
29504 @end table
29505
29506 @item qSymbol::
29507 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
29508 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
29509 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
29510 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
29511
29512 Reply:
29513 @table @samp
29514 @item OK
29515 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
29516 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
29517 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
29518 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
29519 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
29520 below.
29521 @end table
29522
29523 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
29524 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
29525
29526 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
29527 target has previously requested.
29528
29529 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
29530 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
29531 will be empty.
29532
29533 Reply:
29534 @table @samp
29535 @item OK
29536 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
29537 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
29538 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
29539 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
29540 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
29541 @end table
29542
29543 @item QTDP
29544 @itemx QTFrame
29545 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
29546
29547 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
29548 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
29549 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
29550 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
29551 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
29552 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
29553 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
29554 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
29555 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
29556 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
29557 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
29558
29559 Reply:
29560 @table @samp
29561 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
29562 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
29563 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
29564 the thread's attributes.
29565 @end table
29566
29567 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
29568 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
29569 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
29570 packets.)
29571
29572 @item QTStart
29573 @itemx QTStop
29574 @itemx QTinit
29575 @itemx QTro
29576 @itemx qTStatus
29577 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
29578
29579 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29580 @cindex read special object, remote request
29581 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
29582 @anchor{qXfer read}
29583 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
29584 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
29585 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
29586 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
29587 additional details about what data to access.
29588
29589 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
29590 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
29591 formats, listed below.
29592
29593 @table @samp
29594 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29595 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
29596 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
29597 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
29598
29599 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29600 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29601
29602 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29603 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
29604 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
29605 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
29606 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
29607
29608 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29609 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29610
29611 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29612 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
29613 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
29614 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
29615 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29616
29617 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
29618 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
29619 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
29620
29621 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29622 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29623
29624 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29625 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
29626 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
29627 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
29628 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29629
29630 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29631 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29632
29633 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29634 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
29635 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
29636 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
29637 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29638
29639 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29640 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29641 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29642
29643 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29644 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
29645 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
29646 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
29647 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
29648 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
29649 in that context to be accessed.
29650
29651 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29652 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29653 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29654
29655 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29656 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
29657 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
29658 @xref{Operating System Information}.
29659
29660 @end table
29661
29662 Reply:
29663 @table @samp
29664 @item m @var{data}
29665 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
29666 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
29667 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
29668 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
29669 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
29670 request.
29671
29672 @item l @var{data}
29673 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
29674 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
29675 than the @var{length} in the request.
29676
29677 @item l
29678 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
29679 There is no more data to be read.
29680
29681 @item E00
29682 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
29683
29684 @item E @var{nn}
29685 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
29686 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
29687
29688 @item
29689 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
29690 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
29691 @end table
29692
29693 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29694 @cindex write data into object, remote request
29695 @anchor{qXfer write}
29696 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
29697 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
29698 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
29699 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
29700 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
29701 to access.
29702
29703 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
29704 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
29705 formats, listed below.
29706
29707 @table @samp
29708 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29709 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
29710 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
29711 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
29712 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
29713
29714 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29715 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29716 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29717
29718 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29719 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
29720 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
29721 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
29722 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
29723 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
29724 in that context to be accessed.
29725
29726 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29727 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29728 @end table
29729
29730 Reply:
29731 @table @samp
29732 @item @var{nn}
29733 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
29734 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
29735
29736 @item E00
29737 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
29738
29739 @item E @var{nn}
29740 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
29741 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
29742
29743 @item
29744 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
29745 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
29746 @end table
29747
29748 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
29749 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
29750 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
29751 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
29752 must respond with an empty packet.
29753
29754 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
29755 @cindex query attached, remote request
29756 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
29757 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
29758 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
29759 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
29760 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
29761 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
29762 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
29763
29764 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
29765 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
29766 the @code{quit} command.
29767
29768 Reply:
29769 @table @samp
29770 @item 1
29771 The remote server attached to an existing process.
29772 @item 0
29773 The remote server created a new process.
29774 @item E @var{NN}
29775 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
29776 @end table
29777
29778 @end table
29779
29780 @node Register Packet Format
29781 @section Register Packet Format
29782
29783 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
29784 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
29785 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
29786 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
29787 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
29788 most-significant - least-significant.
29789
29790 @table @r
29791
29792 @item MIPS32
29793
29794 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
29795 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
29796 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
29797
29798 @item MIPS64
29799
29800 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
29801 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
29802 as @code{MIPS32}.
29803
29804 @end table
29805
29806 @node Tracepoint Packets
29807 @section Tracepoint Packets
29808 @cindex tracepoint packets
29809 @cindex packets, tracepoint
29810
29811 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
29812 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
29813
29814 @table @samp
29815
29816 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
29817 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
29818 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
29819 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
29820 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{X} is present,
29821 it introduces a tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal
29822 length, followed by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar
29823 to action encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is
29824 present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this
29825 tracepoint's actions.
29826
29827 Replies:
29828 @table @samp
29829 @item OK
29830 The packet was understood and carried out.
29831 @item
29832 The packet was not recognized.
29833 @end table
29834
29835 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
29836 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
29837 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
29838 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
29839 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
29840 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
29841 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
29842
29843 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
29844 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
29845 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
29846 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
29847 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
29848 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
29849 tracepoint actions.
29850
29851 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
29852 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
29853 following forms:
29854
29855 @table @samp
29856
29857 @item R @var{mask}
29858 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
29859 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
29860 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
29861 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
29862 not fit in a 32-bit word.
29863
29864 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
29865 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
29866 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
29867 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
29868 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
29869 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
29870 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
29871
29872 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
29873 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
29874 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
29875 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
29876 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
29877 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
29878 packet).
29879
29880 @end table
29881
29882 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
29883 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
29884 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
29885 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
29886 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
29887 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
29888 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
29889 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
29890
29891 Replies:
29892 @table @samp
29893 @item OK
29894 The packet was understood and carried out.
29895 @item
29896 The packet was not recognized.
29897 @end table
29898
29899 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
29900 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
29901 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
29902 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
29903
29904 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
29905 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
29906 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
29907 one of the following forms:
29908
29909 @table @samp
29910 @item F @var{f}
29911 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
29912 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
29913 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
29914
29915 @item T @var{t}
29916 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
29917 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
29918
29919 @end table
29920
29921 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
29922 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
29923 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
29924 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
29925
29926 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
29927 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
29928 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
29929 is a hexadecimal number.
29930
29931 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
29932 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
29933 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
29934 and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
29935 numbers.
29936
29937 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
29938 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
29939 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
29940
29941 @item QTStart
29942 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
29943 hits in the trace frame buffer.
29944
29945 @item QTStop
29946 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
29947
29948 @item QTinit
29949 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
29950
29951 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
29952 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
29953 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
29954 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
29955
29956 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
29957 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
29958 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
29959 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
29960
29961 @item qTStatus
29962 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
29963
29964 Replies:
29965 @table @samp
29966 @item T0
29967 There is no trace experiment running.
29968 @item T1
29969 There is a trace experiment running.
29970 @end table
29971
29972 @end table
29973
29974
29975 @node Host I/O Packets
29976 @section Host I/O Packets
29977 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
29978 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
29979
29980 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
29981 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
29982 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
29983 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
29984 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
29985 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
29986 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
29987 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
29988 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
29989 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
29990
29991 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
29992 its arguments. They have this format:
29993
29994 @table @samp
29995
29996 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
29997 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
29998 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
29999 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
30000 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
30001 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
30002 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
30003 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
30004 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
30005
30006 @end table
30007
30008 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
30009
30010 @table @samp
30011
30012 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
30013 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
30014 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
30015 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
30016 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
30017 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
30018 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
30019 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
30020 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
30021 @var{attachment}.
30022
30023 @item
30024 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
30025
30026 @end table
30027
30028 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
30029
30030 @table @samp
30031 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
30032 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
30033 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
30034 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
30035 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
30036 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
30037 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
30038
30039 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
30040 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
30041 -1 if an error occurs.
30042
30043 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
30044 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
30045 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
30046 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
30047 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
30048 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
30049 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
30050 @var{count} was zero.
30051
30052 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
30053 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
30054 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
30055 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
30056 some characters were escaped.
30057
30058 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
30059 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
30060 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
30061 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
30062 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
30063 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
30064 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
30065 error occurred.
30066
30067 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
30068 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
30069 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
30070
30071 @end table
30072
30073 @node Interrupts
30074 @section Interrupts
30075 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
30076
30077 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
30078 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C} or a @code{BREAK},
30079 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{remotebreak}
30080 setting (@pxref{set remotebreak}).
30081
30082 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
30083 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
30084 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
30085 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
30086 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
30087
30088 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
30089 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
30090 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
30091 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
30092 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
30093 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
30094 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
30095 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
30096
30097 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
30098 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
30099 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
30100 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
30101 currently-executing threads and processes.
30102 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
30103 running program, it should send one of the stop
30104 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
30105 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
30106 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
30107 Interrupts received while the
30108 program is stopped are discarded.
30109
30110 @node Notification Packets
30111 @section Notification Packets
30112 @cindex notification packets
30113 @cindex packets, notification
30114
30115 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
30116 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
30117 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
30118 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
30119 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
30120 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
30121 is not a problem.
30122
30123 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
30124 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
30125 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
30126 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
30127 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
30128 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
30129 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
30130
30131 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
30132 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
30133
30134 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
30135 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
30136 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
30137 not they understand it.
30138
30139 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
30140 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
30141 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
30142 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
30143 recipients.
30144
30145 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
30146 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
30147 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
30148 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
30149 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
30150
30151 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
30152 defined:
30153
30154 @table @samp
30155 @item Stop: @var{reply}
30156 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
30157 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
30158 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
30159 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
30160 @value{GDBN}.
30161 @end table
30162
30163 @node Remote Non-Stop
30164 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
30165
30166 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
30167 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
30168 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
30169 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
30170
30171 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
30172 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
30173 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
30174 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
30175 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
30176 probe the target state after a mode change.
30177
30178 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
30179 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
30180 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
30181 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
30182 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
30183 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
30184 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
30185 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
30186 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
30187 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
30188 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
30189
30190 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
30191 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
30192 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
30193 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
30194 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
30195 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
30196 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
30197 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
30198 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
30199 sending any queued stop events.
30200
30201 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
30202 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
30203 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
30204 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
30205 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
30206 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
30207 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
30208
30209 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
30210 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
30211 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
30212 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
30213 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
30214 process normally.
30215
30216 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
30217 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
30218 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
30219 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
30220 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
30221 should process normally.
30222
30223 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
30224 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
30225 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
30226 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
30227 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
30228
30229 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
30230 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
30231 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
30232 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
30233 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
30234 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
30235 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
30236 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
30237 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
30238 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
30239 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
30240 @samp{OK}.
30241
30242 @node Packet Acknowledgment
30243 @section Packet Acknowledgment
30244
30245 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
30246 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
30247 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
30248 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30249 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
30250 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
30251 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
30252
30253 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
30254 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
30255 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
30256 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
30257 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
30258
30259 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
30260 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
30261 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
30262 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
30263
30264 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
30265 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
30266 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
30267 @pxref{qSupported}.
30268 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
30269 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
30270 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
30271 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
30272 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
30273 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
30274 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
30275
30276 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
30277 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
30278 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
30279 connection.
30280 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
30281 new connection is established,
30282 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
30283 for the current connection, once disabled.
30284
30285 @node Examples
30286 @section Examples
30287
30288 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
30289 does not get any direct output:
30290
30291 @smallexample
30292 -> @code{R00}
30293 <- @code{+}
30294 @emph{target restarts}
30295 -> @code{?}
30296 <- @code{+}
30297 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
30298 -> @code{+}
30299 @end smallexample
30300
30301 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
30302
30303 @smallexample
30304 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
30305 <- @code{+}
30306 -> @code{s}
30307 <- @code{+}
30308 @emph{time passes}
30309 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
30310 -> @code{+}
30311 -> @code{g}
30312 <- @code{+}
30313 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
30314 -> @code{+}
30315 @end smallexample
30316
30317 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
30318 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
30319 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
30320
30321 @menu
30322 * File-I/O Overview::
30323 * Protocol Basics::
30324 * The F Request Packet::
30325 * The F Reply Packet::
30326 * The Ctrl-C Message::
30327 * Console I/O::
30328 * List of Supported Calls::
30329 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
30330 * Constants::
30331 * File-I/O Examples::
30332 @end menu
30333
30334 @node File-I/O Overview
30335 @subsection File-I/O Overview
30336 @cindex file-i/o overview
30337
30338 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
30339 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
30340 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
30341 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
30342 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
30343 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
30344
30345 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
30346 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
30347 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
30348 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
30349 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
30350
30351 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
30352 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
30353 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
30354 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
30355 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
30356 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
30357 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
30358
30359 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
30360 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
30361 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
30362 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
30363 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
30364
30365 @smallexample
30366 (@value{GDBP}) continue
30367 <- target requests 'system call X'
30368 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
30369 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
30370 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
30371 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
30372 @end smallexample
30373
30374 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
30375 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
30376 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
30377 system are not supported by this protocol.
30378
30379 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
30380
30381 @node Protocol Basics
30382 @subsection Protocol Basics
30383 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
30384
30385 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
30386 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
30387 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
30388 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
30389 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
30390 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
30391 to call the appropriate host system call:
30392
30393 @itemize @bullet
30394 @item
30395 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
30396
30397 @item
30398 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
30399 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
30400 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
30401 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
30402
30403 @end itemize
30404
30405 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
30406
30407 @itemize @bullet
30408 @item
30409 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
30410 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
30411 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
30412 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
30413 packet.
30414
30415 @item
30416 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
30417 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
30418
30419 @item
30420 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
30421
30422 @item
30423 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
30424
30425 @item
30426 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
30427 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
30428 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
30429 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
30430 packet.
30431
30432 @end itemize
30433
30434 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
30435 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
30436
30437 @itemize @bullet
30438 @item
30439 Return value.
30440
30441 @item
30442 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
30443
30444 @item
30445 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
30446
30447 @end itemize
30448
30449 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
30450 the latest continue or step action.
30451
30452 @node The F Request Packet
30453 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
30454 @cindex file-i/o request packet
30455 @cindex @code{F} request packet
30456
30457 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
30458
30459 @table @samp
30460 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
30461
30462 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
30463 This is just the name of the function.
30464
30465 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
30466 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
30467 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
30468 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
30469 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
30470 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
30471 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
30472
30473 @end table
30474
30475
30476
30477 @node The F Reply Packet
30478 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
30479 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
30480 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
30481
30482 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
30483
30484 @table @samp
30485
30486 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
30487
30488 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
30489
30490 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
30491 representation.
30492 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
30493
30494 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
30495 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
30496 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
30497
30498 @smallexample
30499 F0,0,C
30500 @end smallexample
30501
30502 @noindent
30503 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
30504
30505 @smallexample
30506 F-1,4,C
30507 @end smallexample
30508
30509 @noindent
30510 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
30511
30512 @end table
30513
30514
30515 @node The Ctrl-C Message
30516 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
30517 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
30518
30519 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
30520 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
30521 the target should behave as if it had
30522 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
30523 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
30524 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
30525 packet.
30526
30527 It's important for the target to know in which
30528 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
30529
30530 @itemize @bullet
30531 @item
30532 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
30533
30534 @item
30535 The system call on the host has been finished.
30536
30537 @end itemize
30538
30539 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
30540 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
30541 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
30542 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
30543 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
30544 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
30545
30546 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
30547 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
30548 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
30549 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
30550 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
30551 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
30552 or the full action has been completed.
30553
30554 @node Console I/O
30555 @subsection Console I/O
30556 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
30557
30558 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
30559 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
30560 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
30561 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
30562 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
30563 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
30564 conditions is met:
30565
30566 @itemize @bullet
30567 @item
30568 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
30569 @code{read}
30570 system call is treated as finished.
30571
30572 @item
30573 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
30574 newline.
30575
30576 @item
30577 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
30578 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
30579
30580 @end itemize
30581
30582 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
30583 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
30584 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
30585 is stopped at the user's request.
30586
30587
30588 @node List of Supported Calls
30589 @subsection List of Supported Calls
30590 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
30591
30592 @menu
30593 * open::
30594 * close::
30595 * read::
30596 * write::
30597 * lseek::
30598 * rename::
30599 * unlink::
30600 * stat/fstat::
30601 * gettimeofday::
30602 * isatty::
30603 * system::
30604 @end menu
30605
30606 @node open
30607 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
30608 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
30609
30610 @table @asis
30611 @item Synopsis:
30612 @smallexample
30613 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
30614 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
30615 @end smallexample
30616
30617 @item Request:
30618 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
30619
30620 @noindent
30621 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
30622
30623 @table @code
30624 @item O_CREAT
30625 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
30626 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
30627 are concerned.
30628
30629 @item O_EXCL
30630 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
30631 an error and open() fails.
30632
30633 @item O_TRUNC
30634 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
30635 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
30636 truncated to zero length.
30637
30638 @item O_APPEND
30639 The file is opened in append mode.
30640
30641 @item O_RDONLY
30642 The file is opened for reading only.
30643
30644 @item O_WRONLY
30645 The file is opened for writing only.
30646
30647 @item O_RDWR
30648 The file is opened for reading and writing.
30649 @end table
30650
30651 @noindent
30652 Other bits are silently ignored.
30653
30654
30655 @noindent
30656 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
30657
30658 @table @code
30659 @item S_IRUSR
30660 User has read permission.
30661
30662 @item S_IWUSR
30663 User has write permission.
30664
30665 @item S_IRGRP
30666 Group has read permission.
30667
30668 @item S_IWGRP
30669 Group has write permission.
30670
30671 @item S_IROTH
30672 Others have read permission.
30673
30674 @item S_IWOTH
30675 Others have write permission.
30676 @end table
30677
30678 @noindent
30679 Other bits are silently ignored.
30680
30681
30682 @item Return value:
30683 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
30684 occurred.
30685
30686 @item Errors:
30687
30688 @table @code
30689 @item EEXIST
30690 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
30691
30692 @item EISDIR
30693 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
30694
30695 @item EACCES
30696 The requested access is not allowed.
30697
30698 @item ENAMETOOLONG
30699 @var{pathname} was too long.
30700
30701 @item ENOENT
30702 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
30703
30704 @item ENODEV
30705 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
30706
30707 @item EROFS
30708 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
30709 write access was requested.
30710
30711 @item EFAULT
30712 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
30713
30714 @item ENOSPC
30715 No space on device to create the file.
30716
30717 @item EMFILE
30718 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
30719
30720 @item ENFILE
30721 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
30722 has been reached.
30723
30724 @item EINTR
30725 The call was interrupted by the user.
30726 @end table
30727
30728 @end table
30729
30730 @node close
30731 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
30732 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
30733
30734 @table @asis
30735 @item Synopsis:
30736 @smallexample
30737 int close(int fd);
30738 @end smallexample
30739
30740 @item Request:
30741 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
30742
30743 @item Return value:
30744 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
30745
30746 @item Errors:
30747
30748 @table @code
30749 @item EBADF
30750 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
30751
30752 @item EINTR
30753 The call was interrupted by the user.
30754 @end table
30755
30756 @end table
30757
30758 @node read
30759 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
30760 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
30761
30762 @table @asis
30763 @item Synopsis:
30764 @smallexample
30765 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
30766 @end smallexample
30767
30768 @item Request:
30769 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
30770
30771 @item Return value:
30772 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
30773 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
30774 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
30775
30776 @item Errors:
30777
30778 @table @code
30779 @item EBADF
30780 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
30781 reading.
30782
30783 @item EFAULT
30784 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30785
30786 @item EINTR
30787 The call was interrupted by the user.
30788 @end table
30789
30790 @end table
30791
30792 @node write
30793 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
30794 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
30795
30796 @table @asis
30797 @item Synopsis:
30798 @smallexample
30799 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
30800 @end smallexample
30801
30802 @item Request:
30803 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
30804
30805 @item Return value:
30806 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
30807 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
30808 is returned.
30809
30810 @item Errors:
30811
30812 @table @code
30813 @item EBADF
30814 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
30815 writing.
30816
30817 @item EFAULT
30818 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30819
30820 @item EFBIG
30821 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
30822 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
30823
30824 @item ENOSPC
30825 No space on device to write the data.
30826
30827 @item EINTR
30828 The call was interrupted by the user.
30829 @end table
30830
30831 @end table
30832
30833 @node lseek
30834 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
30835 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
30836
30837 @table @asis
30838 @item Synopsis:
30839 @smallexample
30840 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
30841 @end smallexample
30842
30843 @item Request:
30844 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
30845
30846 @var{flag} is one of:
30847
30848 @table @code
30849 @item SEEK_SET
30850 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
30851
30852 @item SEEK_CUR
30853 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
30854 bytes.
30855
30856 @item SEEK_END
30857 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
30858 bytes.
30859 @end table
30860
30861 @item Return value:
30862 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
30863 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
30864 value of -1 is returned.
30865
30866 @item Errors:
30867
30868 @table @code
30869 @item EBADF
30870 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
30871
30872 @item ESPIPE
30873 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
30874
30875 @item EINVAL
30876 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
30877
30878 @item EINTR
30879 The call was interrupted by the user.
30880 @end table
30881
30882 @end table
30883
30884 @node rename
30885 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
30886 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
30887
30888 @table @asis
30889 @item Synopsis:
30890 @smallexample
30891 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
30892 @end smallexample
30893
30894 @item Request:
30895 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
30896
30897 @item Return value:
30898 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
30899
30900 @item Errors:
30901
30902 @table @code
30903 @item EISDIR
30904 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
30905 directory.
30906
30907 @item EEXIST
30908 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
30909
30910 @item EBUSY
30911 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
30912 process.
30913
30914 @item EINVAL
30915 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
30916 of itself.
30917
30918 @item ENOTDIR
30919 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
30920 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
30921 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
30922
30923 @item EFAULT
30924 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
30925
30926 @item EACCES
30927 No access to the file or the path of the file.
30928
30929 @item ENAMETOOLONG
30930
30931 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
30932
30933 @item ENOENT
30934 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
30935
30936 @item EROFS
30937 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
30938
30939 @item ENOSPC
30940 The device containing the file has no room for the new
30941 directory entry.
30942
30943 @item EINTR
30944 The call was interrupted by the user.
30945 @end table
30946
30947 @end table
30948
30949 @node unlink
30950 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
30951 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
30952
30953 @table @asis
30954 @item Synopsis:
30955 @smallexample
30956 int unlink(const char *pathname);
30957 @end smallexample
30958
30959 @item Request:
30960 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
30961
30962 @item Return value:
30963 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
30964
30965 @item Errors:
30966
30967 @table @code
30968 @item EACCES
30969 No access to the file or the path of the file.
30970
30971 @item EPERM
30972 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
30973
30974 @item EBUSY
30975 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
30976 being used by another process.
30977
30978 @item EFAULT
30979 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30980
30981 @item ENAMETOOLONG
30982 @var{pathname} was too long.
30983
30984 @item ENOENT
30985 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
30986
30987 @item ENOTDIR
30988 A component of the path is not a directory.
30989
30990 @item EROFS
30991 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
30992
30993 @item EINTR
30994 The call was interrupted by the user.
30995 @end table
30996
30997 @end table
30998
30999 @node stat/fstat
31000 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
31001 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
31002 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
31003
31004 @table @asis
31005 @item Synopsis:
31006 @smallexample
31007 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
31008 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
31009 @end smallexample
31010
31011 @item Request:
31012 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
31013 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
31014
31015 @item Return value:
31016 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
31017
31018 @item Errors:
31019
31020 @table @code
31021 @item EBADF
31022 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
31023
31024 @item ENOENT
31025 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
31026 path is an empty string.
31027
31028 @item ENOTDIR
31029 A component of the path is not a directory.
31030
31031 @item EFAULT
31032 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31033
31034 @item EACCES
31035 No access to the file or the path of the file.
31036
31037 @item ENAMETOOLONG
31038 @var{pathname} was too long.
31039
31040 @item EINTR
31041 The call was interrupted by the user.
31042 @end table
31043
31044 @end table
31045
31046 @node gettimeofday
31047 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
31048 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
31049
31050 @table @asis
31051 @item Synopsis:
31052 @smallexample
31053 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
31054 @end smallexample
31055
31056 @item Request:
31057 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
31058
31059 @item Return value:
31060 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
31061
31062 @item Errors:
31063
31064 @table @code
31065 @item EINVAL
31066 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
31067
31068 @item EFAULT
31069 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31070 @end table
31071
31072 @end table
31073
31074 @node isatty
31075 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
31076 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
31077
31078 @table @asis
31079 @item Synopsis:
31080 @smallexample
31081 int isatty(int fd);
31082 @end smallexample
31083
31084 @item Request:
31085 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
31086
31087 @item Return value:
31088 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
31089
31090 @item Errors:
31091
31092 @table @code
31093 @item EINTR
31094 The call was interrupted by the user.
31095 @end table
31096
31097 @end table
31098
31099 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
31100 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
31101 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
31102 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
31103 needed.
31104
31105
31106 @node system
31107 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
31108 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
31109
31110 @table @asis
31111 @item Synopsis:
31112 @smallexample
31113 int system(const char *command);
31114 @end smallexample
31115
31116 @item Request:
31117 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
31118
31119 @item Return value:
31120 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
31121 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
31122 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
31123 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
31124 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
31125 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
31126 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
31127
31128 @item Errors:
31129
31130 @table @code
31131 @item EINTR
31132 The call was interrupted by the user.
31133 @end table
31134
31135 @end table
31136
31137 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
31138 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
31139 the host is simplified before it's returned
31140 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
31141 is discarded, and the return value consists
31142 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
31143
31144 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
31145 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
31146 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
31147
31148 @table @code
31149 @item set remote system-call-allowed
31150 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
31151 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
31152 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
31153
31154 @item show remote system-call-allowed
31155 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
31156 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
31157 protocol.
31158 @end table
31159
31160 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
31161 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
31162 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
31163
31164 @menu
31165 * Integral Datatypes::
31166 * Pointer Values::
31167 * Memory Transfer::
31168 * struct stat::
31169 * struct timeval::
31170 @end menu
31171
31172 @node Integral Datatypes
31173 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
31174 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
31175
31176 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
31177 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
31178 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
31179
31180 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
31181 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
31182
31183 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
31184
31185 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
31186 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
31187
31188 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
31189
31190 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
31191 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
31192 byte order.
31193
31194 @node Pointer Values
31195 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
31196 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
31197
31198 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
31199 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
31200 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
31201 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
31202
31203 @smallexample
31204 @code{1aaf/12}
31205 @end smallexample
31206
31207 @noindent
31208 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
31209 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
31210 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
31211 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
31212
31213 @smallexample
31214 @code{123456/d}
31215 @end smallexample
31216
31217 @node Memory Transfer
31218 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
31219 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
31220
31221 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
31222 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
31223 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
31224 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
31225 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
31226 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
31227 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
31228
31229
31230 @node struct stat
31231 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
31232 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
31233
31234 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
31235 is defined as follows:
31236
31237 @smallexample
31238 struct stat @{
31239 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
31240 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
31241 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
31242 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
31243 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
31244 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
31245 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
31246 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
31247 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
31248 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
31249 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
31250 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
31251 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
31252 @};
31253 @end smallexample
31254
31255 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
31256 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
31257 structure is of size 64 bytes.
31258
31259 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
31260 range of values.
31261
31262 @table @code
31263
31264 @item st_dev
31265 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
31266
31267 @item st_ino
31268 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
31269
31270 @item st_mode
31271 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
31272 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
31273
31274 @item st_uid
31275 @itemx st_gid
31276 @itemx st_rdev
31277 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
31278
31279 @item st_atime
31280 @itemx st_mtime
31281 @itemx st_ctime
31282 These values have a host and file system dependent
31283 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
31284 support exact timing values.
31285 @end table
31286
31287 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
31288 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
31289 continuing.
31290
31291 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
31292 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
31293 get truncated on the target.
31294
31295 @node struct timeval
31296 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
31297 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
31298
31299 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
31300 is defined as follows:
31301
31302 @smallexample
31303 struct timeval @{
31304 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
31305 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
31306 @};
31307 @end smallexample
31308
31309 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
31310 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
31311 structure is of size 8 bytes.
31312
31313 @node Constants
31314 @subsection Constants
31315 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
31316
31317 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
31318 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
31319 values before and after the call as needed.
31320
31321 @menu
31322 * Open Flags::
31323 * mode_t Values::
31324 * Errno Values::
31325 * Lseek Flags::
31326 * Limits::
31327 @end menu
31328
31329 @node Open Flags
31330 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
31331 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
31332
31333 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
31334
31335 @smallexample
31336 O_RDONLY 0x0
31337 O_WRONLY 0x1
31338 O_RDWR 0x2
31339 O_APPEND 0x8
31340 O_CREAT 0x200
31341 O_TRUNC 0x400
31342 O_EXCL 0x800
31343 @end smallexample
31344
31345 @node mode_t Values
31346 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
31347 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
31348
31349 All values are given in octal representation.
31350
31351 @smallexample
31352 S_IFREG 0100000
31353 S_IFDIR 040000
31354 S_IRUSR 0400
31355 S_IWUSR 0200
31356 S_IXUSR 0100
31357 S_IRGRP 040
31358 S_IWGRP 020
31359 S_IXGRP 010
31360 S_IROTH 04
31361 S_IWOTH 02
31362 S_IXOTH 01
31363 @end smallexample
31364
31365 @node Errno Values
31366 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
31367 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
31368
31369 All values are given in decimal representation.
31370
31371 @smallexample
31372 EPERM 1
31373 ENOENT 2
31374 EINTR 4
31375 EBADF 9
31376 EACCES 13
31377 EFAULT 14
31378 EBUSY 16
31379 EEXIST 17
31380 ENODEV 19
31381 ENOTDIR 20
31382 EISDIR 21
31383 EINVAL 22
31384 ENFILE 23
31385 EMFILE 24
31386 EFBIG 27
31387 ENOSPC 28
31388 ESPIPE 29
31389 EROFS 30
31390 ENAMETOOLONG 91
31391 EUNKNOWN 9999
31392 @end smallexample
31393
31394 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
31395 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
31396
31397 @node Lseek Flags
31398 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
31399 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
31400
31401 @smallexample
31402 SEEK_SET 0
31403 SEEK_CUR 1
31404 SEEK_END 2
31405 @end smallexample
31406
31407 @node Limits
31408 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
31409 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
31410
31411 All values are given in decimal representation.
31412
31413 @smallexample
31414 INT_MIN -2147483648
31415 INT_MAX 2147483647
31416 UINT_MAX 4294967295
31417 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
31418 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
31419 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
31420 @end smallexample
31421
31422 @node File-I/O Examples
31423 @subsection File-I/O Examples
31424 @cindex file-i/o examples
31425
31426 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
31427 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
31428
31429 @smallexample
31430 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
31431 @emph{request memory read from target}
31432 -> @code{m1234,6}
31433 <- XXXXXX
31434 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
31435 -> @code{F6}
31436 @end smallexample
31437
31438 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
31439 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
31440
31441 @smallexample
31442 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31443 @emph{request memory write to target}
31444 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
31445 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
31446 -> @code{F6}
31447 @end smallexample
31448
31449 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
31450 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
31451
31452 @smallexample
31453 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31454 -> @code{F-1,9}
31455 @end smallexample
31456
31457 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
31458 host is called:
31459
31460 @smallexample
31461 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31462 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
31463 <- @code{T02}
31464 @end smallexample
31465
31466 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
31467 host is called:
31468
31469 @smallexample
31470 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31471 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
31472 <- @code{T02}
31473 @end smallexample
31474
31475 @node Library List Format
31476 @section Library List Format
31477 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
31478
31479 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
31480 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
31481 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
31482 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
31483 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
31484 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
31485 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
31486 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
31487 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
31488 are loaded.
31489
31490 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
31491 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
31492 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
31493 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
31494
31495 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
31496 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
31497 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
31498 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
31499 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
31500 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
31501
31502 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31503 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
31504
31505 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
31506 offset, looks like this:
31507
31508 @smallexample
31509 <library-list>
31510 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
31511 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
31512 </library>
31513 </library-list>
31514 @end smallexample
31515
31516 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
31517 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
31518
31519 @smallexample
31520 <library-list>
31521 <library name="sharedlib.o">
31522 <section address="0x10000000"/>
31523 <section address="0x20000000"/>
31524 <section address="0x30000000"/>
31525 </library>
31526 </library-list>
31527 @end smallexample
31528
31529 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
31530
31531 @smallexample
31532 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
31533 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
31534 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
31535 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
31536 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
31537 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
31538 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
31539 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
31540 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
31541 @end smallexample
31542
31543 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
31544 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
31545 section for each library.
31546
31547 @node Memory Map Format
31548 @section Memory Map Format
31549 @cindex memory map format
31550
31551 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
31552 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
31553 memory map.
31554
31555 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
31556 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
31557 lists memory regions.
31558
31559 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31560 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
31561
31562 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
31563
31564 @smallexample
31565 <?xml version="1.0"?>
31566 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
31567 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
31568 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
31569 <memory-map>
31570 region...
31571 </memory-map>
31572 @end smallexample
31573
31574 Each region can be either:
31575
31576 @itemize
31577
31578 @item
31579 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
31580 bytes from there:
31581
31582 @smallexample
31583 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
31584 @end smallexample
31585
31586
31587 @item
31588 A region of read-only memory:
31589
31590 @smallexample
31591 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
31592 @end smallexample
31593
31594
31595 @item
31596 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
31597 bytes in length:
31598
31599 @smallexample
31600 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
31601 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
31602 </memory>
31603 @end smallexample
31604
31605 @end itemize
31606
31607 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
31608 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
31609 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
31610
31611 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
31612
31613 @smallexample
31614 <!-- ................................................... -->
31615 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
31616 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
31617 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
31618 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
31619 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
31620 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
31621 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
31622 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
31623 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
31624 and its type, or device. -->
31625 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
31626 start CDATA #REQUIRED
31627 length CDATA #REQUIRED
31628 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
31629 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
31630 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
31631 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
31632 @end smallexample
31633
31634 @include agentexpr.texi
31635
31636 @node Target Descriptions
31637 @appendix Target Descriptions
31638 @cindex target descriptions
31639
31640 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
31641 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
31642 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
31643
31644 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
31645 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
31646 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
31647 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
31648 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
31649 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
31650 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
31651
31652 @itemize @bullet
31653 @item
31654 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
31655 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
31656 @item
31657 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
31658 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
31659 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
31660 @item
31661 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
31662 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
31663 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
31664 @end itemize
31665
31666 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
31667 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
31668 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
31669 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
31670 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
31671
31672 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31673 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
31674
31675 @menu
31676 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
31677 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
31678 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
31679 descriptions.
31680 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
31681 @end menu
31682
31683 @node Retrieving Descriptions
31684 @section Retrieving Descriptions
31685
31686 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
31687 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
31688 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
31689 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
31690 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
31691 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
31692 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
31693 Format}.
31694
31695 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
31696 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
31697 specify a file are:
31698
31699 @table @code
31700 @cindex set tdesc filename
31701 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
31702 Read the target description from @var{path}.
31703
31704 @cindex unset tdesc filename
31705 @item unset tdesc filename
31706 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
31707 will use the description supplied by the current target.
31708
31709 @cindex show tdesc filename
31710 @item show tdesc filename
31711 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
31712 @end table
31713
31714
31715 @node Target Description Format
31716 @section Target Description Format
31717 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
31718
31719 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
31720 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
31721 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
31722 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
31723 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
31724 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
31725 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
31726
31727 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
31728 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
31729 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
31730 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
31731 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
31732
31733 Here is a simple target description:
31734
31735 @smallexample
31736 <target version="1.0">
31737 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
31738 </target>
31739 @end smallexample
31740
31741 @noindent
31742 This minimal description only says that the target uses
31743 the x86-64 architecture.
31744
31745 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
31746 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
31747 are explained further below.
31748
31749 @smallexample
31750 <?xml version="1.0"?>
31751 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
31752 <target version="1.0">
31753 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
31754 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
31755 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
31756 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
31757 </target>
31758 @end smallexample
31759
31760 @noindent
31761 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
31762 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
31763 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
31764 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
31765 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
31766 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
31767 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
31768 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
31769 the version mismatch.
31770
31771 @subsection Inclusion
31772 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
31773 @cindex XInclude
31774 @ifnotinfo
31775 @cindex <xi:include>
31776 @end ifnotinfo
31777
31778 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
31779 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
31780 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
31781 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
31782 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
31783
31784 @smallexample
31785 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
31786 @end smallexample
31787
31788 @noindent
31789 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
31790 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
31791 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
31792 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
31793 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
31794 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
31795 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
31796 original description.
31797
31798 @subsection Architecture
31799 @cindex <architecture>
31800
31801 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
31802
31803 @smallexample
31804 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
31805 @end smallexample
31806
31807 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
31808 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
31809
31810 @subsection OS ABI
31811 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
31812
31813 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
31814 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
31815
31816 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
31817
31818 @smallexample
31819 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
31820 @end smallexample
31821
31822 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
31823 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
31824
31825 @subsection Compatible Architecture
31826 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
31827
31828 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
31829 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
31830
31831 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
31832
31833 @smallexample
31834 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
31835 @end smallexample
31836
31837 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
31838 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
31839
31840 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
31841 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
31842 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
31843 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
31844 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
31845 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
31846 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
31847
31848 @smallexample
31849 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
31850 <compatible>spu</compatible>
31851 @end smallexample
31852
31853 @subsection Features
31854 @cindex <feature>
31855
31856 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
31857 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
31858 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
31859 has this form:
31860
31861 @smallexample
31862 <feature name="@var{name}">
31863 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
31864 @var{reg}@dots{}
31865 </feature>
31866 @end smallexample
31867
31868 @noindent
31869 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
31870 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
31871 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
31872 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
31873
31874 @subsection Types
31875
31876 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
31877 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
31878 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
31879 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
31880 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
31881
31882 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
31883 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
31884 Types must be defined before they are used.
31885
31886 @cindex <vector>
31887 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
31888 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
31889 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
31890 @var{count}:
31891
31892 @smallexample
31893 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
31894 @end smallexample
31895
31896 @cindex <union>
31897 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
31898 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
31899 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
31900 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
31901
31902 @smallexample
31903 <union id="@var{id}">
31904 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
31905 @dots{}
31906 </union>
31907 @end smallexample
31908
31909 @subsection Registers
31910 @cindex <reg>
31911
31912 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
31913
31914 @smallexample
31915 <reg name="@var{name}"
31916 bitsize="@var{size}"
31917 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
31918 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
31919 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
31920 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
31921 @end smallexample
31922
31923 @noindent
31924 The components are as follows:
31925
31926 @table @var
31927
31928 @item name
31929 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
31930
31931 @item bitsize
31932 The register's size, in bits.
31933
31934 @item regnum
31935 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
31936 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
31937 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
31938 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
31939 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
31940 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
31941 in order of increasing register number.
31942
31943 @item save-restore
31944 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
31945 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
31946 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
31947 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
31948 ABI.
31949
31950 @item type
31951 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
31952 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
31953 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
31954 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
31955 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
31956 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
31957
31958 @item group
31959 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
31960 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
31961 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
31962 in @code{info registers}.
31963
31964 @end table
31965
31966 @node Predefined Target Types
31967 @section Predefined Target Types
31968 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
31969
31970 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
31971 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
31972 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
31973 types. The currently supported types are:
31974
31975 @table @code
31976
31977 @item int8
31978 @itemx int16
31979 @itemx int32
31980 @itemx int64
31981 @itemx int128
31982 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
31983
31984 @item uint8
31985 @itemx uint16
31986 @itemx uint32
31987 @itemx uint64
31988 @itemx uint128
31989 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
31990
31991 @item code_ptr
31992 @itemx data_ptr
31993 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
31994 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
31995 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
31996 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
31997 may be marked as data pointers.
31998
31999 @item ieee_single
32000 Single precision IEEE floating point.
32001
32002 @item ieee_double
32003 Double precision IEEE floating point.
32004
32005 @item arm_fpa_ext
32006 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
32007
32008 @end table
32009
32010 @node Standard Target Features
32011 @section Standard Target Features
32012 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
32013
32014 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
32015 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
32016 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
32017 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
32018 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
32019 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
32020 can recognize them.
32021
32022 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
32023 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
32024 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
32025 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
32026 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
32027 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
32028 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
32029 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
32030
32031 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
32032 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
32033 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
32034
32035 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
32036 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
32037 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
32038 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
32039
32040 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
32041 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
32042 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
32043
32044 @menu
32045 * ARM Features::
32046 * MIPS Features::
32047 * M68K Features::
32048 * PowerPC Features::
32049 @end menu
32050
32051
32052 @node ARM Features
32053 @subsection ARM Features
32054 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
32055
32056 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
32057 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
32058 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
32059
32060 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
32061 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
32062
32063 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
32064 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
32065 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
32066 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
32067
32068 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
32069 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
32070 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
32071 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
32072 halves of the double-precision registers.
32073
32074 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
32075 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
32076 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
32077 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
32078 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
32079 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
32080
32081 @node MIPS Features
32082 @subsection MIPS Features
32083 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
32084
32085 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
32086 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
32087 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
32088 on the target.
32089
32090 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
32091 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
32092 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32093
32094 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
32095 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
32096 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
32097 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32098
32099 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
32100 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
32101 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
32102
32103 @node M68K Features
32104 @subsection M68K Features
32105 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
32106
32107 @table @code
32108 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
32109 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
32110 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
32111 One of those features must be always present.
32112 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
32113 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
32114 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
32115 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
32116
32117 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
32118 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
32119 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
32120 @samp{fpiaddr}.
32121 @end table
32122
32123 @node PowerPC Features
32124 @subsection PowerPC Features
32125 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
32126
32127 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
32128 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
32129 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
32130 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32131
32132 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
32133 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
32134
32135 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
32136 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
32137 and @samp{vrsave}.
32138
32139 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
32140 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
32141 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
32142 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
32143 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
32144 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
32145
32146 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
32147 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
32148 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
32149 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
32150 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
32151 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
32152 user.
32153
32154 @node Operating System Information
32155 @appendix Operating System Information
32156 @cindex operating system information
32157
32158 @menu
32159 * Process list::
32160 @end menu
32161
32162 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
32163 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
32164 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
32165 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
32166 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
32167 on a different aspect of target.
32168
32169 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
32170 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
32171 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
32172 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
32173
32174 @node Process list
32175 @appendixsection Process list
32176 @cindex operating system information, process list
32177
32178 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
32179 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
32180 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
32181 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
32182
32183 An example document is:
32184
32185 @smallexample
32186 <?xml version="1.0"?>
32187 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
32188 <osdata type="processes">
32189 <item>
32190 <column name="pid">1</column>
32191 <column name="user">root</column>
32192 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
32193 </item>
32194 </osdata>
32195 @end smallexample
32196
32197 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
32198 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
32199 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
32200 displayed by @value{GDBN}. Target may provide additional columns,
32201 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
32202
32203 @include gpl.texi
32204
32205 @raisesections
32206 @include fdl.texi
32207 @lowersections
32208
32209 @node Index
32210 @unnumbered Index
32211
32212 @printindex cp
32213
32214 @tex
32215 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
32216 % meantime:
32217 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
32218 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
32219 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
32220 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
32221 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
32222 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
32223 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
32224 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
32225 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
32226 \page\colophon
32227 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
32228 @end tex
32229
32230 @bye